Multimedia Authoring - Video

Lesson Idea Name: Solving Amazon Rainforest Depletion

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 6
Content Standard Addressed: SS6G2 Explain the impact of environmental issues in Latin America.
b. Explain the environmental issue of destruction of the rain forest in Brazil.
Technology Standard Addressed: Global Collaborator 1.7d: Students explore local and global issues and use
collaborative technologies to work with others to investigate solutions.

Selected Technology Tool: Shotcut

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☒ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☒ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): This project employs options for executive functions as it uses
scaffolding to help students understand the material and it breaks down a long-term goal into succinct short-
term goals. It also provides students with partners to help each other with their weaknesses. Finally, the
visual aid and the teacher’s willingness to provide additional direction to individuals ensures clarity.

Lesson idea implementation:

Students will partner up into groups of 2. Then, in a prepared PowerPoint, the teacher overviews the
PowerPoint students will be using. Then the pairs each use a Google Doc to share with their partner the
research they are about to gather. Next, students pull up the PowerPoint from the class folder, and click on
the link of Article 1, 2, or 3. Once a pair has it open, they will write in their Google Doc as many causes and
effects of Amazon Rainforest depletion they can find in the article. When they have done that, they will open
Article 4 and find more causes and effects until they have at least 3 causes and 3 effects of Amazon Rainforest
depletion. They may ask the teacher for help at any point if they need it. As they are working, the teacher will
monitor class progress to make sure they are understanding what to do.

Afterwards, students will close the articles and the PowerPoint, but keep their Google Doc open. Then they
will each get out a sheet of paper to write a letter to Jair Bolsonaro, the President of Brazil, proposing to him
and the rest of Brazil’s government two solutions they have to solve Amazon Rainforest depletion. They must
provide reasoning for their solutions. The only thing they are allowed to use to help them is their Google Doc,
and this is an individual activity for a grade. This means they cannot help each other and cannot look at
anything other than their Google Doc to help them. When they are finished, I will take up their work.

Reflective Practice:
I feel the activities I created will engage students and lead to students learning about how to apply what they
learned in the world, rather than just for passing the standards. The lesson could be further extended by
having students write action plans to citizens of Brazil and present them to the class. They can do this with a
visual aid such as a digital storytelling app to aid them.
Spring 2018_SJB
 Multimedia Authoring - Video

Spring 2018_SJB