Students are introduced to the physical geography of Northern and Central South America. They identify the countries in this region and explore a map with political, physical, population, and climate layers, and compare and contrast the countries. Then they select two countries and compare and contrast their natural resources as well as the impact of those resources on the economy. Finally, they do independent research on environmental issues in the region.
Students are introduced to the countries of Northern and Central South America and the focus of the experience. They view images of places in the region and watch In South America to see a variety of South American landscapes, noting that Bolivia, Uruguay, and Paraguay are part of the region they will study. Using a map of Northern and Central South America as the background in a drawing tool, they label any countries they can identify, then compare their labeled maps with a classmate to see if they can name additional countries.
Teacher MovesPresent the overview and objectives of the experience, highlighting the list of Northern and Central South American countries. Play at least the first 2:30 minutes of the video and prompt students to notice different landscapes and countries mentioned. Monitor students as they label the map, then encourage pairs to share and refine their country identifications before moving on.
Students review the list of countries in Northern and Central South America and open a set of maps of South America (political, physical, population density, climate zones, and biomes). Using these maps, they locate any countries they did not identify in Scene 1 and answer multiple-choice and drop-down questions about population distribution, climate, and bordering bodies of water. Next, each student selects one country from the region and conducts online research to gather information on its population and official language, physical features, ethnicities and religions, and natural resources, recording their findings in a graphic organizer. As a class, students then discuss and compare their researched countries, noting similarities and differences across the region.
Teacher MovesGuide students in opening and interpreting the different map layers, prompting them to use map evidence to answer the questions about population, climate, and location. Support students’ online research by clarifying expectations for the graphic organizer and suggesting reliable sources as needed. Facilitate a whole-class discussion in which students share key findings about their chosen countries and compare and contrast physical and human characteristics across Northern and Central South America.
Students choose two countries from Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Bolivia for deeper investigation. Drawing on their prior map work and research, they post a written response explaining how each country’s natural resources align with its climate and describing how climate has influenced the economic development of each country, noting that economic activity can vary by climate zone within a country.
Teacher MovesPrompt students to connect climate zones, natural resources, and types of economic activity in their responses. Review student posts, select interesting or exemplary examples (such as how tropical climates support certain crops or how mountainous regions support mining), and share them with the class to anchor a brief discussion about regional patterns of climate, resources, and economic development.
Students return to the country they researched in Scene 2 and use the internet to identify a significant current or future environmental issue affecting that country. They post an explanation of the causes of the environmental problem and its impacts on living and nonliving components of the environment. Afterward, they read classmates’ posts and respond to at least two with a question or positive comment to extend the conversation.
Teacher MovesSupport students in identifying credible sources about environmental issues and in clearly explaining causes and impacts. Monitor the discussion wall, prompting students to ask thoughtful questions and make constructive comments. Highlight and discuss an interesting or exemplary explanation with the class to deepen understanding of how environmental challenges relate to geography and human activity in the region.
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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