Lesson Plan - Saving the Amazon

About the Article

Learning Objective

Students will learn about the Amazon rainforest and analyze a climate map showing drought levels in the region.

Curriculum Connections

• South America

• Ecosystems

• Climate Change

• Indigenous Groups

• Conservation

• Global Connections

Key Skills

Social Studies:

• Understand the relationship between human populations and the physical world

• Evaluate causes and implications of environmental change

• Use geographic tools

English Language Arts:

• Analyze causes and effects

• Integrate information presented in multiple formats

• Conduct short research projects

Key CCSS Standards

RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, WHST.6-8.7, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4, W.6-8.7, SL.6-8.1

Essential Questions

  • Why are ecosystems important? How can humans affect them?
  • How can people help protect the environment?
  • What can we learn from climate maps?

1. Preparing to Read

Build Background and Vocabulary

Have students choose one of these countries to research with the interactive atlas and almanac: Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, or Venezuela. (Click “Atlas & Almanac” in the top menu at junior.scholastic.com. Then select “World Atlas.”) Ask students to write three sentences with facts about the country they chose. Then use Words to Know to preteach domain-specific terms in the article.

2. Reading and Discussing

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently. After students read, ask: What are drought levels like in the country you chose to research?

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.

• Who is Omar Tello? How is he helping the Amazon? (Key Details)
Omar Tello is a small landowner in Ecuador who has regrown a patch of the Amazon over the past 40 years. He is working with other landowners and groups to try to save the rainforest.

• Why is the Amazon important? How is climate change affecting it? (Cause and Effect)
About 10 percent of the Earth’s plant and animal species live in the Amazon. Its trees store carbon dioxide, helping to protect the planet from climate change. Climate change is causing the atmosphere above the Amazon to dry out and is making the area warmer. According to biologists, parts of the Amazon may not have enough rainfall to survive in the future.

3. Skill Building

Watch a Video

Have students watch “All About Climate Change.” Then discuss: What is climate change? How would you explain it to a friend? What can people do to help?

Practice Reading Climate Maps

Have students answer the questions about the map on page 21 independently or in groups. Review answers. For more practice, assign the Climate Map lesson from our Map Skills Boot Camp.

Assess Comprehension

Use Quiz Wizard to assess students’ comprehension of this article and three others from the issue.

Differentiate and Customize

For Struggling Readers: Guide students to analyze the photos to support understanding. Read the captions aloud. Ask: What does each photo show? What does it tell you about the Amazon? Discuss as a class or in groups or pairs.

For Distance Learning: Ask students to research a country that’s home to the Amazon. Reinforce map skills by having them calculate the distance from its capital to two other capitals. Then guide students to present in breakout groups.

Printable Lesson Plan

Text-to-Speech