La Guajira: Cultural Landscape

This project invited students to become field researchers and explore the uses, challenges, and cultural significance of water across communities. Through the study of global water distribution, the role of water in ancient civilizations, and contemporary issues in Bogotá and La Guajira, students developed a deep understanding of how water shapes societies. Using geographic tools like layered maps and text structures such as compare/contrast and cause/effect, they analyzed and communicated their findings. Working in groups with cooperative roles (geographer, biologist, interviewer), they conducted research, field interviews, and written reflections. The final product was an interactive cultural landscape map. Each map “pin” represented a community and included multimedia elements—essays, audio, and video—that highlighted how water availability influenced daily life, traditions, and development. This immersive project strengthened academic skills while encouraging students to take informed action on environmental and cultural issues through storytelling and digital communication.

Sixth Grade: How can we, as field researchers, investigate and understand the uses, challenges, and complexities of water in different communities, and use our findings to raise awareness and inspire action on the importance of water conservation and management in our own community?

Provocation / Challenge

Students worked together to discuss water and its importance for human life. Through collaboration, they explored how water supports communities, shapes cultures, and impacts daily living.

Research and Content/ Jigsaw

Students learned about water molecules and their chemical properties by reading scientific texts and participating in jigsaw activities. They also explored La Guajira and it's main characteristics.

Field trip

Students traveled to La Guajira and shared experiences that helped them see in context what they had studied. By observing local conditions and interacting with the community, they deepened their understanding of water scarcity and its impact on daily life.

History/

Venn Diagram

Students researched information from different Indigenous communities and created Venn diagrams to identify common features and differences regarding water accessibility. This comparison helped them recognize patterns and challenges shared across regions and cultures.

Interactive Map

Students worked together to organize the information and used the software Animate to design and lay out their findings. Through collaboration, they structured their content clearly and creatively, ensuring it effectively communicated the importance of water across different communities.

Final Product

The students agreed on a final product in which each of them had to contribute something and complete a magazine to showcase.

Sixth Grade Blue

Sixth Grade Green

Google Sites

Report abuse