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Based on popular school field trips at historic St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, and associated with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Working River Online: A Virtual Journey to the Falls engages students with four topics deeply associated with the upper Mississippi River: its geology, its role as a transportation corridor, its waterpower, and the continual effort of stewardship. Each topic consist of four sections:

1. National park rangers and park partners introduce each topic through video with related inquiry questions and vocabulary.
2. Learn It: Students explore and learn about the topic through slide decks, videos and readings.
3. Do it: Students work with a hands-on activity, product or project.
4. Know it: A short pre or post-quiz allows students to see what they know about each topic.

A fun literacy component is offered through a persuasive writing activity. Students can use their newfound knowledge about stewardship to write an essay which can be entered directly on the site for a chance to be featured in the Persuasive Writing Showcase!

For teachers and students taking their learning further, the resource section of the website offers both books and weblink materials for more exploration of topics. These resources are curated by the education team and offer a variety of materials from lesson plans for teachers to engaging videos, books and articles for students.

For more information, visit the website or reach out to David Kappelhoff, education coordinator with Mississippi Park Connection.