Title: Fish Food for Thought#118

National Standard: 18 How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

State Standard: 15

Teaching Level: E

Objectives/Purpose: Students will use information from the book, A River Ran Wild, by Lynne Cherry to develop ideas on ways to protect and preserve U.S. waters.

Materials: drawing paper, coloring utensils, scissors, glue, blue bulletin board paper

Procedure:
1)After reading the book, discuss the purpose of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As a group define the words: environment, protect, and agency.
2)Inform students that the Federal Clean Water Act was passed in 1970. The goal of this act was that all U.S. waters would be fishable and swimmable by the year 1983. Ask the students if they feel this goal was met?
3)Have the students draw and decorate a fish on a piece of paper and add a thought bubble (like those seen in comic strips). You may wish to develop a reproducible paper for students.
4)In the thought bubble ask the students to write a suggestion that people can use to help reach and maintain the goal of the Clean Water Act.
5)Cut out the fish and thought bubbles and display them on blue paper creating an underwater mural.

Evaluation/Assessment: Student work and participation. Teacher observation.

Enrichment/Extension: Have students research local environmental action groups. Invite speakers to visit the classroom.

Reflection: How successful was this lesson? Did all students benefit? Were there any surprises? What might you do differently another time? Please note any changes that will make this lesson more effective and useful in the future and pass them along to the NHGA. We appreciate your comments.
Thank you.
The authors.

Back to document index

Original file name: 118rtf - converted on Tuesday, 20 October 1998, 20:55