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What Shall We Do? What Shall We Do?

Lesson 4:

From Unit Water Resources and the Role of the Independent Sector

Lesson

Handouts

Academic Standards

Philanthropy Framework

6th-8th Grade

Subjects:

Library / Technology, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

PHIL:	Community; Environmental Stewardship; LEAGUE Wildcard Lesson: Environment; Service Plan; Social Action; Stewardship
SOC:	10 genOn; 4 genOn; Adaptation; Citizenship/Civic Engagement; Civic Responsibility/Virtue; Economics; Environment; Natural Resources; Public Policy; Water

Purpose:

The purpose of this lesson is to assist students in identifying ways the different sectors have demonstrated community stewardship through philanthropy.

Duration:

Two to Three Sixty-Minute Class Periods

Objectives:

The learner will:

identify examples of private citizens who have influenced business/industry and the government in their decisions and practices concerning water supply and quality. ·
illustrate the role the four sectors play in water conservation.
identify problems faced locally, state wide, regionally, nationally, and internationally in water supply and quality.
propose solutions to two of the problems identified.
develop a plan to assist an organization that is involved in water conservation.

Service Experience:

Although this lesson contains a service project example, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.

Students will develop and implement a plan to assist a local or national non-profit organization involved in water conservation. This may be in the form of a fundraiser, raising awareness, or actively participating in an activity.

Materials:

Examples of citizens influencing government and industry. (See Bibliographic References for suggestions)
Magazines, glue sticks, rubber cement or school glue, scissors, stencil letters
Action Plan (Attachment One)

Handout 1: Action Plan

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set:
Tell the learners that they are going to create a collage to illustrate how the four sectors practice or don't practice water conservation.

Divide students into cooperative learning groups of four each. Distribute old magazines to each group. Instruct the students to look for ways in which the four sectors practice or don't practice water conservation. Each group is going to create a collage to illustrate their findings with each student being responsible for a different sector: 1) government, 2) industry and business/for-profit, 3) independent or nonprofit, and 4) family.

Upon completion of the collages, students will display them and share their findings.

While still in their cooperative groups, ask students to brainstorm possible problems and solutions for water supply and quality locally, state wide, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Many of the problems will be the same but some may be unique to the region. Remind students that the water supply is not the same in all areas. Some areas are desert regions and have a real scarcity of water.

Students will select an organization that specializes in water conservation and develop a project to assist the organization. Students will also begin a campaign to conserve water at home and school by making posters and signs to remind others of the importance of our water resources. See UNESCO's website at http://www.unesco.org/water/ and Pacific Institute at http://www.worldwater.org/ and American Water Works Association at http://www.awwa.org/.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed on their collages for accuracy and creativity.

School/Home Connection:

Students will explore with their parent(s)/guardian(s) ways in which they can have a positive influence on water supply and water quality in their own community. Encourage students to develop an action plan with their parents. This could be used as an extra credit assignment or as a homework assignment. Action Plan (Attachment One) is provided for that activity.