SECTION 2 - Examples of Materials
Facilitate a pre-reading discussion using handout # 8 - a collage of newspaper headlines about the water crisis in Walkerton, ontario in 2000. It involved contaminated water that resulted in sickness and deaths. Locate Walkerton on a map of canada so participants can see where it is in relation to their own community - is it near or far? In the same or a different province?
Identify key words and phrases from the headlines and record on the flipchart:
Discuss the key words and have participants share what they know about what happened in Walkerton. Have participants use each word in the collage to make a statement about what happened at Walkerton. Record the statements on the flipchart.
In preparation for this activity, you will need to make photocopies of hand-out # 9. Cut each copy into strips following dotted lines. Put each set of strips into an envelope - one for each participant. Make additional uncut copies of the handout.
Distribute the envelopes and ask participants to read the strips and put them into chronological order. They can work individually, in pairs or in small groups, depending on skills levels. When they have finished, distribute uncut copies of the handout so that they can check the chronology.
Read aloud, clarify as necessary and discuss.
Ask, "From this chronology, what role do you think the Ontario government had in the deaths in Walkerton?" Discuss ideas and opinions. Record key points on the flipchart.