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One of the strengths of Project WET activities is that they go beyond providing accurate and unbiased science information.

Water might be the content, but the methodology Project WET uses to deliver the content parallels what every good educator knows: that the most effective activities are relevant, hands-on, inquiry-based, culturally appropriate and help students learn about their ‘place’ in the world.

Incorporating music, math, language arts, creative movement and a host of other disciplines to deliver the content assures that there is something for students of all learning styles and backgrounds.

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—Wendy Sturgis, Watershed Education Consultant, Center for Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Montana

The cornerstone of Project WET is its methodology of teaching about water resources through hands-on, investigative, easy-to-use activities. Activities in all Project WET publications are:

• accurate and science-based. Project WET activities are reviewed by content experts and tested by educators and students. Activities are carefully monitored and assessed to ensure that strategies accurately convey the concept.
• interactive. Participants in Project WET activities are not passive observers. Engaging students through questioning and other inquiry-based strategies, educators become facilitators involving students in hands-on lessons and encouraging them to take responsibility for their own learning. For example, students design investigations to:
  • seek answers to real-world problems.
  • play games to explore scientific concepts.
  • reflect, debate and share by creating songs, stories and dramas.
• multi-sensory. Activities engage as many senses as possible. Research shows stimulation of multiple senses enhances learning.
• adaptable. While adaptable for any environment, many Project WET activities are ideal for outdoor settings and encourage children to be physically active.
• contemporary (21st century skills). Project WET activities help students develop skills necessary for success in the 21st century. In most activities students work in small, collaborative groups; many activities engage students in higher-level thinking skills, requiring them to:
  • analyze.
  • interpret.
  • apply information (including problem-solving, decision-making and planning).
  • evaluate.
  • present.
  Project WET is aggressively incorporating technology into its activities and offering cross-cultural materials to prepare students for participation in a global economy, in which an understanding of water resources will be critical.
• relevant. Information is not delivered in isolation. Educators are encouraged to localize activities to give them relevance.
• solution-oriented (ActionEducation™). Project WET believes in linking awareness and education to action and solutions. In this context, Project WET and local education and water partners incorporate educational materials and training with on-the-ground action and solutions.
• measurable. Project WET activities provide simple assessment tools to measure student learning.

Project WET activities are designed to complement existing curricula rather than displace or add additional concepts. Activities fulfill objectives and educational standards in the sciences, as well as other disciplines, from fine arts to health.