Purpose
Students investigate how the Los Angeles River shapes the lives of people, animals, and neighborhoods by studying its history, ecology, and current community challenges. Working with River LA resources, field observations, and research on the agencies that regulate water quality and availability, they build evidence-based understanding of pollution, habitat loss, runoff, and access. The experience prepares students to create a multimedia presentation and slideshow that propose realistic community actions to support a healthier river. Through feedback from River LA staff, LA River board members, and local government representatives, students strengthen critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and self-direction in work connected to their city.
Learning goals
Students will explain the history and purpose of the Los Angeles River, analyze how it affects nearby communities, and describe how native and urban-adapted plants and animals depend on the river ecosystem. They will research water quality, availability, and the roles of local, state, and federal agencies using River LA resources and field observations to build evidence-based claims about pollution, habitat loss, stormwater runoff, access, and community impact. Working in teams, students will create and revise a multimedia presentation and slideshow that communicate realistic actions people can take to support a healthier river, using feedback from River LA staff, LA River board members, peers, and their own reflection. Through discussion, exhibition, and the before-and-after reflection wall, students will strengthen critical thinking, collaboration, self-direction, and clear public communication.
Products
Students will create a living question-and-observation wall at launch, field observation notes with ecosystem evidence, and a before-and-after reflection wall that tracks how their thinking shifts from initial questions to final evidence-based claims. In teams, they will develop draft slides, visuals, and short media pieces that explain the river’s history, key species, pollution, runoff, habitat loss, access issues, and the roles of local, state, and federal water agencies. After a mid-project critique with River LA staff and LA River board members, students will revise into a final multimedia presentation and slideshow that highlights current challenges and proposes realistic community actions to support healthier water, habitats, and neighborhoods. These products will be shared through interactive booth displays at the LA River Action Expo and presented to local government representatives, River LA staff, and board members.
Launch
Open with a River Stories Pop-Up in which a River LA guest speaker shares photos, maps, and short community stories about the Los Angeles River’s history, wildlife, pollution, runoff, and public access challenges. Students rotate through quick provocations, add observations and questions to a living wall, and respond to the essential questions about how the river affects people, animals, and neighborhoods today. To ground the inquiry in real evidence, students analyze a few local case examples that point to the roles of city, county, state, and federal water agencies, then identify what they want to investigate further. Close with a brief before-learning reflection wall so students capture initial claims they can revisit during the project.
Exhibition
Host an LA River Action Expo where student teams run interactive booths featuring their multimedia presentations and slideshows on river history, native and urban wildlife, pollution, runoff, habitat loss, and community impacts. Invite River LA staff, local government representatives, LA River board members, families, and community visitors to rotate through the exhibits, ask questions, and leave feedback cards on clarity, accuracy, and usefulness of the proposed actions. Include a before-and-after reflection wall that displays students’ launch questions alongside their final evidence-based claims about how the river affects people, animals, and neighborhoods. End with brief student speaking rounds in which teams share one key finding and one realistic action community members can take to support a healthier LA River.
