These Lakes Are Great

Read and discuss the handout below, Fishing for Facts. Read it together while learners highlight important information or make notes on the side about interesting facts to discuss further.

Show the cover of the picture book A River Ran Wild. Tell them it is the true story of how a once-great, clean river became polluted, and how Marion Stoddard and others practicing philanthropy helped save the river.

Read aloud the book, The River Ran Wild, and discuss the following questions:

1. How does a river change over time? Is this change always good or bad?
2. What factors did we discover about the Nashua River that we could see happening in the Great Lakes or another body of water?
3. Why do you think Marion felt that it was her responsibility to act philanthropically and accept stewardship for the river?

As readers become curious about terms that come up in the reading, discuss their definitions and context: ecosystem, pollution, estuaries, conservation, water quality, philanthropy, stewardship, community capital, selfish, and selfless.

Create learning groups based on action ideas or interests of learners. Discuss how the concepts involved in stewardship and philanthropy can be connected to the saving of our Great Lakes ecosystems (or other local water systems).

Each learning group creates a social media post or challenge, or an advocacy poster to encourage others to get involved in caring for water resources. They may come up with a catchy slogan about caring for the water, reflecting the message of the famous slogan, "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute." They decide their audience and design and share their campaign publically.