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What do the Amazon Rainforest and your
sneakers have in common?
Safari Montage Clip: Evolution of Rainforest
Plants and Animals
The Amazon provides the Earth with a diverse
amount of plants and animals. People have
found that those plant and animals can
benefit them physically, by providing
ingredients for medicines. These benefits
also come along with an economic price.
Image Source: tropical-rainforest-plants.com
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At least 80% of the developed world's diet originated in the tropical
rainforest. Its bountiful gifts to the world include fruits like
avocados, oranges and bananas; vegetables including corn,
potatoes and yams; spices like black pepper and chocolate; and
nuts including Brazil nuts and cashews.
Research the goods that are derived from the rainforest and how
they are used in our world economy today.
Image Source: Microsoft Clip Art
World Book Student: Amazon rain forest
PBS Online: Journey into Amazonia
PBS Learning Media: Amazon Rain forest
Wealth of the Rainforest
Post your response to the padlet your teacher created and read
your classmates’ responses. Try to offer new ideas instead of
Reading guide:
repeating what your classmates have already said!
I can do this on my
own.
Challenge me!
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Even though the Amazon Rain forest provides resources for human
beings to survive, there is disagreement about saving the land.
A large part of this disagreement has to do with how people
satisfy their economic wants, specifically in nations like the
United States and those where the rain forests are located like
Brazil and Peru.
The Amazon is mostly located in the country of Brazil. How
can that country use the rain forest for economic,
political and social means?

Saving the Amazon

State Department – Facts
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National Geographic Kids – Interactive
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Culture Grams: Economic characteristics of Brazil
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CIA World Factbook: Brazil’s economy
Use the graphic organizer to research the economic, political and
social characteristics of Brazil and how the country can help its
people with resources from the rain forest.
Reading guide:
I can do this on my
own.
Challenge me!
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Watch at least one of the videos to prepare for your assessment:
NBC Learn Video – As Brazil Grows, the Amazon Rainforest Shrinks
NBC Learn Video – Kallari and the Chocolate Factory: Saving the Amazon
Rainforest
NBC Learn Video – Life in the Amazon
Imagine you own 1000 acres of land in the Amazon Rain
forest. The Brazilian government has written you a
letter asking how you use your land so they can
compile a database for environmentalists eager to
know if conservation efforts are working.
Write a response letter to the government.
 Explain how you are using your land to meet your economic wants.
 Will you be able to sustain using your land in this way? Justify why
you made the choice you did and think about the short and long
term effects of your choice.
 Remember to use your resources to justify how you are using your
land in an effective way.
 Make sure to change all text in red.
Image Source: www.clipart.com by
subscription
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Want to see a virtual rain forest?
Classzone Interactive: Amazon Rain forest*
*You must click on Maryland or select Maryland
from the drop-down menu, then click GO.
Hang out in a virtual tree house…
Do you want to save the rainforest? The
Rainforest Alliance sponsors conservation
efforts in South American countries. Read
about these efforts – can your school help?
Create a proposal to give to the Student Council at your
school.
What types of fundraisers could you do to sponsor a
portion of the rainforest?
Image Source: clipart.com
by subscription
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BCPS Curriculum
AIM 05, Students will analyze the issue of deforestation of the Amazon rain forest in order to explain
the trade-offs of using resources to pursue economic opportunities versus preserving the
environment.
KSI-A, analyze ways in which the Amazon rain forest is used to meet economic wants
Maryland State Curriculum
7.4.A.2. Analyze how scarcity of economic resources affects economic choices in contemporary world
regions
R1.3.4 Uses understanding of the meaning, coherence, validity, and relevancy of ideas to guide
comprehension and make connections within and across texts.
Common Core State Standards
Reading: 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences
from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from
the text.
Writing: 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions,
demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
Standards for the 21st Century Learner
1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g. textual, visual, media,
digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning.
2.1.3 Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply knowledge to curricular areas,
real-world situations, and further investigations.
Maryland Technology Literacy Standards for Students
3.0: Use a variety of technologies for learning and collaboration.
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Time Frame: 2- 45 minute class periods
Differentiation:
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Databases provided have text features to assist in
reading (audio read-aloud, embedded dictionaries)
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Videos include closed captioning for student to follow
along
Learning Styles:
Field Dependent, Field Independent, Visual, Auditory, Tactile,
Reflective, Global
AVID Strategies:
 inquiry based learning, 6+1 writing traits, composition tool
Notes to the teacher:
 Consult with your School Library Media Specialist to
implement this Slam Dunk Lesson.
 Students can turn in activities by saving Microsoft
documents and copying it to your school’s student
drive(directions on each worksheet)
 Safari Montage clip on slide 1 should be shown to entire
class. A login is required and the movie title is called
“Eyewitness: Rain forest (jungle)”. View only chapter 2.
Last updated: July 2015
Created by Jamie Higgins Shaull Department Chair – Social Studies/Library Media Intern
BCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2012, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. The models may be used for educational, non-profit school use only.
All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Lesson module.