The book We Are Water Protectors is a perfect book to read for Earth Day. In the story written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade is about indigenous led movements to safeguard the Earth's water.
While reading this story or after the story asking questions to a child or children really can deepen their understanding of the importance of water. You can ask questions like: How is water used daily? Where does water come from? What can poison water? What can we do to save water and the environment? How can we do better to help planet earth? Why is water so important? These types of of discussions teaches children about community, how we can take action to help, and empowering them to do better.
Since the book is full of images of nature you can integrate the literacy experience by inviting the children to paint water through resist art. On paper you can draw images of the book with a white crayon, oil pastel, or tempera paint stick. Then provide liquid water colors and invite the to paint the water.
Integrating art to deepen the connection with the literacy experience is a great way to continue to the discussion of the book as well as giving the child the freedom to be creative. Creativity is as important as literacy so when the two come together it sure makes for beautiful art.
