Essential Question(s)	EALRs	Assessment	Brief Project Description
What is a balanced ecosystem? How can a balanced ecosystem in the Pantanal be sustained?	Writing: 2. The student writes in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes. Social Studies: 3.1 The student identifies and examines people’s interaction with and impact on the environment	Analytic Rubric	The students will write a journal entry in a first person voice. They can take the perspective of a Pantanal animal, river, indigenous person, ecotourist, scientist, landform, etc. They can address some or all of these questions: What is life like for you on a daily basis? Over time what changes have you seen taking place in your environment? What needs to be done to preserve your environment? How can needs be balanced while still sustaining the ecosystem?
What determines if a species thrives or becomes extinct? How does human activity impact an ecosystem?	Social Studies: 3.1 The student identifies and examines people’s interaction with and impact on environment Reading: 3. The student reads different materials for a variety of purposes Science: 1.3 The student describes how organisms interact with their environment	Performance Checklist and Student Self-Assessment	Create Pantanal animal “collector” cards. Design trading cards for the different animals of the Pantanal. Each card needs to include these components: Picture, physical description, habitat, adaptations, food sources, impact of people on life style, concerns for the future, ideas for ensuring animal survival, other interesting information

How do the five themes of geography apply to the Pantanal and where I live?

Social Studies: Geography – 2.1 Describe the natural characteristics of places and regions and explain the causes of their characteristics. 3.1 Identify and examine people’s interaction with and impact on the environment. 3.2 Analyze how the environment and environmental changes affect people. Communication: 2 The student communicates ideas clearly and effectively.

5 – Theme Project Checklist for Students and Teachers

Students can share and discuss Tori Preston’s pictures from her experiences doing research in the Pantanal. Focus question for discussion: How does each picture illustrate a theme of geography? Using digital cameras have students explore their own “backyards” to discover how the five themes of geography apply to their own environments. Create PowerPoint presentations using these pictures and have students give an oral presentation of their findings.