Group items tagged

Price, Sean. Water Pollution: Saving Our World. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2008. Age Range: 9 and up Publisher's Description: Thousands of animals are dying because of water pollution. Read about all the different things that are polluting the waters-causing terrible pollution disasters-in this amazing book. The powerful images clearly show the causes and effects of water pollution, and the easy-to-read text explains how you can help change things for the better.

Shoveller, Herb. Ryan and Jimmy and the Well in Africa that Brought Them Together. Toronto: Kids Can Press Ltd., 2006. Age Range: 8 and up It costs a lot of money to build a well in Africa -- a lot more than Ryan Hreljac had thought. Still, the six year old kept doing chores around his parents' house, even after he learned it could take him years to earn enough money. Then a friend of the family wrote an article in the local newspaper about Ryan's wish to build a well to supply people with safe, clean water. Before long, ripples of goodwill began spreading. People started sending money to help pay for Ryan's well. Ryan was interviewed on television. His dream of a well became an international news story. In Agweo, Uganda, villagers were used to walking a long way every day in search of water. What they found was often brown and smelly and made a lot of people sick. But when Ryan's well was built, life in the village changed for the better. A young orphan named Akana Jimmy longed for a chance to thank Ryan in person for this gift of life -- clean water. When they finally meet, an unbreakable bond unites these boys from very different backgrounds, and a long and sometimes life-threatening journey begins. Ryan and Jimmy is part of CitizenKid: A collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens."

Linda Sue Park, A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story (New York: Clarion Books, 2010). Age Level: 10 and up Publisher Description: When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven-year-old Silva becomes seperated from his family and must walk with other Dinka tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in search of safe haven. Based on the life of Salva Dut, who after emigrating to America in 1996, began a project to dig water wells in the Sudan.

Tremont first grade classrooms partnered with H2O for Life, an organization that helps find solutions to the water crisis around the world. The first graders learned to become global citizens. Students at Tremont learned that while we are all different, together we can make the world a better place.

The Environmental Literacy Council (ELC) is an independent, nonprofit organization made up of scientists, economists and educators striving to connect teachers and students to science-based information on environmental issues. ELC's website offers more than 1,000 pages of background information and resources on environmental topics-Air & Climate, Land, Water, Ecosystems, Energy, Food, Environment & Society-along with curricular materials.

Ntozake Shange, We Troubled the Waters (New York: Amistad, 2009). Age Level: 6-10 Publisher Description: From slavery to the separation of "colored" and "white" and from horrifying oppression to inspiring courage, there are countless stories-both forgotten and immortalized-of everyday and extraordinary people who acted for justice during the civil rights movement that changed our nation. Award-winning poet Ntozake Shange and illustrator Rod Brown give voice to all those who fought for their unalienable rights in a triumphant book about the power of the human spirit.

These photos, taken in June 2011, show the Provide Clinic in the settlement of Korogochi, in Kenya. The clinic is a UNICEF-supported health centre providing care and treatment for local women and children. Living in Korogocho is tough. Over 200,000 people live within one square kilometre, squeezed in together with poor water and sanitation facilities. Households in Korogocho spend most of their incomes on staple foods. Because of rising food prices, families cope by reducing the size and frequency of their meals. As a result, severe malnutrition is a problem.

100cameras envisions a world where marginalized children are empowered to renew their communities by sharing their perspectives with a global audience. 100% of the money earned from the children's photography is given back to their local organization to provide the following needs: Lifeline supplies such as food, water, shelter Educational resources General healthcare and medical supplies

The Earth's population is soaring, but its resources are finite. Can we provide food, water, energy - and televisions, cars and holidays - for everyone, and leave future generations more than a planet-sized rubbish tip? BBC News Online explores sustainable development in a six-part special.

de Rothschild, David. Plastiki Across the Pacific on Plastic: An Adventure to Save Our Oceans. New York, NY: Melcher Media, 2011. Age Range: 9 and up Publisher's Description: Explorer, global green leader, and eco-TV host David de Rothschild recounts the extraordinary journey of the Plastiki, an innovative and mostly untested sixty-foot catamaran that floats on 12,500 reclaimed plastic bottles. It was a voyage that took de Rothschild and a five-person crew 10,000 miles from the U.S. to Australia, sailing through rarely traveled, dangerous waters, risking their lives to call attention to our fragile oceans. Their exploration included urgent study of ocean pollution, island nations threatened by rising seas, damaged coral reefs, and the acidifying ocean itself and their discoveries are a call to action. Packed with exciting narrative, images, maps, journal entries, plans, and sketches, this is the only firsthand account of what may be the most important adventure of our time.

Curriculum from UNICEF UK. See photos and case studies on pages 22-33.

Do you know when this was published? Some of the information seems quite dated.

It was published in 2005, so I'm sure much of the content is outdated. I think the photos and case studies at the end may still be useful, though. Those stories highlight the causes of malnutrition (drought, poverty, polluted water, war, etc.) and the impact on children and families. All of that is still timely. So you could potentially adapt the stories to edit out any dated material and to be age-appropriate. Of course we would have to get permission from UNICEF UK, but it's a possibility if these case studies fit well into the unit.

Alma Fullerton and Karen Patkau, A Good Trade (Toronto: Pajama Press, 2013). Grade Level: K and up Publisher Description: In a small Ugandan village, Kato wakes early to start the long barefoot trek beyond his village and along fields dotted with cattle and guarded by soldiers. As it is every day, his destination is the village well, where he will pump a day's supply of water into two jerry cans before trudging home again. But this is no ordinary day. The aid worker's truck arrives at the village square, and in the back is a gift so special, the little boy rushes home to look for something to repay the aid worker.

PBS. "D4K: Nutrition." Accessed March 26, 2013. http://unctv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/idptv11.sci.life.reg.d4knut/nutrition/ Grade Level: 4-6 Description: This video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K demonstrates the path food takes in our body in order for us to absorb nutrients. The functions of the 6 nutrients of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals and water are described with examples of each nutrient.

Goodman, Polly. Coasts: Earth in Danger. London, England: Hodder Wayland, 2001. Age Range: 7 and up Publisher's Description: Most of the Earth's people live near coasts. Many animals and plants also make their homes here. This book tells you how coasts can be damaged or protected. It also helps you to find out how pollution and tourism are changing coastal life.

Burns, Loree Griffin. "The Garbage Patch." In Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007. Age Range: 10 and up Publisher's Description: Aided by an army of beachcombers, oceanographer Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer tracks trash in the name of science. From sneakers to hockey gloves, Curt monitors the watery fate of human-made cargo that has spilled into the ocean. The information he collects is much more than casual news; it is important scientific data. And with careful analysis, Curt, along with a community of scientists, friends, and beachcombers alike, is using his data to understand and protect our ocean.

O'Sullivan, Joanne. 101 Ways You Can Help Save the Planet Before You're 12! New York, NY: Lark Books, 2009. Age Range: 6 and up Publisher's Description: It's easy being green! Kids have enormous potential to affect change, and this enlightening book harnesses children's natural energy, enthusiasm, optimism, and drive to make a difference in the world. Young eco-activists will feel empowered as they begin doing simple things such as cutting down on water use, starting a compost bin, and creating litter-free lunches. From these activities will grow even greater sensitivity to how they, their families, schools, and neighbors can have a positive impact on our planet. A list of websites encourages further exploration.

Allison, Rachel Hope. I'm Not a Plastic Bag. Los Angeles, CA: Archaia Entertainment, 2012. Age Range: 6 and up Publisher's Description: Based on the real-life occurrence of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an island of floating trash in a remote area of the Northern Pacific Ocean more than twice the size of Texas, I'm Not a Plastic Bag tells a moving story about loneliness, beauty, and humankind's connection to our planet. Produced in conjunction with American Forests and the Global ReLeaf programs, Archaia will plant two trees for each tree used in the manufacturing of this book. Presented in partnership with JeffCorwinConnect, a global, ecological, educational and entertainment multimedia company launched by Jeff Corwin, the popular wildlife expert and nature conservationist.

Glaser, Linda. Our Big Home. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press, 2000. Age Range: 5 and up Publisher's Description: A joyful celebration of the Earth with the important environmental message that we share the planet not only with all the various people of the world, but with the plant and animal worlds as well. The loosely rhymed poem describes water, sun, soil, air, wind, sky, night, and moon and serves as a breezy introduction to ecological interdependence. Kleven's colorful artwork is full of subtle detail and depicts children and adults playing, dancing, relaxing, and working all over the world-from the African plain to a Caribbean island to a South American mountain. The artist uses an effective mix of media, from collage to chalk, to portray depth of scenes and vibrancy of detail. A lively look at "-our big blue-green, growing-sun-warmed-life-giving-precious living home."

Cherry, Lynne. A River Ran Wild. San Diego, CA: Voyager Books, 2002. Age Range: 6 - 9 years Publisher's Description: In the 15th century, when native people first settled on the banks of the river now called the Nashua, it was a fertile and beautiful place. By the 1960s, the river valley had been ravaged by many years of serious pollution , and fish, birds, and other animals were no longer seen in the area. Through the efforts of Marion Stoddart and the Nashua River Watershed Association, laws were passed that resulted in the restoration of this river and the protection of all rivers. The author gets high marks for documenting the negative impact of industry on the environment and for highlighting the difference one determined person can make. However, young readers lacking historical background need more facts and dates than are included here. Cherry uses borders on pages that detail, for example, some of the inventions conceived in the 19th century; inexplicably, most are labeled but only some are dated. Her note and the maps on the endpapers, which include a timeline, also help to place the events in context. The watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations are sweeping in their subject matter and adequately convey the physical deterioration of the watershed. However, one picture is misleading; although all the animals depicted live in this habitat, they would not all be seen together. The current concern over the environment will make this a sought-after title, since it is brief enough to read aloud to groups of children. With assistance from informed adult readers, it makes an important contribution to literature on water pollution.

School of Fish is an interactive and exciting adventure into the awesome underworld of the sea and sea-life...from learning to protecting and even eating!