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Description
The Water Walker tells the story of an Ojibwe grandmother (Nokomis) named Josephine who loves Nibi (water). She raises awareness of the need to protect Nibi for future generations by walking all around the Great Lakes and from the four salt waters (oceans) to Lake Superior with the Mother Earth Water Walkers. In the story, written by Joanne Robertson, she encourages everyone to take responsibility to protect Nibi, the giver of life by asking, "What will you do for the water?"
General Assessment
Recommendation of how and where to use it
This book would be very useful during a book talk around Earth Day or a read-aloud text related to Indigenous Studies. Possible activity ideas include:
- Identify the areas mentioned in the book on a classroom map
- Learn the Ojibwe vocabulary presented in the book
- Interpret the pictures orally or in a writing assignment from pages 7-8 and 23-24
- Learn about the Ojibwe customs and traditions mentioned in the book, research other traditions and present to the class
- Write a letter to Nokomis Josephine (the address is provided)
- For older students calculate the distances walked around the Great Lakes, and from the oceans to Lake Superior
- Illustrate favourite parts of the book and write a summary of that section and explain why
- Re-enact the salt water walk with a Reader's Theatre
- Visit the website Mother Earth Water Walker to view photo galleries, recent news and stories as well as watch videos about the continued actions to protect water.
- A Teacher's Guide is available to download.
Relevant Curriculum Units
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- Science 2: Water is essential to all living things and it cycles through the environment
- Social Studies
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- Regional and Global Communities: Individuals have rights and responsibilities as global citizens
- Regional and Global Communities: Local actions have global consequences, and global actions have local consequences.
- Grade 3
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 3: Wind, water, and ice change the shape of the land.
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Global Indigenous Peoples: Learning about indigenous peoples nurtures multicultural awareness and respect for diversity.
- Global Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous knowledge is passed down through oral history, traditions, and collective memory.
- Global Indigenous Peoples: People from diverse cultures and societies share some common experiences and aspects of life.
- Global Indigenous Peoples:Indigenous societies throughout the world value the well-being of the self, the land, spirits, and ancestors
Themes Addressed
Ecosystems (1)
- Appreciating the Natural World
Water (3)
- Water Quality
- Water Use
- Watershed Protection
