F-3 Action Sheet – Information, Education and Awareness
Organize an Exhibit
Teaching goals
1. Develop students’ aptitudes in communication.
2. Synthesize and share knowledge acquired during the project.
3. Highlight student involvement in the community.
Environmental goals
1. Raise public awareness of problems involving the river.
2. Inform people about actions they can take to improve or maintain the
condition of their river.
3. Help protect local plants and wildlife.
4. Strengthen students’ feeling of responsibility toward the river studied.
Suggested approach
Step 1 – Getting started
1. Decide on a time and place for the exhibit. To increase the visibility and reach
of the exhibit, try to associate it with another event, such as parent-teacher
interviews, a science fair, an open-house, Environment Week, or Rivers to
Oceans Week. The event could be held at the school, a library or your local
community centre.
2. Make the necessary arrangements with the person in charge of the selected
location. Reserve the space and any equipment needed (laptop computer,
projector, table, etc.) for the date and time of your event.
3. Determine the type of exhibit: static or with interpreter(s). If you decide
to use interpreters, you must first ensure that there will always be a student
present at the exhibit location to provide the public with information. If you
opt for a static exhibit (i.e., without an interpreter), keep in mind that the
material will be displayed without being monitored and that equipment theft
is therefore possible. Also ensure that people will be able to clearly understand
the message you want to convey without any outside help.
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Planning time: 2 to 5 hours
Activity time: 2 to 5 hours
(variable depending on the content
of the exhibit, availability of
resource personnel and student
knowledge of the topic).
Difficulty: Medium
Funds: Low (- than $50)
Suggested materials
• Table
• Panels to display photos and
posters
• Laptop computer
• Projector
• Digital visual materials
(slideshow or documents with
images)
• Large pieces of cardboard for
posters.
• Simplified results on posters
• Field materials (hip waders,
physicochemical tests,
macroinvertebrate specimens,
etc.)
• Posters to advertise the exhibit
F-3 Action Sheet – Information, Education and Awareness
Step 2 – Distribution of tasks
1. Draw up a list of organizational tasks.
• sort information
• develop content
• organization and display of exhibit material
• design of digital visual materials (e.g., slideshow)
• production of posters summarizing exhibit’s topic
• promotion of exhibit
2. Form teams of 3 or 4 students and distribute the tasks among the teams
according to their interests and skills. Make sure every student has a suitable
role to play.
3. Selection of interpreters. Set up a timetable for the duration of the exhibit
according to student availability. We suggest that the exhibit be open during
lunch hours. This is when students are often available and will give the exhibit
that much more visibility. If the exhibit is at a library or community centre,
interpreters could be present on evenings and weekends. Make sure parents
agree to their child’s involvement in such a project.
Step 3 – Develop exhibit content
1. Determine with your students the exhibit’s content and message. You will
better grab people’s attention by making sure it is attractive (e.g., by displaying
field materials or striking photos). Find original, dynamic and interesting
ways to present your project data and to show people how they can get
involved to support the environmental cause you have chosen. Remember, it
is important that your audience quickly understand the work you carried out
in the field and the river’s state of health.
2. Ensure that the content is delivered well. Exhibit-goers must be made to
understand that it is vital to make efforts to conserve the river.
Step 4 – Publicize your exhibit
1. Send out an official invitation to teachers, school personnel and parents (if
the event is held in the evening). You can use, among other things, internal
newsletters to reach your target audience, or post the invitation on the school’s
website.
2. Along with your students, make promotional posters and put them up in
strategic locations around the school and near the exhibit location. Always ask
permission from the administration before putting up posters.
3. Send out a press release to local newspapers (see Action Sheet 4) to
encourage the general public to attend your exhibit (if possible).
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youth
working
for rivers
F-3 Action Sheet – Information, Education and Awareness
Step 5 – The exhibit
1. The day before the exhibit opens, confirm the arrangements you have made
(reservation of hall and equipment).
2. The morning of the exhibit opening, set up the exhibit material and test all
computer equipment.
3. Review the exhibit content with students and remind them of the roles they
are to play.
Step 6 – Wrap-up
It’s always a good idea to wrap up such a project by writing a press release for local
newspapers (see Action Sheet 4). The goal here is to inform even more people of
your actions and community activities.
Suggested project timetable
Don’t forget
You can take advantage of this event to raise funds for a future environmental
action or to ensure the long-term survival of Adopt a River at your school.
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