Carmen

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/carmen

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary building material?Totora reeds (Schoenoplectus californicus) and mud
2. What is the geographical context?High-altitude freshwater lakes in the Andes Mountains, notably Lake Titicaca
3. How do the Carmen stay afloat?The totora reeds are packed tightly to make a light, buoyant mat. The mud on top keeps the structure stable and lets plants grow, so the island stays afloat.
4. Why do the Uru people build Carmens instead of living on regular islands?The Uru live in high‑altitude lakes where normal islands are rare. Building Carmens lets them have homes, farms, and fishing places that move with the lake and keep them safe.

Aerenchyma: Parenchyma tissue in plants that facilitates gas exchange, common in aquatic plants like reeds.
Indigenous engineering: The innovative technological and construction practices developed by indigenous peoples.
Hydrodynamics: The study of fluids in motion and the forces acting on bodies moving through them.
Cultural preservation: The efforts made to maintain and pass on the traditions, customs, and heritage of a culture.