Going Blue

Gr 7 Up—Not just another book about the environment, this volume is organized around a five-stage concept of service learning: investigation, preparation, action, reflection, and demonstration. Each one is explained in detail with numerous examples of real teens making a difference in their communities. Other outstanding features include fact-filled sidebars, stories about scientists, full-color charts, and an abundance of high-quality photos. The book looks at bodies of water across the globe, including the Great Lakes, the Mekong River, and the Arctic Ocean. It addresses such topics as oil spills, droughts, floods, lack of clean drinking water, and plastic that litters beaches and forms gyres in the ocean. The reference section includes websites and an extensive bibliography tied to the stages of service learning. The authors focus on water resources but their techniques can be applied to other environmental issues. Earth science and ecology instructors will find this to be a valuable resource for planning active learning exercises.—Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges