Pollution In the Amazon Rainforest

We have read and talked about pollution, storms and environmental problems in South America.  Environmental issues in the Amazon Rainforest  include deforestation in the Amazon Basin, illegal wildlife trade, air and water pollution, land degradation and water pollution caused by mining activities, wetland degradation and severe oil spills, among others. Pollution has happened in the past, and it is progressively getting worse.

The question is: Why do we care if pollution is occuring in the Amazon Rainforest ?

Who is it harming, anyway?

In this WebQuest, we will find out what is affected when pollution takes place in the Amazon region.

The news station has hired you and a partner to cover a new story on the affects of pollution in the Amazon. They have assigned you to travel to South America, where you are going to observe how pollution or other environmental problems are affecting the Amazon regions.

Your job is to find out who is being affected by pollution or the environmental problems in the Amazon Rainforest. As you are visiting each area, make sure you are recording your observations in your notes section in your binder. You will need a lot of details so you are prepared when you report back to the news station. Get ready to provide solutions to the problem!

Buena suerte

The news station sends you off on your way to research knowing one thing: The AMAZON RAINFOREST ENVIRONMENT is being affected by pollution. They want you to figure out the details. What does the “environment” consist of?

As you tour the area, pay attention to your surroundings.  Is there a lot of plant life? why? Are there a lot of bugs in the area? What about animals? How are people being affected? How are people affecting the environment? 

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lMhUWoo6ck]

Who exactly is affected by pollution? After you watch the video, answer some of these questions with your partner. Make sure to write down your answers in your journal.

The news station likes your discussion. They now want you to start getting more specific. They are sending you to a new place, in Peru, Madre de Dios. The news station wants you to analize mining as the root of the problem . Can you offer a solution to the problem? Record this hypothesis in your journal, and then visit the link.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqaHHbxj-Co]

Why do you think the Brazilian government established regulations to behaviors?   Read the article and discuss this with your partner. 

https://www.dogonews.com/2012/8/8/amazon-rainforest-deforestation-shows…

Were these reasons similar to what you and your partner came up with? Solve the wordsearch from the website.

Next , there are animals. Can the animals be affected by the environmental issues ? Read the article and jot down your thoughts. 

http://www.dogonews.com/2009/7/11/the-lucid-amphibian-and-other-mysteries-of-the-amazon

The news station wants to test your writing skills. They want you to watch the video below, and then write a story where you are one of the animals being rescue by the ladies of the Five Points org. Include in your story: What animal are you? Was it hard, or easy to survive? What happened after you were rescue? Would you been able to survive on your own?

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swUbIUO1JV4] 

It is sad to see animals being injured from pollutants, but the news station wants to know why that is so important? Hypothesize: Why do you think that it is important for animals to survive? Write your notes on your journal.

Can you make the connection?

http://www.brainpop.com/science/ourfragileenvironment/waterpollution/qanda_popup.weml?qanda_id=11205&character=Rita&character_id=8

We now know that we need plants and animals to survive. Our new question is: How else are we affected by pollution or environmental desasters in the Amazon Rainforest? Discuss some possibilities with your partner. List them in your journal as well. 

http://grist.org/list/meet-the-lake-so-polluted-that-spending-an-hour-there-would-kill-you/

Do you think that Michigan has a lot of water pollution effects? Make a list of possible bodies of water that have affected the state of Michigan.

Make a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the water pollution effects of Amazon River vs. the Great Lakes in Michigan.

The news station is satisfied with your research! They are ready for you to write your story.

Now it is time to put your story together. Write a non-fiction story about the effects of pollution. The news station wants you to include the following informtion:

• How does pollution affect plants in the Amazon Rainforest?
• How does water pollution affect animals in the Amazon Rainforest?
• How does water pollution affect humans living in the area close to the Amazon Rainforest?

Check your rubric on our Edmodo group!!!

You are a great writer and researcher. I am proud of you. 

Senora Arriaga!!!