This is a collection of curricula, lesson plans and activities that have been developed by some of the National Estuarine Research Reserves. These materials could help introduce students to specific estuarine environments.

The Padilla Bay Curriculum (Washington State) is available at three grade levels: K-3 (Level I), 4-8 (Level II), and high school (Level III). They are intended to compliment a visit to Padilla Bay but are also appropriate for students studying estuaries anywhere in Washington State. All three use Padilla Bay as the example with a focus on eelgrass and mud flat habitats.

Estuary Explorers at Rookery Bay, Florida (PDF): This curriculum was created to help you and your students understand more about our region’s amazing coastal resources. Rookery Bay NERR is considered to be one of the few remaining relatively pristine mangrove estuaries in the United States. Mangroves are among the most threatened habitats in the world. All the activities have been structured for educational effectiveness and incorporate critical thinking strategies, high level questioning and scientific techniques.

Tijuana Estuary High School Teacher's Guide - Grades 9-12: This is an inter-disciplinary high school curriculum designed to educate students about the valuable Tijuana River Estuary natural and cultural resources. It was developed to align to State Content Standards and it is the only field-based estuary science high school program in the County. The target audience of the Tijuana Estuary High School Teachers' Guide are the biology, ecology, marine science, English, and art students and teachers in San Diego County, especially South Bay.

Apalachicola River and Bay Watershed Explorations Curricula – Grades 3-6

This series introduces the students to the Apalachicola River watershed, including the river system and the estuary, as well as the culture and the peoples' role in protecting the estuary. Correlated to Sunshine State Standards.

Estuaries.gov Website: This Web site features background materials for students and many classroom activities for educators on subjects relating to estuaries. The site also presents archived online video field trips from the EstuaryLive program,and resources to compare estuaries.