Contextualization

The Relief represents the irregularity of the Earth's surface, being formed by mountains, plateaus, plains, depressions, among other forms. Its study is of extreme value for Geography, considering that the relief directly influences aspects such as climate, biodiversity, soils, water availability, and human occupation.

Understanding the relief is crucial in the mechanism of any society, since this is the stage where humanity and all other living beings perform their activities. Whether in the choice of fabrics to wear, food to cultivate, areas to inhabit or develop economic activities, raw material to build, the relief is always one of the responsible for guiding these decisions.

Theoretical Introduction

Planet Earth is extremely dynamic and within that, one of the most striking characteristics is the diversity of reliefs we have around the globe. These forms can be classified into three main types: plains, plateaus, and mountains. Plains are relatively flat areas, with little or no variation in altitude. Plateaus are marked by large variations in altitude, with higher and steeper areas. Mountains are the highest, with sharp peaks and steep slopes.

In this project, we will deepen our understanding of the relief and how it is formed, considering concepts such as weathering, erosion, tectonics, and sedimentation, as well as understanding how these processes are connected and influence the formation of the relief.

This is an interdisciplinary work, so we will also explore concepts from other disciplines, such as Chemistry, to understand the processes of chemical weathering and Biology, to understand the relationship between relief and biodiversity.

Practical Activity: "Sculpting the Relief: A Clay Modeling Project"

Project Objective

The objective is to explore the concept of relief in a practical way, analyze how geological processes affect the formation of the relief and how this, in turn, influences human occupation and local biodiversity. In addition, the project aims to strengthen the skills of teamwork, effective communication, critical thinking, and decision-making.

Detailed Project Description

Students, divided into groups of 3 to 5, will build a three-dimensional model of a type of relief, using clay or modeling clay as the base material. When choosing the type of relief to be portrayed, students must consider the geological characteristics, climate, biodiversity, and human occupation.

The activity will be divided into two stages:

1. Research and Planning: In this stage, the group must choose the type of relief they will portray in their model. They should also research the geological, climatic, biodiversity, and human occupation characteristics related to their chosen relief. All research results must be documented to be presented in a final report.

2. Model Construction: In this stage, the group will build the three-dimensional model of their chosen relief, using clay or modeling clay. The model should represent the main characteristics of the relief, as well as the impact of climate, biodiversity, and human occupation.

Necessary Materials

• Clay or modeling clay.
• Modeling tools (can be improvised with toothpicks, spoons, etc.).
• Acrylic paint and brushes to bring the model to life.

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. Divide into groups of 3 to 5 members.
2. Choose the type of relief you will portray, justifying the choice.
3. Research the geological characteristics related to the chosen relief (weathering, erosion, tectonics, and sedimentation processes).
4. Research the climate, biodiversity, and human occupation in the chosen relief.
5. Plan how you will represent all these characteristics in your three-dimensional model. Make sketches.
6. Based on the planning, start modeling the relief with clay or modeling clay.
7. Add details to the model such as rivers, vegetation, human constructions, and other relevant relief features.
8. Paint the model to add realism.
9. Take photos of the finished model for documentation.

Project Deliverables and Connections with Suggested Activities

At the end of the project, the groups must prepare a detailed report of the activity, filling in the following sections:

1. Introduction: Contextualization of the theme, relevance of the chosen relief, and project objective.
2. Development: Theoretical explanation about the chosen relief, detailed description of the methodology used, describe the practical activity, show images of the three-dimensional model, and discuss the results obtained.
3. Conclusion: Recap main points, explain the learnings obtained, and draw conclusions about the project.
4. Bibliography: Indicate the sources of information used for research and project execution.

This report plays a crucial role in solidifying the learning obtained during the practical activity. Through the report, it is possible to understand the theory that underlies the practical work and is an effective way for students to express themselves in a more formal and structured manner.