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International Environmental Investigations


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Keywords: environment, rivers, international problems
Subject(s): Geography, Writing, Reading, Earth Science, Biology, Social Studies, English/Language Arts, Math
Grades 3 through 5
School: Brandon Elementary School, Atlanta, GA
Planned By: Nancy Hultquist
Original Author: Nancy Hultquist, Atlanta
Section One: September / October:

Essential Question: Do African people really like vegetables the way Westerners do?

A study of:
° meat eaters vs vegetable eaters
° what students at Kalanso and Brandon eat in a typical week
° a comparison between foods between the two locations

Section Two: October

Essential Question: How are rivers changing in Mali and Georgia?

A study of:
° geography of the river
° map making of the river regions
° trade and transportation changes along the river

Section Three: November / December

Essential Question: What is the relationship between climate and disease?

A study of:
° malaria
° dysetentary
° guinea worm
° river blindness – onchocerciasis

Section Four: January

Essential Question: Do Georgia farmers use chemical products as in Africa?

A study of:
° a comparison of farming methods
° creating illustrations of various methods
° how chemicals affect the land and the people of the regions

Section Five: February

Essential Question: Why do people destroy the rainforests? What can African and American people do to protect the rainforests?

A study of:
° causes of rainforest destruction
° chart making and graphing of collected data
° organizations causing destruction
° organizations helping to stop destruction

Section Six: March / April

Essential Question: Why is toxic waste being dumped in Africa? What can be done to stop this problem?

A study of :
° toxic dumping in Ivory Coast, Kenya and other locations
° Water Aid – US Organization formed to stop the dumping of toxic waste
Comments
The process students use to answer the essential questions will be determined by their interests and group investigations.
Cross-Curriculum Ideas
Writing, math, reading, social studies, and science will naturally flow from these investigations.
Follow-Up
Students will have the choice as to how they display their information. If groups do not choose to utilize technology for displaying information, they must take pictures and post their displays on the web page developed for this group project.
Links: Blog dedicated to our joint study. Part one is listed.
Materials: Whiteboards, Mobile Labs, Flip Video, Digital Cameras, Point and Shoot, Printers, English/Language Arts, Reading, Writing, Math, Middle, Science, Elementary, Social Studies, Word Processor, Database, Web Page, Slideshow, Video Tools, Music, Hardware Devices