Easter Island Unit – Deforestation, Reading Comprehension, Sustainability

Engage students in a thought-provoking exploration of history, environmental responsibility, and the collapse of civilizations with this Easter Island Unit. Designed around the essential question:
“Can the story of Easter Island serve as a cautionary tale for the planet as a whole?”
This no-prep unit provides a compelling narrative of environmental overuse, societal collapse, and its modern-day implications.

What Will Students Learn?

• The rise and fall of Easter Island’s civilization
• Deforestation & resource depletion – A warning for today’s world
• Jared Diamond’s analysis – Lessons from the past
• Connections to global environmental challenges

Why This Unit Stands Out:

✅ Engaging & Relevant – Encourages deep thinking about sustainability and history
✅ Multimedia Approach – Videos, readings, and discussions for immersive learning
✅ Critical Thinking – Students analyze, discuss, and write about historical and modern parallels
✅ Low-Prep, High-Impact – Ready-to-use lesson plans, worksheets, and assessments

What’s Included?

• Unit Pacing Guide – Structured for smooth lesson flow
• Easter Island Lesson Plan – Step-by-step teaching guidance
• Easter Island Reading by Jared Diamond – Insightful historical analysis
• Easter Island Vocabulary Worksheet & Answer Key – Key terms for understanding the content
• Easter Island Discussion Questions & Answer Key – Encourages class debates and analysis
• Easter Island Quiz & Answer Key – Assess comprehension of key concepts
• Easter Island Writing Assignment – Promotes reflective and analytical writing
• Modern-Day Easter Islands: A Case Study Assignment – Connects historical themes to current global issues through research and collaboration

Inspire Awareness & Action

This unit challenges students to reflect on history, analyze environmental impacts, and apply lessons to today’s world. 
Perfect for middle and high school classrooms looking to blend history, science, and sustainability in a meaningful way!

Grades: 7–12 | Pages: 40+ | Time: 1 week
NGSS Connections: MS-ESS3-1, HS-ESS3-1