Does Nature Have Rights?

Positives

• This video will interest learners due to its depictions of animals, forests, insects, and colorful flowers. 
• Students will be introduced to climate change heroes who are dedicated to saving the species and biodiversity of the rainforest.
• The career paths of scientists and biologists are presented as exciting, noble, and adventurous throughout the presentation.

Additional Prerequisites

• There may be a brief PBS commercial before the video begins.
• Part of the video discusses a young climate activist who died from cancer.
• Teachers may wish to have students find Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands on a globe prior to viewing the video.
• The closed-captioning does not always directly align with the narration.
• Spanish is spoken by some people in the video, but their words are translated on the screen.
  

Differentiation

• An extension lesson could be developed for geography classes where students research the species of animals and plants that live in the Ecuadorian rainforest.
• Connections can be made in social studies classes studying the U.S. Constitution and/or the definition of legal rights.
• Orchids and vanilla are mentioned and shown extensively, so an actual orchid and pod of vanilla can be visual aids to include in the classroom.
• Language arts or civics teachers can use the video in lessons about gathering evidence and making persuasive arguments.
• Science classes can use this video to support lessons about ecosystems, habitats, biodiversity, synergistic relationships, or interdependent relationships between plants and animals.