Contextualization

Our journey begins around 4.5 billion years ago, with the formation of our planet, Earth. Its history is marked by constant movements, drastic changes in climate and atmosphere, and the emergence and extinction of various forms of life. Over the past thousands of years, one species in particular has played an increasingly prominent role in shaping the planet: us, humans.

Human actions have a profound and lasting influence on the climate and atmosphere of our planet, altering and shaping them in numerous ways. Industrialization and urbanization, for example, have generated large amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, accelerating global warming and changing climate patterns. On the other hand, agriculture has transformed vast expanses of land, modifying landscapes and habitats, and further increasing our ecological footprint.

The relevance of this topic transcends the walls of a classroom. Climate change and landscape transformation have direct consequences on our lives, affecting agriculture, food security, human health, and the planet's biodiversity. Moreover, this is a collective problem that requires collective solutions. Therefore, it is crucial to understand not only what we, as a species, have done in the past, but also what we can do in the future to mitigate or adapt to the changes we ourselves have caused.

To deepen your knowledge on this central theme, here are some reliable sources that you can use as a starting point for your research:

1. "The Earth and its transformations" - Geography textbook for the 6th grade (Moderna Publisher). It is a comprehensive educational resource that provides an introduction to the themes of physical, human, and environmental geography.

2. United Nations Environment Programme - UNEP. This site offers a wealth of information on the interaction between humans and the environment, including climate change.

3. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - IPCC. The IPCC is the global authority on climate change. Its detailed reports are an invaluable resource for those wishing to delve deeper into the subject.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Tracking Our Footprints - An Investigation Into Human Impact on Climate Change"

Project Objective

• Understand how human actions influence the climate.
• Investigate the role of agriculture, industrialization, and urbanization in climate and landscape.
• Connect theoretical knowledge with practical actions that can be implemented in our own community.

Detailed Project Description

This project is a detailed and practical investigation of human actions on the climate. Students, in groups of 3 to 5, should divide into two main teams:

• The "Trackers" team, responsible for investigating and documenting local human actions that contribute to climate change (such as industries, transportation, consumption patterns) and
• The "Solvers" team, tasked with researching and proposing creative solutions to mitigate the identified impacts.

Required Materials

• Internet access for research.
• Writing materials for report preparation.
• Digital camera or smartphone for visual documentation (optional).

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

Step 1: Investigation (6 hours) Each group must choose a location in their city or neighborhood to investigate. The "Trackers" team must document human actions contributing to climate change, such as air pollution, water waste, deforestation, use of non-renewable energy, among others. The "Solvers" team must research possible solutions for each identified problem. Both teams must present a preliminary report with their findings.

Step 2: Analysis and Solution Proposal (6 hours) The teams must now analyze their findings, relating them to the theoretical concepts studied in the classroom. The "Trackers" team must analyze the impacts of human actions on the climate. The "Solvers" team must develop viable and sustainable solution proposals for the identified problems, with justifications based on the theory studied.

Step 3: Writing the Document (6 hours) The students, as a team, must now write a report documenting the entire investigation, analysis, and solution process. The report should include:

1. Introduction: Description of the project's objective, the topics investigated, and the importance of the theme.
2. Development: Details of the investigation and analysis conducted by the "Trackers" team, theoretical discussion on how the investigated human actions influence the climate and landscape modification, and presentation of the solutions proposed by the "Solvers" team.
3. Conclusion: General discussion on what was learned during the project, the importance of human action in climate and landscape change, and how the proposed solutions can contribute to mitigating climate problems. It should also mention the challenges encountered during the project and how they were overcome, in addition to a general reflection on the experience.
4. Bibliography: References of the resources used for research and project development.

Step 4: Project Presentation (2 hours) Each group must present their investigation and proposed solutions in a 15 to 20-minute presentation. The presentation should be structured and include images or graphics when useful to clarify the topic.

Project Delivery

The final product for the project will include two main components:

1. A complete report documenting the investigation, analysis, and solution process, including the references used. This document should follow the format described in Step 3.
2. An oral presentation of the project to the class, using the report as a guide.