National Geographic Society’s
Geography Awareness Week 2010
Walk for Water
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if fresh water (not salt water) was not
available to you?
No going to the faucet for a glass of water, not having enough water to bath with, to
wash your clothes, or even wash your hands. These are daily activities that we take for
granted, but if you lived in another part of the world, this would be a reality.
Two-thirds of the world’s families do not have access to water in their homes and
must walk to get their water. People in undeveloped countries have to walk an average of
3.7 miles in order to get fresh water, and the average weight of the water carried is 40
pounds.
Is this water safe to drink? In many places on Planet Earth it is not. Nearly one
billion people live without access to clean water, and more than two billion live without
access to sanitation facilities.
What would it be like for you to have to walk to the nearest body of
freshwater?
How far would you have to walk? How many trips would you have to make to get
enough water to take a bath? What would your day be like?
Here in Michigan with the Great Lakes and our numerous other lakes, rivers, and
streams we are pretty lucky. Michigan has 3,500 miles of streams and rivers alone. So,
how far would you have to walk to get your drinking water?
Let’s find the answer to all of these questions by taking a walk!
Michigan Geographic Alliance (MGA), as part of National Geographic Society’s
Geography Awareness Week, would like to have Michigan teachers take a walking field
trip with their students to their nearest body of freshwater. This may just be walking to
where you can see the water, if access is not readily available. Take the SHORTEST and
SAFEST route to get to the water. If the distance is too far to walk, simulate it by
walking around your building or in your gym.
When you take your walk, snap some pictures and send a copy to the MGA, and
contact your local newspaper to cover the story of your walk.
WALK FOR WATER
Activity One: How far is the nearest water?
Supplies needed:
 Access to videos on-line
 Maps of your area or access to Google Earth
 Gallon containers, such as clean milk jugs, enough for each student to have one or two.
(collect them ahead of time)
 Freshwater Quiz (attached)
Setting the Stage:
 Give students the Freshwater Quiz – then set it aside and revisit it at the end of the activity.
 Show the short video “Burdon of Thirst” to demonstrate what it’s like to have to walk for
water. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/video/player scroll down to the “Burdon of Thirst”. There are many more
video segments related to freshwater on this page that you may also want to use.
 Discuss with the students the images they saw in the video, and what it would be like if they
had to walk several hours to get their water.
Doing the Research:
 Give students a map of your area or use a Google Earth map.
 Have students figure out the distance to the nearest body of freshwater from your school,
and then map the shortest safest route to the water.
Hands on Activity:
 To demonstrate what it is like for people in other parts of the world to get freshwater,
have your class take a walking field trip to the body of freshwater they found in their
research.
 To further demonstrate the plight of these people, have students carry a gallon container
of water to show the burden of carrying water long distances. Leave the caps off the
containers, so students can see how hard it is not to spill the water.
Teachers Note: Younger students can take turns carrying a container. Older students can carry two or more gallons
of water. If the distance to the water is too far, only walk half of the distance or walk around the outside of your
building or in your gym.
When you return
 Debrief with students by asking: what they thought was hard about the activity, were they
tired, and could they make more than one trip.
 Have students figure out how many trips they would have to make to get enough water for
their daily use by completing Activity Two: “Walk for Water” Worksheet.
Teacher’s Note: You may needto drive and use your mileage gauge to get the actual distance traveled.
Wrap it up
 Pass back the student’s “Freshwater Quiz” and ask if they would change any of their
answers. Then give them the correct answers. This should lead to a great discussion about
freshwater.
 Show the video “Why Care About Water”
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/habitats-environment/freshwater/envfreshwater-whycare.html
Walk for Water
Worksheet
Activity Two: How many Gallons and Trips
Using the chart below and the information from activity one, calculate how many round
trips it take you to get freshwater for each of the following activities. Assume that you
would be able to get 3 gallons of per trip.
Gallons of
Water Needed
Activity
1. Bath
______
2. Wash your hands 6 times a day
______
3. Brushing your teeth 2 X a day
______
4. Flushing the toilet 6 X a day
______
5. Drinking 5 glasses of water
______
6. Using 2 pots of water for cooking
______
Total amount of water used
Gallons of water used ____÷ 4 Gallons
______ Gallons
(carried per trip) (1 gal. weighs 8.3 lbs.)=
____ Number of trips
(needed to get enough water for a day)
Distance traveled per round trip _____ Miles
X
____Trips needed = _______ Total distance
Number of trips _________ X _________ Total time per trip = _________ Hours (Amount of time
needed to get water)
Wash hands 0.1 gallons
Shower (low-flow showerhead) 15 gallons
Brush teeth 0.2 gallons
Boil pot of water for cooking 0.25 gallons
Flush toilet (ultra-low flush toilet) 1.6 gallons
Wash a load of dishes in sink (not running the tap) 10 gallons
Wash load of laundry in high efficiency washer 25 gallons
Shower (regular showerhead) 30 gallons
Tub bath 20 gallons
Drink a glass of water 0.008 gallons
Flush toilet (conventional toilet) 5 gallons
Wash a load of dishes in dishwasher 15 gallons
Wash load of laundry in conventional machine 40 gallons
Washed a car 15 gallons
Adapted from WaterPartners International “Tap Tally Sheet” (http://water.org/assets/PDF/ODsplishsplash.pdf)
Walk for Water
Worksheet Key
This is a sample key.
Activity Two: How many Gallons and Trips
Using the chart below and the information from activity one, calculate how many round
trips it take you to get freshwater for each of the following activities. Assume that you
would be able to get 3 gallons of per trip.
Gallons of
Water Needed
Activity
1. Bath
__20.00
2. Wash your hands 6 times a day
____.60 gal._
3. Brushing your teeth 2 X a day
____.40 gal._
4. Flushing the toilet 6 X a day
__30.00 gal._
5. Drinking 5 glasses of water
____.04 gal.
6. Using 2 pots of water for cooking
____.50 gal.
Total amount of water used
Gallons of water used _61.54_÷ 4 Gallons
gal._
__ 61.54 Gallons
(carried per trip) (1 gal. weighs 8.3 lbs.)
= 15.38_# of trips
needed to get water for a day
Distance traveled per round trip _1.5
Miles X 15.38 Trips needed = __23.07_ Total distance
(This is just an estimate as to the distance traveled.
How far was it to you nearest body of water?)
Number of trips 15.38_ X 30 Min._ Total time per trip = 461.4 Min. or 7 hr. and 45 min. Hours
Approximately
Wash hands 0.1 gallons
Shower (low-flow showerhead) 15 gallons
Brush teeth 0.2 gallons
Boil pot of water for cooking 0.25 gallons
Flush toilet (ultra-low flush toilet) 1.6 gallons
Wash a load of dishes in sink (not running the tap) 10 gallons
Wash load of laundry in high efficiency washer 25 gallons
(Amount of time needed to get water)
Shower (regular showerhead) 30 gallons
Tub bath 20 gallons
Drink a glass of water 0.008 gallons
Flush toilet (conventional toilet) 5 gallons
Wash a load of dishes in dishwasher 15 gallons
Wash load of laundry in conventional machine 40 gallons
Washed a car 15 gallons
Adapted from WaterPartners International “Tap Tally Sheet” (http://water.org/assets/PDF/ODsplishsplash.pdf)
Walk for Water
Activity 3 – What Would You Give Up
In activity two you figured out how many hours it would take you to get
enough water for your daily use, now think about what you would have to
give up in order to get this water. Below list your daily summer activities
(what you usually do) and how much time you spend on them.
Activity
Time Spent
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Below write what you would have to give up, in order to have the time
needed for you to get water for your daily use. Then write about how you
would feel if you had to give these activities up.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Challenge: Think about better away, for people living in an undeveloped country, to carry their water.
Write your idea on a separate sheet of paper. Remember to give details with your idea.
NGS Freshwater Quiz
For much of the world, drinking a glass of water is not as easy as filling up at a water cooler or even the kitchen sink.
Getting water is a difficult, time-consuming, and an absolutely necessary task.
1. Where does drinking water come from?
a. Surface water
b. Groundwater
c. Desalinated seawater
d. All of the above
2. How many people in the world lack access to fresh water?
a. 1 in 8
b. 1 in 15
c. 1 in 30
d. 1 in 50
3. How many people die every day from waterborne disease?
a. 880
b. 1,200
c. 2,500
d. 4,800
4. Freshwater can be unsafe for drinking for which of the following reasons?
a. Infectious disease
b. Toxic Chemicals
c. Radiological hazards
d. All of the above.
5. Which of the following are methods of sanitizing water for drinking?
a. Boiling it
b. Putting it in a plastic PET bottle and exposing it to sunlight
c. Using Chlorine tablets
d. All of the above
http://img2.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0703/f8209
bf513cba8f48817.jpeg
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=water&for
m=QBIL&qs=n&sk=#focal=4f178180b87ffa64c96e21
efc05cf7b3&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.international
rivers.org%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fwatercarry.jpg
6. Desalination plants produce how many gallons of drinkable water a day?
a. 80 million gallons
b. 400 million gallons
c. 8 billion gallons
d. 16 billion gallons
7. How many liters of water does it take to produce a liter of bottled water?
a. 1
b. 3
c. 5
d. 10
8. What percentage of people worldwide do not have water piped to their homes?
a. 5 %
b. 22%
c. 46%
d. 70%
9. On average, how far do women in developing countries walk to get water?
a. 0.5 miles
b. 1.3 miles
c. 3.7 miles
d. 6.9 miles
10. What country consumes the most bottles water per capita?
a. South Africa
b. U.S.
c. Australia
d. Italy
NGS Freshwater Quiz
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=water&form=QBIL&qs=n&sk=#focal=4f178180b87ffa64c96e21efc0
5cf7b3&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.internationalrivers.org%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fwatercarry.jpg
ANSWER KEY
http://img2.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0703/f8209
bf513cba8f48817.jpeg
For much of the world, drinking a glass of water is not as easy as filling up at a water cooler or even the kitchen sink.
Getting water is a difficult, time-consuming, and an absolutely necessary task.
1. Where does drinking water come from?
A. Surface water
B. Groundwater
C. Desalinated seawater
D. All of the above
Depending on where you are in the world, the water in your faucet could be drawn from groundwater or surface water
such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, or seawater that’s been desalinated.
2. How many people in the world lack access to fresh water?
A 1 in 8
B. 1 in 15
C. 1 in 30
D. 1 in 50
A staggering one out of eight-nearly 900 million people in total – lacks access to clean water. According to the World Health
Organization, in Africa alone 36% of people have no safe drinking water, and 40 percent have no adequate sanitation.
3. How many people die every day from waterborne disease?
A. 880
B. 1,200
C. 2,500
D. 4,800
Every day, 4,800 people worldwide die from waterborne diseases, such as cholera, leptospirosis, and botulism. According
to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, most waterborne diseases cause diarrheal illness, which is the second largest killer
of children worldwide.
4. Freshwater can be unsafe for drinking for which of the following reasons?
A. Infectious disease
B. Toxic Chemicals
C. Radiological hazards
D. All of the above.
Water can be contaminated by all of these reasons, plus several more. Waste from farms and factories is the
usual culprit, and there’s growing concern over the effect medicines and toiletries are having on our water quality.
5. Which of the following are methods of sanitizing water for drinking?
A. Boiling it
B. Putting it in a plastic PET bottle and exposing it to sunlight
C. Using Chlorine tablets
D. All of the above
Each of these methods, as well as several others, can make water safe for drinking. Dirty water and lack of a toilet and
proper hygiene kill 3.3 million people every year, most of them children.
6. Desalination plants produce how many gallons of drinkable water a day?
A. 80 million gallons
B. 400 million gallons
C. 8 billion gallons
D. 16 billion gallons
Every day, the world’s 14,450 desalination plants produce some 16 billion gallons of water. Around the globe, 300 million
people depend on seawater or brackish groundwater that’s too salty to drink.
7. How many liters of water does it take to produce a liter of bottled water?
A. 1
B. 3
C. 5
D. 10
The pacific Institute estimates that producing one liter of bottled water actually takes three liters – the liter of water that
goes into the bottle and two more that are used in the production process.
8. What percentage of people worldwide do not have water piped to their homes?
A. 5 %
B. 22%
C. 46%
D. 70%
Forty-six percent of people around the world do not have water piped to their homes. Instead they must rely on wells,
communal spigots, water trucks, lakes, or even dirty rivers.
9. On average, how far do women in developing countries walk to get water?
A. 0.5 miles
B. 1.3 miles
C. 3.7 miles
D. 6.9 miles
Women in developing countries walk 3.7 miles on average to reach the nearest well or get water in other ways. In these
countries where water is scarcest, getting water is almost always women’s work and can take many hours a day.
10. What country consumes the most bottles water per capita?
A. South Africa
B. U.S.
C. Australia
D. Italy
Italy leads the pack in consuming bottled water – 184 liters per person in 2004, according to the Beverage Marketing Corp.
That’s nearly twice as much as the United States, which comes in at 91 liters a person. Mexico is in second place, with 169
liters a person.
Freshwater Resources
National Geographic Freshwater Portal:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater
“Hidden Water” Interactive (explores the amount of water it takes to produce everyday items from
hamburgers to t-shirts, beer to wine, wind to coal power)
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/embedded-water/
Freshwater Story Interactive (the classic demonstration of how much of Earth’s water
is fresh vs. salt, and how much is available for human use)
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/freshwater-101interactive/
Freshwater 101 Quiz (good basic facts quiz, focused on conservation)
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/freshwater-101-quiz/
Drinking Water and Sanitation Quiz:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/drinking-water-and-sanitationquiz/
Climate Change and Water Quiz: (a “hot” topic!)
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/freshwater-quiz-climate-change/
Video: Why Care about Water?
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/habitats-environment/freshwater/env
freshwater-whycare.html
More Freshwater videos (conservation focus):
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/habitats-environment/freshwater/envfreshwater-whycare.html
Freshwater videos from National Geographic Magazine:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/video/player#/?titleID=sacred-waters&catID=1
My Wonderful World Newsletters –
http://blog.mywonderfulworld.org/geography-awareness-week/
http://blog.mywonderfulworld.org/2010/04/energy-for-water.html
March Water Edition:
http://newsletters.nationalgeographic.com/PS!nyRHYNJMwk4FBgIAAAAGCgFICgg2ODYwMjc5NAoKMjg0O
TM1MzE5OQkAPphjCgk1MTM1Mjk4MjEF
April:
http://newsletters.nationalgeographic.com/PS!0QTnAokP+uwFBgIAAAAGCgFICgg3MDQ5Mjg2NgoKMjg0O
TM1MzE5OQkAQal/Cgk1MjExODIxNTYF
May:
http://newsletters.nationalgeographic.com/PS!h0nCWvkmmbcFBgIAAAAGCgFICgg3MTE4Mjc4OAoKMjM1
NjU1NjIwNQkAQr7yCgk1MjcwNzk3NjMF
June:
http://newsletters.nationalgeographic.com/PS!AoZwiP+j2akFBgIAAAAGCgFICgg3MjA1Mjc5NAoKMjg0OTM
1MzE5OQkARCozCgk1MzU0NTIwNDgF
Partner Resources
4-H National Youth Science Day
The 2010 National Youth Science Day experiment, “4-H20,” examines connections among carbon
dioxide, water quality and global warming. The October 7 event is a great way to partner with
informal ed groups and generate interest in water issues leading up to Geography Awareness Week.
H20 for Life
H20 for Life is committed to helping United States schools extend clean drinking water and sanitation
to schools overseas. Through service learning projects, U.S. schools raise 50% of the funds needed for
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene education (“WASH”) projects. Non-governmental organizations raise
the other 50% and implement WASH projects in the developing world. In the process, American
students become more knowledgeable and engaged in creating a better global community.
National Environmental Education Foundation
The themes for the last two National Environmental Education Weeks were water (2009: Be Water
Wise!) and water-energy connections (2010: Be Water and Energy Wise!). Visit the EE Week website
for great resources for teaching about these topics:
OTHER RESOURCES:
Michigan Depart of Natural Resources and Environment
http://www.eeweek.org/water
U.S. EPA – Great Lakes
http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/basicinfo.html
Teach GLIN.net
http://www.great-lakes.net/teach/teachers/
The Freshwater Biome
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/freshwater.php
Discovery Education Freshwater Videos
http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/
Lower Elementary (K-2)
Fresh Water Booklist
Tiny Life in a Puddle- Physical
Bobbi Early
2005. Children’s Press. New York, NY
We might not be able to see them, but tiny bacteria and amoebas have their own communities in puddles.
Viewing these tiny life forms up close reveals a fascinating underwater world.
What’s in the Pond?-Physical
Anne Hunter
1999. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, MA.
What would you see if you sat at the edge of a pond and looked into the water? In this hand-size book, Anne
Hunter illustrates in loving detail the creatures that live in and around a pond-a water strider, a tadpole, a
red-winged blackbird, a painted turtle, and more. Each illustration is accompanied by simple yet detailed text
describing the animal's characteristics and habits. Young readers can put this book into a pocket or a
backpack and take it with them to the pond. The artwork and simple sense of wonder will inspire children to
explore their environment. What's Under the Log? is the perfect accompaniment.
In the Small, Small Pond- Physical
Denise Fleming
1993. Holt. New York, NY.
Spring is here, and along with it a flurry of activity for nature-minded kids to observe! An energetic frog
takes us on a tour of the small, small pond, mischievously interrupting the other animals at work and play.
As the seasons pass, slowly and gradually, dragonflies hover, herons plunge, whirligigs twirl, swallows scoop,
and turtles doze in the summer sun. Soon the leaves are changing — ducks paddle by, muskrats start
packing and stacking, and the snow comes. A last goose readies itself for departure as our frog friend digs
into a cozy spot in the mud to wait for next spring.
Lake Tahoe- Physical
Pam Zollman
2006. Childrens Press. New York, NY.
This colorful, fact-filled book takes young readers to Lake Tahoe. It describes the area's physical features —
the mountain ranges, the rivers, and the beaches. It also shows what visitors can do for enjoyment during
the winter and summer months.
Swimming Salmon-Physical
Kathleen Martin-James
2003. Lerner Publications Company. Minneapolis, MN.
Responding to the call of educators for easy-to-read nonfiction for younger students, Lerner created the Pull
Ahead Books series. With higher-level thinking questions built into each text, this innovative series engages
new readers in their own learning. A map activity, animal-body diagram, short glossary, and Hunt-and-Find
(pre-index skills) section are included. Supports the national science education standards Unifying Concepts
and Processes: Systems, Order, and Organization; Unifying Concepts and Processes: Form and Function;
Science as Inquiry; and Life Science as outlined by the National Academics of Science and endorsed by the
National Science Teachers Association.
In the Swim- Physical
Douglas Florian
2001.
Grab your snorkel and splash along with outrageous underwater creatures! Children will delight in the
playful, witty language of twenty-one lively poems while they learn about their ocean and freshwater friends.
Animal Babies in Ponds and Rivers- Physical
Jennifer Schofield
2007. Kingfisher. Boston, MA.
A simple introduction to the baby and adult animals that live ponds and streams.
Scoot!-Physical
Cathryn Falwell
2008. Greenwillow Books. New York, NY.
Six silent turtles sit still as stones on a log, as energetic movement by the other animals in the pond happens
all around them.
The River- Physical
Nik Pollard
2003. Roaring Brook Press. Brookfield, CT.
Describes the sights and sounds of a river, from its source high in the mountains to the place where it meets
the sea.
My River
Shari Halpern
1992. Macmillan. New York, NY.
Learn from creatures like turtles, eels, dragonflies, ducks, and many others who live in and by a river, about
why rivers are important and why we must care for them.
Alistair and Kip’s Great Adventure
John Segal.
2008. Margaret K. McElderry Books. New York, NY.
Alistair and Kip build a boat and soon find themselves sailing down the creek to the river to the bay and out
to sea where a violent storm threatens to capsize them.
Loon Lake- Physical
Jonathan London
2002. Chronicle Books. San Francisco, CA.
A girl and her father encounter loons and other lake creatures during a magical nightime canoe ride.
Upper Elementary (3-5)
Protecting Rivers and Seas- Physical
Kamini Khanduri
Using clear text and beautiful illustrations, this book outlines the threats to marine and freshwater habitats
and explains what can and must be done to conserve them.
Tropical Fish (Nature’s Children)
Robert Hirschfeld
1991. Scholastic.
Beautiful full-color photographs highlight this look at various marine and freshwater tropical fish. Instructions
for setting up and maintaining fish tanks, as well as information about the care and feeding of these exotic
pets, are included.
Great Lakes-Physical
Kimberly Valzania
2004.
This "Rookie Read-About Geography" series book introduces young readers to the Great Lakes. Colorful and
simple text highlight basic geographic facts about the lakes, including their location, how they were created,
and the type of animals that live there.
Freshwater Habitats: life in freshwater ecosystems
Laurie Toupin
2004. F. Watts. New York, NY
III. Content Standard C Life Science
3. Populations and ecosystems
- Population consists of all individuals of a species that occur together at a given place and time. All
populations living together and the physical factors with which they interact compose an ecosystem.
- Populations of organisms can be categorized by the function they serve in an ecosystem.
Rivers, Lakes, Streams and Ponds
Richard Beatty
2003. Raintree Steck-Vaughn. Austin, TX
Rivers, Ponds, and Seashore
Sally Hewitt
1999. Copper Beach Books. Brookfield, CT
The Web at Dragonfly Pond
Brian Ellis
2006. Dawn Publications.
Fox draws from his memories of fishing with his father to tell this true tale of a fish, a frog, a dragonfly, a
mosquito, and himself. The experience helped mold Fox's life-long connection with nature, and is a wonderful
example of entertainment that educates.
A Freshwater Pond- Physical- Small Worlds
Adam Hibbert
A Freshwater Pond describes the plants, animals, and insects that live in a pond and how they adapt to the
water's changing condition in dry summers and icy winters. Insects, amphibians, reptiles, and animals that
make the pond their home are featured along with plants ranging from simple, single-celled algae to
complex, bug-eating plants. A special section gives safety tips for visiting a pond and shows young readers
how to create their own mini-pond in a bucket. Fantastic fact boxes highlight:
-- the process from egg to frog -- hunting habits -- why some insects can walk on water
Salamander Rain: A Lake & Pond Journal-Physical
Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini
Take a closer look at your local lake, pond or woodland pool. Don't mind the mud -- see it from a kid's eye
view. You will find salamanders, frogs, minnows, cattails, and hundreds of other water-loving plants and
animals. Right near your home is one of the most exciting, sensory-rich environments in the world! The
wetlands in and around ponds and lakes are natural treasures waiting for young people to explore, discover,
and learn. Here is the journal and scrapbook of a young Planet Scout who kept notes for a year, shared the
results with his troop, and eagerly took on a pond cleanup project. He didn't mind the mud because his mind
was captivated by the daily drama of turtles, crayfish, dragonflies and water skimmers.
The Life Cycle of a Salmon- Physical
Bobbie Kalman & Rebeccas Sjonger
2007. Crabtree Pub. Co. New York, NY
Describes the life cycle, behaviors, and physical characteristics of salmon.
Barteby of the mighty Mississippi- Physical
Phyllis Shalant
2000. Dutton Children’s Books. New York, NY.
After being abandoned in a pond, Bartleby, a pet turtle, meets many other creatures, learns to survive in the
wild, and decides to go in search of his birthplace.
Horrible Harry Goes to Sea- Cultural
Suzy Kline
2001. Viking. New York, NY
The students in Miss Mickle's third-grade class enjoy a boat trip on the Connecticut River after a class
discussion of ancestors reveals that Sidney and Ida both have connections to the sea.
Amazon River Dolphins- Physical
Sandra Donovan
2002. Raintree Stech-Vaughn. Austin, TX.
Introduces the unusual dolphins that have adapted to life in the Amazon River Region of South America,
explores their habitats, and explains why they are endangered and what we can do to protect them.
River Story- Physical
Meredith Hooper
2000. Candlewick Press. Cambridge, MA.
This is the story of a river as it twists and turns, from its source to the sea. It starts, no wider then a hand,
races downhill, over rocks, through fields, past farms, into the city. Finally, at the edge of the land, it ends its
journey.
Paddle-to-the-Sea- Cultural
Holling Clancy Holling
1941. Houghton Mifflin. Boston.
A toy canoe is launched in Lake Nipigon by the Indian boy who carved it and in four years travels thru all the
Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence river to the Atlantic. A picture of the shore life of the lakes and the river
with full page pictures in color and marginal pencil drawings.
Life around the Lake- Cultural
Maricle E. Presilla
1996. Henry Holt and Co. New York, NY
For centuries, the inhabitants around Lake Patzcuaro in central Mexico have depended on the lake for fish to
eat, reeds to make baskets, and water for drinking and irrigating their cornfields. But the lake is now in
danger. Its water is becoming polluted, its native fishes are threatened by species introduced in recent years,
and efforts to dredge the lake have uprooted valuable grasses. The history and traditions of Lake Patzcuaro
are being kept alive by a group of women embroiderers, whose colorful, detailed works show homey scenes-a fisherman weaving his net, the town's craft market, a marriage ceremony. Full-page photos of the
embroidered pieces balance an informative text about the Tarascan people, which includes lots of Hispanic
terms and details about everyday life and special festivals. An attractive presentation that demonstrates the
impact environmental changes can have on a way of life. A pronunciation guide and information about the
embroiderers are appended. --Karen Hutt
Middle School (6-8)
Dinotopia River Quest- Physical
John Vornholt
Young Magnolia finds herself suddenly entrusted with the duties of Habitat Partner of Freshwater. An
earthquake has caused an important river to dry up, and Magnolia, along with her dinosaur companion and
some new friends, try to discover the cause
Freshwater Giants- Physical
Phyllis J. Perry
Watts Library
River dolphins, hippopotamuses, and manatees are all mammals that live in freshwater environments. Learn
what they eat and how they survive in a world that changes constantly.
Flush- Cultural
Carl Hiaasen
2005. Alfred A. Knopf. New York, NY.
You know it's going to be a rough summer when you spend Father's Day visiting your dad in the local lockup.
Noah's dad is sure that the owner of the Coral Queen casino boat is flushing raw sewage into the harborwhich has made taking a dip at the local beach like swimming in a toilet. He can't prove it though, and so he
decides that sinking the boat will make an effective statement. Right. The boat is pumped out and back in
business within days and Noah's dad is stuck in the clink. Now Noah is determined to succeed where his dad
failed. He will prove that the Coral Queen is dumping illegally . . . somehow.
Streams to the River, River to the Sea: a Novel of Sacagawea- Cultural
Scott O’Dell
1986. Houghton Mifflin. Boston, MA.
A young Indian woman, accompanied by her infant and cruel husband, experiences joy and heartbreak when
she joins the Lewis and Clark Expedition seeking a way to the Pacific.
Jacques Cartier: Exploring the St. Laurence River- Cultural
Jennifer Lackey
2007. Crabtree Pub. Co. New York, NY.
This exciting new book covers Cartier's three voyages, including his attempts to build colonies, and his
interactions with the Native peoples who lived in the regions he explored.
Haunted: The Riverboat Phantom- Cultural
Chris Eboch
2009. Aladdin.
Jon and Tania are back and tracking down more ghosts, this time on the Mississippi River on an antique
river-boat. With them are their mother and stepfather, producers of a hit TV show about "real-life" ghosts —
a topic no one on the crew seems to take all that seriously. But Tania has a gift — she can see and
communicate with ghosts, and this time she's in touch with the spirit of a riverboat captain who accidentally
caused the boat to catch fire, and he's making trouble for everyone. Will Tania be able to help this troubled
spirit find peace before disaster strikes again?
Dancing at the Odinochka- Cultural
Kirkpatrick Hill
2010. McElderry
Nearly 150 years ago, when Alaska belonged to Russia and was called Russian America, Erinia Pavaloff lived
at the Nulato odinochka on the banks of the Yukon River. Owned by the Russian American Company, an
odinochka was a trading post where native people traded their furs for precious Russian supplies.
Ultimate Field Trip 3- Physical
Susan E. Goodman
2000. Aladdin.
Imagine going on a week-long exploration of the Bay of Fundy, off the coast of Maine, to play with the
puffins, sun with the seals, and get an up close look at what life is like underwater. One group of middleschool kids actually made the journey -- and this book allows you to join their field trip, without getting
slimed by seaweed!
A fascinating firsthand account of the science of marine biology, this photographic expedition sheds new light
on the amazing hidden world under the water. Come along for seven days of sailing, sea creatures, and
science that you'll never forget.
High School (9-12)
Mississippi Solo- Cultural
Eddy L Harris
The true account of a young black man's journey in quest of a lifelong dream: to canoe the length of the
Mississippi River, from its source in Minnesota down to New Orleans.
Upstream: A Voyage on the Connecticut River- Physical and Cultural
Ben Bachman
1985. Houghton Mifflin. Boston, MA.
Ben Bachman has written an account of his journey in stages up the Connecticut River from Saybrook,
Connecticut, to Pittsburg, New Hampshire. It’s creative nonfiction—true stories written using the techniques
of fiction—and Bachman managed to slip in information about history, geology, and modern-day politics of
the places he passed without disrupting the flow of the story. Traveling mostly by canoe but occasionally on
foot, Bachman observed the moods of the river and its inhabitants, human and otherwise.
River Hourse: the Logbook of a Boat Across America- Cultural
William Least Heat-Moon
1999. Houghton Mifflin. Boston, MA.
In 1985, Heat-Moon set out on his most ambitious trip yet, from New York harbor to the breakwater of
Astoria, Oregon, almost entirely by water. Aboard his little launch Nikawa ("river horse" in Osage), HeatMoon logged more than five thousand miles, completing a trek no American had ever managed, yet following
in the wake of our greatest explorers, from Henry Hudson to Lewis and Clark.
En route, he encountered odder adventures, bigger and nastier cities, lonelier spaces, stranger people, and
more turbulent waters than even he had expected. He and Nikawa braved record-shattering floods,
foundered on hull-crushing sandbars, and overcame innumerable other travails great and small. The often
uproarious, often terrifying narrative teems with high adventure and fascinating characters. Heat-Moon, a
sage of the heatland, offers a singular arteriogram of our nation and its folk at the century's edge.
Confluence: A river, the environment, politics, & the fate of all humanity- Physical and Cultural
Nathaniel Trip
2005. Steerforth Press. Hanover, NH.
This book is a true confluence of art and science, politics and pragmatism, ideas and plans for action. It
highlights the ways in which rivers connect us all to one another. While our society has made great progress
in terms of local environmental improvement, such as cleaner water, we’re still dodging the big issues, such
as global warming. We have lost the vision of our planet gained in 1969 when astronauts sent back
photographs taken from the moon.
Anacostia: The Death and Life of an American River- Physical
John R. Weenersten
2008. Chesapeake Book Co. Baltimore, MD.
Located in Washington, D. C., the Anacostia River is a poster child for America's tragically neglected, abused
urban waterways. There are compelling ethical grounds for remedying this river's environmental problems,
for the Anacostia in our time demonstrates that environmental burdens like pollution and resource depletion
are not shared equally. Wennersten's book offers a corrective to the uncritical assumptions of growth for its
own sake, and development at the cost of our waters, our natural resources, and the health of our citizenry.
River: One Man’s Journey down the Colorado, Source to Sea- Physical
Colin Fletcher
1997. Alfred A. Knopf. New York, NY.
At age sixty-seven, Colin Fletcher, the guru of backpacking in America, undertook a rigorous six-month raft
expedition down the full length of the Colorado River--alone. He needed "something to pare the fat off my
soul...to make me grateful, again, for being alive." The 1,700 miles between the Colorado's source in
Wyoming and its conclusion at Mexico's Gulf of California contain some of the most spectacular vistas on
earth, and Fletcher is the ideal guide for the terrain. As his privileged companions, we travel to places like
Disaster Falls and Desolation Canyon, observe beaver and elk, experience sandstorms and whitewater rapids,
and share Fletcher's thoughts on the human race, the environment, and the joys of solitude.
Lostman’s River- Cultural
Cynthia DeFelice
1994. Macmillan. New York, NY.
In the early 1900s, thirteen-year-old Tyler encounters vicious hunters whose actions threaten to destroy the
Everglades ecosystem, and as a result joins the battle to protect that fragile environment.