Project WET and Earth Matters: A Challenge for Environmental Action
(from GSUSA Series Contemporary Issues)

Earth Matters: A Challenge for Environmental Action is a Contemporary Issues book that pairs perfectly with Project WET. The mission of Project WET and Project WET's Environmental Education Framework go hand in hand with the purpose and environmental education objectives of Earth Matters.

Earth Matters lists five objectives of environmental education:

• Awareness
• Knowledge
• Attitudes
• Skills
• Participation

These can be matched to the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) environmental education framework used by Project WET.

The Earth Matters: A Challenge for Environmental Action Contemporary Issue book does not require special parental permission. Girl Scouts of all age levels who complete one or more activities from each of the five chapters in the book can earn an Earth Matters patch. The path to completion of an Earth Matters patch is called a Program Trail.

I. Chapter One - Lessons from the Earth
Water Section
Activities for Girls

1. "Learn about the water cycle." Complete any one of the following Project WET activities:
   • Incredible Journey (p. 161)
   • Imagine! (p. 157)
   • Water Models (p. 201)
   • Water Match (p. 50)
   
   "As you walk around your community, identify elements of the water cycle that you see."
   • Rainy-Day Hike (p. 186)
   • Extension: Environscope, Watershed Model
   
   
2. "Find out where your drinking water comes from…How is the quality determined or tested?" Call your state Department of Natural Resources and complete the activity, Reaching Your Limits (p. 344)
   • Extensions: Sparkling Water (p. 348), The Price is Right (p. 333)
   • Resources: http://www.epa.gov/regional/federal/envrolst.htm
     http://www.uni.edu/iowawet/web/ques.html
   
   
3. "Observe the life forms in a lake or stream…what species indicate a healthy environment."
   • Macroinvertebrate Mayhem (p. 322)
   
   
4. "Adopt a stream or a lakefront. Do a project that will improve the wildlife habitat"
   • Water Actions (p. 12)
   
   
5. "Think of five ways your family can conserve water…Try them…Make posters to illustrate water conservation." Complete both:
   • Every Drop Counts (p. 307)
   • Water Meter (p. 271)
   • Extensions: Money Down the Drain (p. 329)
   
   
6. "Find out about different diseases that are carried by water" Complete either of the following:
   • Super Sleuths (p. 107)
   • No Bellyachers (p. 85)
   
   "Try to purify water in at least two ways…"
   • Sparkling Water (p. 348) and look in camping supply catalogs or stores at water purifying equipment.

II. Chapter Two - Building Earth Awareness
Chapter Introduction Questions (E.M., p. 20)

Making Connections - Activity Ideas

• Common Water (p. 232)
• Easy Street (p. 382)
• Combine one of the above with an interview of a grandparent or elderly friend.

• Incredible Journey (p. 161)

• Wish Book (p. 460)
• The Long Haul (p. 260)
• Combine one or both of the above with a reading of "The Bath" from page 387 of Project WET and an interview.

III. Chapter 3 - Developing Values to Last a Lifetime
Developing a Personal Code of Ethics and Moral Dilemmas

Do one or more of the following Project WET activities:

• Dilemma Derby (p. 377)
• Choices & Preferences, Water Index (p. 367)
• Pass the Jug (p. 392)
• Water Bill of Rights (p. 403)

IV. Chapter 4 - Environmental Action
Read Earth Matters p. 27 #1-5 and p. 32.

Complete the Project WET activity, Water Action (p. 12)

V. Chapter 5 - Ways That You Can Protect the Environment Water Resources

Complete the Project WET activity, Every Drop Counts (p. 12) or Idea Pools (p. 7) with water conservation as the topic.