Water Blogged

Looking in Dr. Lauritzen’s fourth-grade class at Treaty Rock Elementary School (Idaho), students are busily filling empty gallon jugs with water. For the past few weeks, students have been collecting these from home. The students read the book, “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park and wanted to find a way to help others gain access to clean water and sanitation.

The fourth-grade class learned about the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and this led students to want to help others. Dr. Lauritzen’s class collaborated with Mrs. Walker’s 4th & 5th and Mrs. Barnes’ 4th Grade class on the Walk for H2O. Students asked friends and family members to pledge money and sponsor the one- to two-mile walk.

Each teacher and student walked over a mile carrying a gallon of water to symbolize the burden that women and children in developing nations must bear on a daily basis. The students also received a post-walk ice cream treat courtesy of the Coeur d’Alene Sons of Norway Harald Haarfager Lodge 2-011. The Treaty Rock students and teachers raised over $895 in pledges. The money raised will help the nonprofit organization H2O for Life bring water, sanitation, and hygiene education to a partner school in South Sudan’s Bahr el Ghazal region. When finished with the walk, the students used the water in the jugs to water trees on the school grounds.

Treaty Rock fourth-graders found the project enjoyable and rewarding. Fourth-grader Paisley Roberts says, “It is meaningful to me because I know I am doing a good deed. I know a kid out there will appreciate what I have done for them.” Helping others made many students feel a sense of pride. “This is important to me because when I help, I feel like a better person,” said Avelyn Zabel.

-submitted by Dr. Karen Lauritzen, Treaty Rock Elementary School