Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE
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Purpose:
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the concept of the life of a river and pollution through the story A River Ran Wild.
Duration:
One Forty-Five to Fifty-Minute Class Period
Objectives:
The learner will:
- define and demonstrate proper use of the terms: common good, preserve (as in clean water) and public good as applicable to clean water.
common good (n) Resources shared for the collective benefit of the whole group of people. preserve (v) To keep or save from destruction or injury. public good (n) Any good that, if supplied to anybody, is necessarily supplied to everybody, and from whose benefits it is impossible or impractical to exclude anybody. - determine the effects of actions on the common good.
- determine basic effects of water pollution on the quality of life.
- identify and relate the causes of water pollution.
- make decisions relating to solving water pollution problems.
Materials:
- Book, A River Ran Wild (see Bibliographical References )
- Blackboard or chart paper
- Writing instruments
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Hold up two bottles of water, one containing clean and one containing dirty water with sediment. Ask the learners which they would rather swim in, bathe in, or drink. Discuss why. Explain that the river waters were once fit to drink and the story to be read will help to demonstrate how our current water supply came to be in the shape it is in. Explain to learners that water that appears clean to them may indeed be very unsafe for bathing and drinking.
- Ask class members how the water they drink is made safe to drink.
- On the board or chart paper write down the brainstormed answers to "What we know about how water gets polluted." (Write down all answers.)
- Make another column headed "How to clean it up."
- Discuss why we should clean the river. Introduce the concept of Common Good . See prior definition.
- Introduce the book, A River Ran Wild.
- Read aloud and discuss the content.
- Help learners develop the definition of economy as a way the nation produces, distributes and consumes goods and services.
- Emphasize the effects of the actions in the book on the economy and the Common Good .
Assessment:
Revise the chart of "What we know…"
School/Home Connection:
- Interactive Parent / Student Homework:
The learners are to draw a picture of two ways they can better conserve water in their homes.
Extension:
Invite a speaker from the local water supplier to talk about how the city purifies its water. Plan a site visit to the local water treatment plant. Obtain the proper permission forms from the school or district and secure parent/guardian chaperones.
Bibliographical References:
Cherry, Lynne. A River Ran Wild. Harcourt Brace and Company, 1992. ISBN 0-15-200542-6
Lesson Developed and Piloted by:
Pamela McIntoshDetroit Public Schools
Woodward Elementary School
Detroit, MI 48208
Handouts:
Unit Contents:
Overview:Rivers for the Common Good Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- River and Us (A)
- 2.
- River through Time (A)
- 3.
- What Does Waste Do to a River?
- 4.
- Taking Care of the Water Cycle
- 5.
- Mock Trial, A Service Activity
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
Comments
Students found the book "A River Ran Wild" very interesting. The book is a good illustration of how the environment gets polluted and how to work to clean it up.
The book was interesting for the students. Great example of gradual pollution and then a slow clean-up.
Brainstorming allows me to assess their prior knowledge. "A River Ran Wild" is a great book. Students really get a good idea of how pollution got started.
The way several benchmarks are fully integrated is vital. I liked being able to introduce common good while teaching about water.