I just finished A Long Walk to Water-which is unbelievable for those who have not read it. It really had me thinking about the purity of water but also the simplicity of it which is probably the reason many of us take it for granted (an abundance of clean water.) 

With the heat index higher this week towards the end of the week, we set up a little water station outside with a cooler and dixie cups, and I found myself on water patrol. Ironically, I had an interesting conversation with one of the little ones about water. 

Student: "We can have as much water as we want?"

Me: "Of course! It's right from the water fountain. It's free."

Student: "Water is free? Why? Because everyone has it everywhere around the world?"

Me: "Well...water is available to a lot of people but many people don't have clean water." 

Student: "So for them, they don't have dixie cups right?"

Me: "Right."  

Though this was just a brief conversation, I thought about how many times I could be having these conversations with my students to make them more globally aware, and I do not. And I think the obvious answer why I don't does come to mind and it is that I take a lot of our resources for granted as well. Or  perhaps I'm not as well-read as I should be. Regardless, these teaching moments are so very important. Because chances are, if students aren't having these conversations at school, they most likely aren't having them at home either. It is a long walk to water for many. When you are sitting in your air conditioned place during our 95 degree days, and you have a water filter and cold purified water sitting in a class, think about that long walk to water for many and then have a water conversation with someone else. Passing along the facts-that's half the battle.