A Writing Root for We Are Water Protectors

Outcomes:

List poems, non-chronological reports (animals), chronological reports (life-cycles), character descriptions, protest signs

Main Outcome:

Environmental campaign

Length:

3 weeks, 15 sessions

Overview and Outcomes:

This is a three-week Writing Root for We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade, in which children explore the true story of the narrative, and produce descriptive non-fiction writing in different forms, such as writing the life-cycle of water, identifying environmental issues, researching Native American tribes and creating a campaign to look after a local stretch of water.

Synopsis of Text:

Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth's water from harm and corruption--a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.

Water is the first medicine.

It affects and connects us all . . .

When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth

And poison her people's water, one young water protector

Takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource.

Text Rationale:

This inspirational book tells the story of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests from the point of view of a Ojibwe girl who joins the protests in order to protect the community’s water supply. The story highlights the environmental effects of corrosive, unchecked greed and the importance of people power and protest. Indigenous culture is represented authentically through the highly poetic narration and award-winning illustrations.

Links and themes:

Water, water-cycle, pollution, conservation, indigenous peoples, representation of indigenous culture, environmentalism, protest, politics, hope 

Date written: June 2021