I have been exploring the new B.C. curriculum drafts for Social Studies and thinking about what directions we might take in my Grade 2/3 class next year.
A few of the big ideas:
- Local actions have global consequences, and global actions have local consequences.
- Communities are interconnected with their natural environment
Some content items:
- diverse features of the environment in other parts of Canada and the world
- responsibilities of global citizenship
- relationships between people and environment in different communities
All of these things (above) started me thinking about . . . water.
Access to water. Shortages of water. Water scarcity. Water as a human right.
I think there is so much to learn here. So many questions. Such a relevant and necessary topic. And of course, I immediately started making a book list. Here are titles I may share in my room this year. Other suggestions? Please share them in the comment section.
Through these books, I hope we can both learn about and celebrate all that is water.
Water is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Jason Chin
All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon and illustrated by Katherine Tillotson
Every Last Drop: Bringing Clean Water Home by Michelle Mulder
A Cool Drink of Water by Barbara Kerley
One Well: The Story of Water on Earth written by Rochelle Strauss and illustrated by Rosemary Woods
Poetry (with a water theme):
Water Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas with illustrations by Violeta Dabija
Songs of the Water Boatman written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Beckie Prange (pond life)
Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems by Kate Coombs illustrated by Meilo So
Relevant biographies:
Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A Nivola
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau written by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Éric Puybaret
The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jaques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino
Thanks to Alyson from Kid Lit Frenzy for the inspiration to read and share more nonfiction picture books in 2015. Follow the link to Alyson’s blog to read about more nonfiction books you need to read!
There's a Book for That 
These are terrific choices. I also like RAINDROPS ROLL by April Pulley Sayre.
Ah yes, a beautiful suggestion. We haven’t see rain here in Vancouver – at least not proper rain for so long. I sure miss it.
It will come – eventually!
I still need to find the new Water Is Water, but know most of these, Carrie. It will be a great topic. A colleague last year did use ‘water’ for her class theme, and during that time we searched and found this list from Tricia-Stohr Hunt: http://bookishways.blogspot.com/2015/01/thematic-book-list-water-and-water-cycle.html. There are some that are different from yours, but some the same. I hope it will add to your search! I know I especially enjoyed the Pat Mora book, Water Rolls, Water Rises. Happy Hunting!
A wonderful resource Linda! I am just getting started so early on in the search. Much appreciated. Water is Water is really gorgeous.
For grades 5-8: A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story, by Linda Sue Park
If my students were older, I would absolutely read this to them. Thinking of reading it to my own children who are twelve. Such an important book.
You should also look at :
Hope Springs by Eric Walters
Great for communities around the world, sharing, building community etc. .
Great suggestion! Ordering it now. I loved My Name is Blessing by same author/illustrator.
Both are great. I was lucky enough to have a chance to talk with Eric before he did a presentation for the older students at our school and get both my copies autographed. Looks like he has another book similar to Hope and Blessing but I can’t remember the title.
Love all your posts and suggestions.
My Kiddo lives in California where water is really scarce now because of the drought. I can really appreciate the value of water and the need to take care of it for the future. Books like these help kids understand water’s value, so thanks for sharing the lovely roundup of water related books.
I hope it can be a starting point for teachers/parents. But looking at all of these wonderful suggestions, I may be doing a part 2 list! We are experiencing a very dry summer here in Vancouver. I think this is an important and timely theme.
Carrie, This is one of my favorite poetry books. It’s older, but I hope you can find it at your library.
Splish splash : poems
by Graham, Joan Bransfield.
Publisher Ticknor & Fields, c1994
Thanks for the suggestion! I see it is available on Amazon. Checking to see if the library has it.
I’m really enjoying your collage/lists. This post reminded me I’d been meaning to read World Without Fish, not included, but I think might fit.
Thanks Earl. I just marked World Without Fish as To Read and will look for it at the library.
A great collections! ♥
Thanks – I am also enjoying all of the suggestions!
What a wonderful set of books! I appreciated it and would like to share many of the titles with my students also.
I am so glad this is helpful Crystal!
You are such an angel! I’ve looking at books about the hydrosphere for teachers at dickens who are planning on studying this next fall. I’m acquainted with some of these, but some are new to me. My biggest challenge so far is finding materials for grades 5/6/7 filled with complex connections. Anyway I’m thankful for this list and will check them out.
So pleased this might be helpful Cheriee! It is a list more geared to primary as I will be teaching primary this year but great starting points and many people left great suggestions in the comment section. I also want to focus a lot on the social/political/global aspects of water – access, shortages, etc.
Carrie, thanks for including WATER CAN BE… in your great roundup I have read all these books except the Nivola and Yaccarino ones (will remedy that soon!), and they are all fabulous. I made a short book trailer about WATER CAN BE… and my support of WaterAid (I donate 10% of my earnings from the book to WaterAid) at https://youtu.be/fSCj31deFqM. And I have several other videos, like the forms of water (see http://www.laurasalas.com/nonfiction/nfbks/water_vids.html). And teaching/reading guides, activity sheets, etc., at http://www.laurasalas.com/nonfiction/nfbks/water.html. Maybe one or more of these might be useful to your water unit.
You are so wonderful! Thank you for all of this. I just spent the morning reading A Long Walk to Water – so very emotional and am off to the library to pick up some titles that I requested to consider for purchase. This is all very helpful. I am very appreciative!