Rio Negro: How water shapes society?

This project challenged fifth-grade students to become explorers, storytellers, and documentary creators as they investigated how water shapes the lives of people and communities. Guided by the question “How does water shape society?” students began by learning about the geography and culture of river towns in Colombia, specifically Tobia, Útica, Guaduero, and Dindal, a small hostel by the river where they stayed the last night of their voyage. They studied key concepts like watershed, topography, and water-based economies to prepare for a multi-day rafting expedition from Tobia to Dindal.

Before the trip, students planned documentary projects and took on team roles, such as director, script writer, narrator, camera operator, sound editor, and public relations specialist. During the field trip, they interviewed residents and collected audiovisual footage about the environmental, economic, and cultural importance of rivers. Their questions focused on daily life near water, the benefits and dangers of living by these water bodies and systems, and the ways people have found to protect these environments.

Back in the classroom, students organized their materials and produced short documentaries. Each video captured their learning journey and the voices of the people they met. Through observation, collaboration, and creative expression, this project helped students connect science, geography, and social responsibility in a meaningful and memorable way.

Content: River ecosystems, geography of Colombian towns, human-environment interaction, topographic map reading, water-based economic activities, environmental protection, responsible tourism, community interviews, and documentary storytelling.

Skills: Field observation, research, planning, interviewing, note-taking, role-based collaboration, scriptwriting, video production, oral communication, and critical thinking.

Assessment: Participation in fieldwork, role performance in documentary team, quality of interviews and observations, clarity and organization of script, final documentary product, personal and group reflection.

Fifth grade: How can we, as documentary producers and field researchers, establish how water shapes daily life, work, and the environment in the communities along the Rio Negro to raise awareness about the importance of protecting rivers and the importance of understandig the challenges of people who depend on them?

Provocation: Setting the Course

Students launched the project by learning about the towns they would visit along the Río Negro and investigating the role water plays in shaping culture, work, and the environment. They learned how to read and analyzed topographic maps, studied river systems, watched sample documentaries, and began planning their own. Each group chose a focus and drafted their first ideas for interview questions and filming goals.

Becoming a Documentary Crew

This week, students took on documentary production roles. They built their teamwork skills while refining their interview questions and research topics. They practiced using video tools, reviewed safety protocols, and prepared to investigate how local people and care for the river they live by.

Fieldwork on the Río Negro

Students embarked on a multi-day field expedition, traveling from Tobia to Dindal and other river towns such as Útica and Guaduero. Along the way, they rafted sections of the river, interviewed community members, recorded video and audio, and reflected on the challenges and opportunities of living near a river. They gathered stories about economy, environment, safety, and tradition.

Telling the Story

Back in the classroom, students transformed their research and recordings into short documentary films. They wrote scripts, edited clips, added narration, and designed their final presentations. The week ended with a Showcase where students presented their documentaries and reflected on how water truly shapes the way people live and connect to the world around us.

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