By having scholars tackle this interdisciplinary lesson, they'll see how social studies and environmental science are related as they explore the impact that the construction of a dam will have on the population and ecosystem of the Omo River Valley in Ethiopia. The anchor source is a photo gallery that serves as a springboard for discussion and then persuasive writing.

Concepts

environmental science, environmental changes, ecosystems, climate change, africa, african geography, world geography

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Have scholars find and describe other examples of construction projects that have impacted or might impact long-standing communities, cultural practices, and ecosystems
• Collaborate with a science teacher to do this lesson as the students are learning about ecosystems, hydroelectricity, or climate change

Classroom Considerations

• To have the students view the photo galleries on their own in class, they'll need Internet-enabled devices

Pros

• Writing prompts give students a great opportunity to write practical pieces aimed at real-world audiences
• Helpful external links are provided for further research
• The discussion prompts include thoughtful questions about the nature of photographs as agents of change

Cons

• None

Common Core

W.9-10.2.a W.11-12.2.a