Hello Sequoia,

Your question is an important one - it helps students take an interest in the content they are learning if they feel a connection to it, and having a connection with their location is a strong motivator. One technique I have used a lot is to have the students look at maps. If you have internet available, Google Maps is a versatile and flexible tool. Students can look at their location, then look at factors such as land cover - is it mainly buildings, trees, or a mix? and distance to the nearest water. You can use this link

https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/data/mapper.html

to find maps showing wetlands, streams, ponds, and other water bodies anywhere in the US. If you zoom in, you can access information about a particular wetland or stream by clicking on it.

Even though your students can't go out, they can get a sense of the nearest water and how it is part of the landscape.

Good luck!