Rainforest Debate
(Approximately One Week)
Teacher Preparation – Prior to the Activity
 Class set of Student Handout 5A
 30 copies of Student Handout 5B – cut these apart
 1 copy of Student Handout 5C – each group only receives the information for
their interest group
 1 copy of Student Handouts 5D, E, F for each group
 Class set of Student Handout 5G
 Class set of Student Handout 5H
 1 half sheet of poster board for each interest group
 One full sheet of poster board for class
 A different color marker for each interest group
Notes to teacher:
 There are six interest groups – either divide your students evenly into those six
groups or create smaller groups (for example groups of 3) and have more than
one group represent each interest.
 The kids really get into this activity so it can get loud.
 Expect frustration as they debate – it’s part of the process.
Preparation for the Conference
1. Students read Student Handout 5A: Information on the Amazon Rainforest in
Brazil and take Two Column Notes in their SS Notebooks
2. View slides 5A-E as a whole group (see pgs 89-90 in History Alive! Latin America
for information on the slides).
3. Place students in groups and pass out Student Handouts 5C, D, E, and F.
4. Tell students they are responsible for learning about and bringing to life the beliefs
of an interest group while attending a conference focusing on this question: How
should the resources of the rainforest be used?
5. Review Student Handout 5F with the students, explaining the steps they will take
to prepare for the conference (see pg 91 in History Alive! Latin America for
details).
Attending the Conference
6. Students should sit in a large circle, with each interest group sitting together. Each
group should display its banner.
7. Read welcome script at the top of pg 92.
8. Each group introduces themselves and explains the slogan and symbol on their
banner.
9. Explain the rules for the conference on pg 92 #4.
10. Give each group 5 land tokens (from 5B). Keep the remaining tokens for the
debate.
11. Pass out Student Handout 5G to each student.
12. Students discuss Proposal A for 2-3 minutes and record their responses and
explanations.
13. Have students debate Proposal A for 5-10 minutes as a class. Reward students
who argue accurately from their interest group’s perspective by giving them 1
token.
14. Read announcement pg 93 #8. Follow the same procedure using the instructions
on pg 93 #9 to debate remaining proposals.
After the Conference – Claiming Rainforest Land
15. Each group marks their tokens with the first letter of their interest group (each
group should use a different color)
16. Use a full sheet of poster board to represent the rainforest land. Place a yardstick
through the center of the poster board to represent a new road through the
forest.
17. Have one member from each group place the tokens side by side to represent the
land they want to claim.
18. After land is claimed, hold class discussion centering on questions on pg 94 #3.
19. Pass out Student Handout 5H to each student. Have students read the handout.
20. Have students write a personal response to one of the following questions:
 How did you feel during the debate? Why?
 How did you at the end of the debate? Why?
 Which interest group would you choose to be a part of? Why?