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Artwork to Inspire Discussion About Water Pollution

Provided by: Bow Seat |Published on: December 6, 2025

Lesson Plans

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Synopsis

In this lesson plan from Bow Seat, students will analyze youth-created artwork about water pollution to identify details, themes, and emotional elements.
Students will deepen their understanding of water-related issues by discussing observations with peers and reflecting on how artwork communicates ideas about pollution and human impact.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Visual and Performing Arts

Authors: Bow Seat

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This resource offers a clear, structured visual analysis routine that helps students observe artwork closely and share their interpretations with confidence.
The inclusion of global youth artwork makes the lesson highly engaging and gives students authentic entry points into conversations about water pollution.

Prerequisites

Students should be familiar with basic discussion norms and be comfortable sharing observations in small groups. Students should also be familiar with the causes of water pollution and the damage it does to the environment.
Teachers may want to review vocabulary such as tension, theme, and emotion to support students’ visual analysis.
Teachers will need to make the physical or digital frames for the Crop It activity.

Differentiation & Implementation

Though the ocean awareness contest described in the resource is over, students can still create their own art that tells their climate story.
If there is extra time, students can read through the reflections written by the artists to explain their pieces. Students can note how the artists express their sentiments in their Work.
Teachers can use this resource to make connections to Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Below Water.

Scientist Notes

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Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

Bow Seat: Creative Action for Conservation

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs is a global nonprofit working at the intersection of environmental science and the arts. Bow Seat hosts the annual Ocean Awareness Contest, inviting students worldwide to create art, writing, film, and other creative media to learn about and speak up against the climate crisis. Since 2011, Bow Seat has engaged with nearly 30,000 students in all 50 U.S. states and 138 countries.

Related Teaching Resources

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.