Empathy Rocks in the USA: Flint Water Crisis

Find the Lesson Here

Students will find out information about what is happening in Flint, Michigan and the water crisis there. They will learn about what happens when people use contaminated water, and what people can do to counteract the unhealthy content. Students will then do an art project teaching them about healthy eating choices that block lead absorption.

Each month we will provide our “Empathy Countdown,” with 5 Acts of Kindness, 4 suggested art lessons with instructions, 3 Reading Guides, 2 Activities, and 1 Empathy Inspiration. Each has a lesson about empathy that can be discussed either before or after the art project is completed. These are simply extras provided for you if you would like to supplement the lessons, and are not required. Most projects shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes and are easy and fun for students.

 

Supplemental Guides for November

 
 

ACTS OF KINDNESS

  1. Leave coins around the playground for other kids to find.

  2. Leave a box of goodies in your mailbox for your mail carrier.

  3. Try to make sure every person in a group conversation feels included.

  4. Write a note to a classmate who might be feeling ignored by others.

  5. Smile at five strangers.

Art Projects

 

Worm in the Apple

Fall Mason Jars

Wax Raindrops

Decorative Mug

 

Reading Guides

 

You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Clean Water

The Water Princess

We Are Water Protectors

 

Classroom activities

 

Rainstorm

Hummingbird

 
 

 Empathy Inspiration

Free time when you’re in the computer lab? A great resource for kids that is educational, fun, and gives back is Free Rice! Through the UN World Food Programme, students can take trivia quizzes on English vocabulary, famous quotes, history, and more. Every right answer donates 10 grains of rice for the UN World Food Programme, which helps to feed hungry people all across the world.

Created in 2010, Freerice has raised more than 214 billion grains of rice for people in need. In cash equivalent, that is US $1.5 million! The UNWFP won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.