The Guide: A Biologist in Gorongosa

Positives

• This is an excellent example of how science can be applied in the real world and gives students a different perspective on how land and resources are valued in other cultures and regions.
• This resource also includes links to three clips of teachers explaining how they used the resource in their classrooms. 
• Written transcripts of the film are provided in English and Spanish and there is a descriptive audio version of the film as well.

Additional Prerequisites

• Due to the large file size, the film may take longer than expected to load. It may be best to play the film directly from the landing page.
• The short clips may require you to reload the page once you click play.

Differentiation

• Have students reflect on the importance and effectiveness of community-led and community-centered initiatives while watching the film or reading the article, then have them create lists of actions that their communities can achieve to protect habitat or combat climate change.
• Challenge students to consider the long-term effects of colonialism and conflicts on the environment. History students can research other wars or conflicts in the past to estimate the environmental impacts they may have caused and then present their findings to the class.
  
• Have biology, chemistry, or environmental science students consider and discuss the implications of human encroachment, agriculture, and urbanization for other species on the planet and for the climate after watching this film and reading the article.
  
• The article introduces the idea of sustainable development, which can be expanded upon by the teacher in social studies or science classes.Links can be made with economics, engineering, civics, and ecology classes.
  
• Biology and AP Environmental Science students can utilize this video and paper to connect to many topics and concepts such as population dynamics, HIPPO, genetic bottlenecks, and migration or habitat corridors.
  
• As a follow-up activity, consider organizing a bioblitz for your classroom to record as many species as possible on the school grounds or in a nearby park.
• To extend the lesson, have students learn about community-led initiatives from this video about a restoration project in Tanzania or this video about tree planting.