Rollin' Down the River

Kids Explore the Amazon

A Geography and Ecology Lesson for Grades 4-7

Objectives
Students will become more knowledgeable about many of the unusual geographical features of the Amazon River region, and understand the importance of preserving the tropical rainforest.

Standards


	McRel Geography Standard #18 Understands global development and environmental issues.


	McRel Geography Standard #8: Understands the characteristics of ecosystems on Earth's surface.

Materials


	Videotaped "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Nick News Adventure: Rollin' Down the River: Kids Explore the Amazon"


	Television and VCR


	Pull down classroom political or geographical map of South America


	Chalkboard and chalk or whiteboard and markers


	Computer(s) with Internet access for student use


	Research materials, as in a library


	Paper, pens, pencils, and writing paper for student use

Web Resources


	Information on the Amazon region from the World Wildlife Fund


	Hamline University in Minnesota's Center for Global and Environmental Education site on the Amazon


	Information on the Pink Dolphin from the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network


	Science Museum of Minnesota


	ExploratoriumScience Learning Network's Information on the Amazon

Prior to Viewing the Program:

Show a classroom map of South America and point out the Amazon River. Ask students to share their knowledge of the river and why it is important to this continent.
Write the word rainforest on the white board and begin a discussion with the class about what a rainforest is, and why it is an important ecological area. Connect with the students that the Amazon River region is a rainforest area.
Tell the class that they will be viewing a Nick News Adventure entitled "Rollin Down the River," and they will follow a group of six kids on their journey through the Amazon rainforest. The students are to look for information on the geography, climate and people of the Amazon.

Show the program in its entirety, then discuss the following:

What are some of the facts we learned in the program about the Amazon River itself? (14,000 miles of rivers, a complete system that flows through the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean)
What were some examples of the wildlife that were named in the episode? (monkeys, parakeets, pink dolphin, piranha)
What was unusual about the piranha that were caught on the fishing trip? (These piranha were vegetarians, not meat eaters as most people think.)
When the kids went hiking in the rainforest, why did they need to wear leather leggings? Why do you think the kids were a bit "on edge" as they hiked?
What does it mean to refer to the Amazon rainforest as "a climate in the center of the world that creates and re-creates itself"?
One student traveler said that he felt inner peace as a visitor to the rainforest. Have you ever been in a forest and felt this type of peaceful feeling? What senses was this young man using to experience the rainforest?
In the episode we are told that in a rainforest, competition is important for survival. Explain why and how plants must compete in a rainforest to maintain a balanced ecosystem.
How are plants used in the rainforest? (medicines, habitat for animals, trees are harvested for lumber)
What reasons are given for the decrease in the rainforest area? (logging, settlement) How does the deforestation change the climate? How would the change in climate from deforestation affect the habitats and balance in this ecosystem?
Why is it important to protect and manage the rainforest?
What were some of the night creatures that the kids encountered? (tree boa, black cayman, tarantula) Why are these animals considered nocturnal?
What were the secrets given by the tour guide to best locate and observe the night creatures? (be very quiet, and put your flashlight in front of your face to catch the red reflection from the eyes of the animals)
What is a shaman? What does he do? How did he become a shaman? (trained by his uncle) How does one become a shaman? Is the information one must learn to become a shaman written down or handed down by the spoken word? What was this shaman's concern about those who will follow his legacy?
In what ways were the river people of the Amazon different from us? In what ways were they alike? (kids enjoyed music, kids played soccer, kids made fast friends, the kids liked to play games) What special skills would you need to have to live in the Amazon River region?
Would you like to take this Amazon River adventure? Why or why not? Do you think the students on this trip with Linda Ellerbee gained a new understanding of the rainforest? What new understanding did you gain from viewing this Nick News Adventure?

Activity:

Using the information gathered from the Nick News with Linda Ellerbee Adventure Rollin' Down the River: Kids Explore the Amazon, Internet resources and research materials from a library, each student will write a one-page report entitled, "Why the Amazon Rainforest Is Important and Should Be Saved."

Assessment:

Points, Outcome and Measure:

4-5: The student shows a great deal of interest in the subject and participates actively in the class discussions about the Amazon rainforest. The student conducts library or internet research about the rainforest and creates a one page report giving at least two reasons as to why the rainforest is important and two reasons as to why it should be saved. This report is well written and grammatically correct, demonstrating sound reasoning based upon research and the information learned from the Nick News episode. This report is shared orally and posted in class.
2-3: The student shows a limited amount of interest in the subject and participates marginally in the class discussions about the Amazon rainforest. The student conducts library or internet research about the rainforest, but creates a report that offers less than two reasons as to why the rainforest is important and less than two reasons as to why the rainforest should be saved. The report is not well written or grammatically correct and does not demonstrate sound reasoning based upon research and the information learned from the Nick News episode. This report is shared orally and posted in class.
0-1: The student shows little or no interest in the subject and participates reluctantly in the discussions on the Amazon rainforest. The student makes a minimal attempt or shows no effort at all to complete a report. There is no report to be shared in class.

Additional Activities:

Research and report on the specific species of wildlife mentioned in the Nick News Adventure.
Pretend you are one of the "adventurers" on the trip with Linda Ellerbee. Create an imaginary "diary" based on any (or all) of these four experiences related in the Nick News Adventure: a. Making new friends and getting to the Amazon; b. Fishing for Pirhana; c. Hiking in the rainforest; d. Up close and personal with the night creatures.
Since the river people along the Amazon speak Spanish, invite a speaker to the class to share information about the Spanish language and its similarities/differences from the English language.

Sandy Riddell
Greenwood Elementary School
Greenwood Road
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060