Water Warriors is a multimedia-based curriculum that guides students in an exploration of our most valuable resource, WATER, through human rights and Indigenous lenses. The lessons enable students to step into the roles of water warriors (protectors). Students gain an understanding of the vital importance of water as the source and sustenance of life and develop the skill sets needed to investigate water issues in their own communities. The curriculum combines science, social studies, humanities, human rights and art to provide students with a profound learning experience about WATER.
This module sets the stage for the Water Warriors curriculum. These lessons create the foundation of understanding human rights, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the right to clean water for all. The teachings include perspectives from Indigenous leaders and Indigenous youth about the sacredness of water and the need for our invaluable resource to be protected. Students identify how they use water and through the lesson activities begin to prepare themselves to become water stewards.
This module engages students in the study of watersheds – as landscape features, ecosystem components, and water sources. The lesson progression has students first explore the concept of water quality: what makes water potable, what type of pollutants threaten water quality, and how to minimize water pollution. Students then work with maps of various scales to explore watersheds and relate watershed components to their function and importance. Lastly, students will study the water cycle and the science of how water travels through our ecosystem, specifically emphasizing the path it travels in and out of students’ homes. Students will ultimately connect healthy watersheds to critical services, like clean drinking water, productive fisheries, and outdoor recreation, that provide for human livelihood and well-being.
This module is the culmination of the preceding teachings; students are now equipped with the skill sets needed to become active water warriors. These lessons are scaffolded for students to work in groups as they create their own action plan to promote water rights and water protection in their communities. Students will synthesize what they learned and transform their theoretical knowledge into action. The lessons address leadership, problem analysis (including root case analysis), and designing an action plan.