The Rivers Project curriculum seeks to offer students and teachers the opportunity to engage in an activity based program with real world implications for the environment. Its goal is to develop a national rivers curriculum that can cross the boundaries of traditional curricular areas to unite science, social science and English. The curriculum will propel a student force of "River Watchers" who will research and monitor rivers in their respective communities. A set of teaching materials will be developed that will: be applicable to any river; include chemistry, biology, and geology/geography units; be interdisciplinary and incorporate English and social science elements into each set of materials; focus on teaching data collection and interpretation; and use a computer telecommunication network to transmit and evaluate river data and writings. This curriculum development project will be a cooperative venture with state and national agencies, as well as business and industry. The data that will be collected can be used to solve problems and can contribute to scientific, historical, and data bases. When a Rivers Project school collects data, local state, and federal agencies will be able to access and assess the information. Teachers and students will, in turn, devise and conduct workshops for fellow River Watcher interns, creating a network of interested, involved and learning educators and young scientists whose ultimate goal will be to work for safe, clean rivers. Although the outcomes of the program target improved student understandings of river-related science concepts and facts, the major thrust will be to communicate a clearer view of the nature and processes of science and to actively involve students in the development of environmentally responsible behaviors.
