Exploring Our World: Western Hemisphere People, Places, and Cultures

Chapter 7: Physical Geography of Latin America

Web Activity Lesson Plans

Introduction
In this chapter, students learned about the diverse geography of Latin America, including its many waterways. The world’s second longest river, the Amazon, serves as a transportation route and helps sustain more than one-third of all species in the world. This Web site contains articles on many aspects of the river and the region through which it winds. The site even has photographs of and sounds from various animals that live near the Amazon River.

Lesson Description
Students will visit the Amazon portion of the World Wildlife Organization Web site. They will read facts and information about the river itself, the river basin, and the rain forest. They will answer questions about what they have read and will create a poster that highlights conservation efforts in the region.

Instructional Objectives

1. The learner will learn about the Amazon River and region.
2. The learner will be able to explain why the Amazon River is a vital part of the ecosystem of the rain forest.
3. The learner will create a visual summary of conservation efforts in the region.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. the Amazon River
2. 40,000
3. High rainfall, diverse landscape, and a variety of soils combine to support the variety and abundance of life in the forest.
4. During peak flood stage, the Amazon River can rise more than 50 feet (15.24 meters), and cover much of the surrounding forest. The rising waters provide nutrients in those areas and renew the environment. Fish, reptiles, and aquatic animals travel into these newly flooded areas to feed and reproduce and then return to the main channels when the floodwaters go down.
5. Student work should reflect what they have learned.