Each of the three RiverXchange® curriculum units features hands-on activities that reinforce one or more key water concepts known as The Big Water Questions.  These questions are intentionally broad — such as Is every place in the world part of a watershed? — to encourage students to reach for deeper meaning.

Each broad question can then be followed by one or more specific questions — such as What is a watershed?  Where does your river start?  Into what ocean does your river eventually flow?  How much precipitation does your community receive each year? The Big Water Questions are often used by teachers to prompt reflection after each presentation, as they can be asked multiple times and sometimes even elicit new answers. Additionally the Big Water Questions can be used as prompts for determining the issue of concern for the Action Project. 

The Big Water Questions help students to meet the RiverXchange® learning objectives and demonstrate competency in the science standards, but ultimately they are the foundation for becoming critical thinkers, problem solvers and water protectors!