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Water Resource Recovery for Teachers

In-Person Tours

Resource Renew offers tours of the wastewater treatment plant. See Tours for complete information on group size, scheduling, and descriptions of tours, plus requirements to keep you safe and happy on your adventure.

Interactive Virtual Tour

Click on this interactive tour link to learn about the wastewater treatment plant through 360-degree images and video clips.

Click on this link for a document that can be used for students to fill out as they explore the interactive tour.

Activities for your classroom

Phosphorus “Data Nugget”

This activity is designed to cover the 8th grade science standard: Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred. This can work well after completing a tour of a wastewater treatment plant – either in-person or virtually. Approximate time required to complete: 45 minutes.

Mercury Case Study

This activity is designed for an environmental science class. Students learn about the impacts of mercury in the environment as well as the history of mercury at Resource Renew. Students have the opportunity to analyze and interpret data at Resource Renew and propose a recommendation to minimize the discharge of  mercury into the environment. It is designed for students to work together in small groups and get one page of the case study at a time. Upon completion of a page, the teacher can have a small discussion with the group and hand out the next page. Approximate time required to complete: 1.5-2 hrs.

PFAS: Essential or non-essential

Students will understand the complexities of environmental regulation by role-playing as stakeholders involved in determining essential versus non-essential uses of PFAS. They will learn about different perspectives, consider the impact of their decisions, and practice negotiation and critical thinking skills.

Water Resource Recovery and the Science Standards

A document that shows Science Standards and their connections to possible lessons related to wastewater and resource recovery. If you are interested in a lesson related to one of these topics, please contact Erik Johnson erik.johnson@resourcerenew.com to learn more about developing a lesson.

Summer Workshop for Teachers | June 23 and 24, 2026

The Water Resource Recovery Day (Tuesday, June 23) will focus on learning about treating wastewater to return clean water to our rivers and lakes while capturing valuable resources and generating renewable energy.

The Waste Reduction Day (Wednesday, June 24) will focus on how solid waste resources are managed in innovative ways to reduce landfill waste – from upcycling materials to recycling empty packages and containers and creating sustainable practices for the future.

Teachers can attend one or both days, earn funding for STEAM supplies, and come away with ready-to-use classroom resources to engage students in real-world environmental science. Past attendees are welcome to join again.

Why attend? Wastewater treatment and waste reduction are key parts of public and environmental health. Both topics have so many ways to connect to the standards you are already teaching. The workshop will also raise awareness about potential career paths you can share with students.

Click here for the slides from the 2024 workshop.

Resource Renew staff can visit your classroom for presentations.

Wastewater Microbiology

Resource Renew staff can come to your class and explain the importance of microbes in the wastewater treatment process. Samples of microbes found in wastewater can be viewed underneath the microscope. This can be aimed at all grade levels, though previous use of microscopes is required. Currently, the school will need to provide the microscopes to use.

River Rangers “Waterdrop” Program

Students follow “Wally the Water Drop” through the water cycle all the way to the treatment plant and beyond, exploring wastewater treatment through large drawings, costumes, and storytelling. Can be presented in a typical classroom, maximum 30 students, 30-40 minutes. Most appropriate for grades 4-8.

Check out the lesson plan and complete kit from the Great Lakes Aquarium Teacher Resource Center if you’d like to present the materials yourself!

Favorite Links for Local Water, Wastewater Education, and Data

Great Lakes Aquarium Teacher Resource Center, Duluth MN

Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve , Superior, WI

Lake Superior Streams, Duluth MN

Rivers2Lake WELL: Watershed Educators Learning Link (a program of the Lake Superior NERR), Superior, WI