A controversial construction project in South America, the Belo Monte dam, is endangering local cultures, ecosystems, and communities. High schoolers create a concept map based on an online article they read before engaging in discussion about what they have learned. Afterwards, they wrap things up with a series of reflective writing prompts.

Concepts

environmental science, environmental changes, hydroelectric power, sustainability, bodies of water, ecosystems

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Prompt learners to stay on top of the evolving story with ongoing online research
• The Economist article linked at the bottom of the resource provides some defense of the project

Classroom Considerations

• Designed for high school and college levels, but would work for advanced middle schoolers as well

Pros

• Pushes learners to confront some of the challenging ethical questions prompted by the Belo Monte dam
• Encourages investigators to consider the many different stakeholders affected by a project of this scale

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.11-12.2