A+River+Ran+Wild+An+Environmental+History

A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History Grade 5 Content Standard 7. Variations among physical environments within the Western Hemisphere

influence human activities. Human activities also after the physical environment Instruct students to get out a notebook and a pencil. Tell students while you read the story to them they should take notes on the changes that occurs to the river throughout the story.

Next, begin lesson by reading A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History aloud to the class. Then, as a class, discuss the changes which occurred to the river in Massachusetts. Ask the students if they were able to divide the river’s history into 6 different events what would the title of these events be? (Answers

should resemble: 1) Indian Settlement Nash- Away 2) Nashau 3) Industrial Revolution 4) Pulp Clogged River 5) Protest 6) River With the Pebbled Bottom

Teacher will then pass out materials needed for activity. Materials (per student): 1 large circle, 1 medium circle with 1/6 piece of pie cut out, 1 paper clip (see example of visual below) markers/crayons

Instruct the students to divide the large circle into 6 equal parts and name each section with the title of the 6 main events which the class decided occurred to the river. Students should draw a picture of each event under its given title. Attach the small circle to the center of the large circle with the paper clip. Students should then be able to spin the top circle around and see the effect humans have had on the physical environment of the Nashau River.

Prompt the students to discuss the reasons why the river changed. Answer: The negative effects from human settlement and development of civilization/ positive effect of human intervention and movement to clean up the river