In this experience, students are introduced to the physical geography of Brazil. They learn about four landscape types in the country. Then they focus on what the Amazon rainforest is, why it’s important, how it is threatened, and what possible solutions are. Finally, students research and explain the threats to the coastlines and beaches of Brazil.
Students are introduced to Brazil’s diverse physical geography and environmental issues through brief background text. They complete a drag-and-drop activity to label four Brazilian landscape types (rainforest, savanna, wetlands, coastlines) using photo clues, then post to a collaborative wall inferring what these four landscapes suggest about Brazil as a whole.
Teacher MovesPresent the lesson overview and objectives. Facilitate discussion of student inferences about Brazil’s landscapes, highlighting the country’s varied terrain and apparent access to water. Guide the class in generating working definitions for rainforest, savanna, wetlands, and coastlines, and explain that students will investigate these biomes more deeply in the next scene.
Students view images of Brazil’s beaches and explore the interactive map Brazil Biomes to learn about the Amazon Rainforest, Savanna (Cerrado), Wetlands (Pantanal), and Coastlines, recording key information in a graphic organizer. They read the Fast Facts, Geography, and Nature sections of Brazil Overview and may add details to their notes. Students then answer several questions about Brazil’s geography and the Amazon rainforest using multiple-choice and inline-choice items.
Teacher MovesPrompt students to carefully examine the biomes map and support them in using the note-taking organizer effectively. Encourage students to integrate information from the reading into their organizer. Monitor responses to the questions to check for understanding of Brazil’s major physical features, climate, and the extent and characteristics of the Amazon rainforest, providing clarification as needed before moving on.
Students watch Which came first - the rain or the rainforest? to understand how rainforests function and why they are important. They post to a wall describing key rainforest features and their significance in their own words. Next, they examine a satellite image showing deforestation in the Amazon and learn about threats to the rainforest by reading Rainforest Threats and watching Using drones to tackle deforestation, using a dictionary for unfamiliar terms. They then write a paragraph explaining why the Amazon rainforest is important, identifying three major threats, and suggesting possible solutions, drawing on the resources and any additional research.
Teacher MovesDiscuss student takeaways from the video, emphasizing how rainforest water cycles, biodiversity, and climate effects differ from other biomes. Use the satellite image to highlight the scale and patterns of deforestation. Support students as they synthesize information from the article and video into their explanatory paragraph, prompting them to include both threats and realistic solutions such as sustainable practices and conservation efforts. If time allows, invite interested students to further explore the topic using WWF: Amazon and share additional insights with the class.
Students read an explanation of three major environmental problems affecting Brazil’s coastline—water pollution from sewage, plastic pollution, and oil spills—and view images in Brazil environment: Clean-up on beaches affected by oil spill to see the impact of recent spills. They write a letter to someone unfamiliar with these issues, describing the main problems along Brazil’s coastline and proposing actions that could help protect and restore the beaches. Students then review classmates’ letters and respond to at least two with a question or positive comment.
Teacher MovesClarify the different types of coastal pollution and their effects on marine ecosystems, human health, and tourism. Guide students in crafting clear, audience-appropriate letters that both inform and advocate for solutions. Allow time for students to read and respond to peers’ letters, and facilitate a brief whole-class discussion to surface common themes and proposed solutions for Brazil’s coastal environmental challenges.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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