Our Land investigates the connections between snowfall, climate change, and the management of water resources in New Mexico. In this lesson, students will learn why winter precipitation is key to recharging our streams and rivers. They will also investigate what happens when there is not enough water to meet the diverse demands on this limited resource across the state. The videos highlight local experts and residents, discussing how the changing climate is altering our relationship with water.

There are two different lesson plans included with corresponding videos and student activities/handouts:

“Drought and Our Water Resources” looks into the limited water resources New Mexico has managed in the past and how they should be managed in the future. Explore how water is allocated with the "Pass the Jug" activity.

“Water and Snowpack” explores how El Niño and La Niña weather patterns are connected to precipitation in New Mexico and provides an answer as to why winter snowpack is so important to our water resources through an experiment with infiltration rates of snow and rain.