In this activity, students will work in groups to debate one of three climate change issues in Brazil: niobium mining, creating natural preserves, or using deforested land for agriculture.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The handout links to several credible resources for students to use in preparation for the debate.
The teacher's guide and the handout can be downloaded and used offline.
Additional Prerequisites
The resource recommends using credible resources for research and provides some examples. It's important to reiterate this with the students.
The teacher's guide presents this as a single debate; however, there are three debate topics. Teachers can choose different topics for different groups or the same topic for the whole class.
Differentiation
Teachers could invite other students or faculty to judge the debates.
Geography or social studies classes could discuss how the Amazon rainforest plays a vital role in the environmental health of the whole planet.
Other resources include this ClimateScience debate activityon climate change issues in Israel, this article on the importance of forests in Brazil, and this video about how the Amazon rainforest plays a vital role in the water cycle.
Scientist Notes
Students will sharpen their debate and analytical skills on environmentalism, justice, and advocacy. This resource is recommended.
Standards
English Language Arts
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
9-10.SL.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically, so listeners can follow the line of reasoning; ensure that the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
11-12.SL.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective; ensure that listeners can follow the line of reasoning, alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed, and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and a range of formal and informal tasks.
Science
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
6.ESS3.3 Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
HS.ESS3.3 Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among the management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.
