Beads For Change by Rachel Fisher

Essential question: How does our water usage affect the environment?

Participants: Grade 5 students living in Southern Manitoba.

Place/ Context: The project is written in the context of Southern Manitoba, due to the inquiry and research based on local water issues.

Project Goals: The goal of this project is to inform students of how their water usage affects their environment. They will build not only their research, inquiry and writing skills, but also develop their roles as global citizens and advocates for proper water conservation practices by sharing their knowledge with others.

Project description

Beads for Change is a cross-curricular project designed for Grade 5 students in Southern

Manitoba. The project encourages students to explore the environmental and social impacts of water use and water waste. Students will engage in discussions, research, and creative expression to build their understanding of water justice.

The three-part project begins with students completing a Water Footprint Survey to assess their personal water use to initiate discussion and inquiry. Students will engage in guided research through a series of texts, including One Well: The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss, and Carole Linstrom’s We Are Water Protectors and Autumn Peltier: Water Warrior. These resources support curriculum connections and will introduce students to themes of conservation, Indigenous rights, and youth activism.

For the second part of the project, students will respond to their learning through a form of

writing that resonates with them.

The final part of the project, “Creating a Ripple,” allows students to display their work in a gallery walk and use words or phrases from peer writing to create a beaded bracelet. These items symbolize their water pledge and are shared with others in the community to spread awareness of local and global water issues.