CFR Education: Stopping Deforestation in the Amazon Simulation

• This article details the options for addressing the emergency situation of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, while being mindful of the fragile diplomatic relationship with Brazil.
• After reading the article, students can choose one of the three proposed policies and take part in a discussion following the format of the teacher's choice.

Positives

• With a printable PDF, students can access this article either online or have a physical copy, if there is a need to highlight or annotate.
• This is an excellent resource to show students just how fragile policy-making is when you have to consider emergency situations, diplomatic relations, and other important factors.

Additional Prerequisites

• If you are having students take part in a model National Security Council, it may be beneficial to show students a video of one being done.
• Students may need the terms deforestation, sovereignty, scrubland, savannah, gross domestic product, sanctions, and others defined before reading the article.
• Students should understand what climate change is, how humans are contributing to climate change, and how old-growth trees capture carbon.
• Students may benefit from looking at how the Amazon rainforest has changed from a map or image.

Differentiation

• Students who have anxiety about public speaking can either present their ideas in writing, utilize a discussion board, or debate with the teacher.
• Students may benefit from a graphic organizer to clarify their ideas and make sense of the reading.
• Language arts students can write a letter to a policy-maker, urging them to employ their chosen stance.
• Have students explore the idea that none of the solutions can actually force Brazil to act in the way we might like and how to address the Tragedy of the Commons issue in many places around the world.