An interactive story to illustrate water pollution and its impacts
I came across this fantastic idea while working as an environmental educator in Belize, (see references below). I went on to share it with educators and students I worked with in the Philippines and Fiji Islands as I love how it actively engages students in telling the story and provides a strong visual impression of the problem. I have since updated it with Causes and Consequences cards and photographs to make the instructions clearer.
clean water
polluted water
The story involves a fish travelling from its home through connected ecosystems and encountering different sources of water pollution in each. Substances like soil and soy sauce are added to the water to represent the pollutants and students consider the effect on the fish. At the end they discuss whether the fish will survive and whether it would be safe to eat it, making the link to how pollution also effects humans. A great follow up activity is asking the students to the to remove the pollutants from the water. Other ideas could be exploring how to prevent pollution at source or creating a story map.
If you would like a free download of the lesson plan including instructions, cards and editable scripts go to one of the Teachers Telling Tales online stores:
screenshots of some of the files included in the free pack
References
This activity is adapted from ‘Fishy Tales’ lesson in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Systems (MBRS) Project guide for primary schools. They cite their source as: Utah Lesson Plans, adapted from Chilton-Stringham, P., Wolanin, J., (1995). Water, Stones, and Fossil Bones. “Fred the Fish.”
Vocabulary
To dive deeper into the vocabulary linked to water pollution, take a look at an example of a quiz on Quizlet
As Hallowe’en approaches and scary stories send chills down spines, Greenpeace have released a terrible tale with a powerful message. The new animation follows on from the hugely successful short film ‘Rang-tan: the story of dirty palm oil’. In ‘Monster’ we meet the fearsome Jag-wah and learn how his rainforest home is being destroyed for industrial meat production.
The expressive language, rhythm, rhyme and repetition make it a rich learning resource. The illustrations capture the contrast between the beauty of a forest and the horror of its destruction.
Greenpeace have produced resource packs (for 7-11 and 11-14 year olds) that are free to download from the link below. On this page there is lots more information, tips and a calming ‘five minutes of serenity’ rainforest video.
Rang-tan has been watched millions of times and there is also a book telling the tale of the baby ape who has lost its mother and home through the creation of palm oil plantations. Like Monster, it is told it two parts: the child and the homeless animal. They both end with the child taking action, spreading awareness so the problem can be resolved.
There are lots of teaching resources inspired by Rang-tan, produced by Greenpeace and others. Here are some to check out:
The first animated short film from Belize, Tecuani and the Duende also features the iconic jaguar and tells a tale about the impacts of unsustainable human consumption and its impacts on the precious biodiversity of rainforests. Can a young girl be the voice of the jaguar and prevent humans from making the same mistakes again?
Do you have any favourite films or resources for teaching the rainforest topic?
One class I taught were big fans of this song and its lovely animation:
Elephant enjoying a mud bath after a dip in the river, Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Photo by Fiona Childs
Eight Ideas for World Elephant Day
Watch baby elephants being fed. Live footage will be beamed across the world from the Elephant Orphanage Project in Zambia by IFAW and partners Game Rangers International. Click the link to watch or set a reminder.
2. Take part in online activities Activities including colouring contests, crafts and quizzes are being organised by MEME (Management and Ecology of Malaysian Elephants).
3. Learn about elephants Research on https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ There’s slideshows and information on Asian and African elephants in child-friendly formats.
4. Celebrate with Elmer Download the free Elmer activity pack. It was produced for Elmer Day (May 23rd), but if you missed it, World Elephant Day is the perfect time to use it! There’s colouring, collage, model making, puzzles, games and more. Children could use the templates to make their own Elmer or create their own pattern as in the story when the elephants decorated themselves for a parade. Collage using squares is great for younger children and patchwork works well for collaborative work. I once created a large wall hanging by sewing together patches knitted by my Year 6 students.
Elmer collage using colourful squares, glue with brushes and an outline. Good for early childhood or SEND settings.A Year 6 class (10-11 year olds) knitted squares for this large wallhanging of Elmer.
6. Learn about Mosha The first elephant to receive a prosthetic foot after being injured by a landmine at just 7 months old. Mosha inspired Elephant Parade, a fantastic project to raise funds for Friends of the Asian Elephant.
Artists from around the world create beautiful designs for elephant statues that are displayed in cities and auctioned to raise funds to help elephants. Smaller replicas are produced for sale. I was so moved when parents of a class I once taught bought me one as a thank you gift at the end of the year.
Replica of Spring Blossom created for Elephant Parade by Ciska van der Meer. What a beautiful gift!
7. Design an elephant for a parade. You can submit your sketches using a form here. You can also take part in the Artbox Contest by decorating an elephant model, your design could end up on a full sized elephant in an exhibition!
8. Support Elephant Conservation Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand was the first ‘Hand Off’ project in Asia, providing a sanctuary and retirement home to elephants that have been abused and injured through logging, circus and tourist camps. As the coronavirus pandemic has affected tourism they have taken on elephants from other places where the owners are no longer able to afford to keep them. I visited there last December when I took these photos. I recommend checking out their website and following on social media, they regularly post videos great for sharing with children. How about celebrating World Elephant Day by making a donation or sponsoring an elephant?
Heart-melting stories of two of the elephants at Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai
Photos of elephants I took at Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, available in high resolution from Adobe Stock: elephant pairelephant portrait
I used to volunteer with Shark Savers Singapore, raising awareness about the conservation status of sharks and working towards reducing the demand for shark fin soup.
My first project was putting on a performance at a dive show with a collection of children, the youngest was three, so fortunately a couple of mums helped too! For simple costumes we used hoodies with fins constructed of felt and card stuck on. The teeth were really quick and easy, white felt cut into zig zags and stuck around the edge of the hood with double sided tape. The same idea was used for a youth dance group.
The fin design was developed so that it could be mass produced. Branding and messaging was added and it was worn by volunteers at events and given to the public to spread awareness.
Shark Savers fin prototype, final design with conservation message and worn by volunteers and public.
As well as a glossy ‘leaflet’ style fin, blank templates were created for creative use. For example, in booths at shows with art materials as a competition to create a conservation message or given to students at schools after presentations to decorate with what they had learned.
The winning entry in a fin decoration competition at a dive and travel show, photo: Shark Savers Singapore
Children decorate fins after a presentation I gave for Shark Savers Singapore, photos my own.
To make your own fin there is a template in the downloads section or alternatively make your own. A simple DIY version I have used many times is to use a frozen pizza box. The card is a good thickness and strength and the side panel works well for the spine of the fin. One side can be painted or coloured.
Shark dorsal fin made from pizza box with elastic to wear ‘backpack style’ and TTT template.
If you make a shark costume please share your pictures!
Sea Walls Stories – Turtle Mural Painting with Atelier Aquatic by Fiona Childs
As 2019 slid into 2020, I was in the Philippines catching up with a friend, Anita. We met on a marine conservation training course several years ago and discovered we had a lot in common. We both had art degrees, were teachers and had made Bristol in the UK our home. Following the training, we stayed on to collaborate on a Sea Adventure School project involving a floating classroom!
A scouting trip for the Sea Adventure School project, Fiona (left), Anita (right) photo by Neil Wilkinson Photography
Anita has since founded Atelier Aquatic , a Community Interest Company based in Port Barton, Palawan. The concept is to engage communities in marine life education and conservation bringing together science and art. I was eager to see how it was all going and to join with the Art on Barton project taking place in December.
Art on Barton Flyer
Art on Barton schedule
I arrived just before Christmas to find turtle murals by local and international artists splashed around the village and was just in time to help out with a couple of paintings!
A selection of some of the turtle murals created by local and international artists for Atelier Aquatic’s Art on Barton event, December 2019. Photos by Atelier Aquatic.
Why all the turtles?
Port Barton is known as the turtle capital of Palawan. The most popular activity is island hopping snorkel tours and the number one attraction is ‘Turtle Spot’. You can see green, hawksbill and occasionally olive ridley turtles in the region. In the past the village relied on fishing for survival, but with low stocks they now depend on tourism. As yet, it remains relatively undeveloped. Locals are aware of the pitfalls that mass tourism can bring from observing nearby places and are keen to manage Port Barton’s growth sustainably. They recognise and value the beauty of their home and natural resources. Turtles are of course, endangered and protecting them is of huge importance.
Turtle Workshop and Hatchling Mural
A local bar and restaurant, Villa Marguerita had asked for a mural on one of their walls. It’s a beautiful location, right by the beach with a grassy area alongside, so it was a perfect mural to involve local children with. Anita designed a mural that evokes the connection with people, the beach and turtles. She planned a workshop for children to be running alongside the mural painting.
While Anita prepared the mural, myself and other volunteers set up the turtle art area with good quality sketch paper, watercolour paints and lots of pictures of turtles for inspiration. It was great to see such a range of ages and the depth of concentration, perhaps after a while off school they were keen to have an activity to do! Through looking carefully at the photographs, discussions, then a quiz, there was lots of learning about turtles too. (quiz download)
Turtle workshop featuring a quiz and creation of art work, Atelier Aquatic Art on Barton project. Photos Fiona Childs and Atelier Aquatic.
The Biggest Threat and the Greatest Hope
The Biggest Threat and the Greatest Hope, mural by Atelier Aquatic and kids of Port Barton, Palawan. Photo Fiona Childs
It was really interesting to observe the process, I learned so much, from how to set it all up to ensuring the process goes smoothly and getting effective results. Some key takeaways:
Limit the palette to a few colours for more effective results
Add white to improve coverage and to create tints (so the colours work well together)
Use a stencil and spray paints for really great results that children will be proud of. They can personalise their part using a brush afterwards.
Have volunteers and an activity running at the same time so the number of children working on the mural is manageable.
Running the painting and workshop in a public place is a great way to get people interested in what you’re doing.
Art on Barton, Atelier Aquatic, photos Fiona Childs
Having painted the hatchling mural in such a gorgeous spot, this one was not as idyllic, but I learned a lot and it ended up looking great so good to share! It was right next to a ditch with uneven, slightly squelchy ground and as it got dark enough to use the projector, the mosquitoes came out to see what we were up to! Every time a car, motorbike or person passed you had to pause in painting, but, again, it aroused a lot of curiosity and gave us the opportunity to talk about the project with locals and tourists.
Anita showed us a really quick and efficient way to paint an image onto a wall using a projector. We used the same technique of adding white to the paint to make it cover well. Rollers made the background really quick to do, (a cardboard box from a local shop made a perfect paint tray), and they were really good for getting a good circle edge for this design.
A big thank you to Anita and Atelier Aquatic for such an enjoyable stay and sharing your expertise. If you would like to volunteer with Atelier Aquatic, they offer a four week programme or a shorter option to gain Reef Check Eco Dive certification. Check the website or email Anita anita@atelieraquatic.org for more information.
Further Reading:
I interviewed Anita about Atelier Aquatic for Gaia Discovery.
