The City of Whetpebble: Home Sweet Home
Objectives:
- 9.1.08
- Investigates how human activities can shift balances that exist in nature.
- 9.4.04
- Investigates degrees of interdependence of biological organisms by making, reading, and interpreting scale drawings, maps, and models reflecting an understanding of organism relatedness.
- 9.4.01
- Investigates changes that occur in a system and ivestigates factors effecting the rates of change.
Materials:
- Map of Whetpebble for each student
- Copies of mining scenario for each Homeowner's Group
- Character description for each box on map
- Colored pencils (if necessary)
- Soil samples (if necessary)
- Rulers
- Overhead projector and markers
Procedure:
Before class:
- Modify map so that 1 square is available for each student. However, it is best to leave several squares unused so that students may move during the lesson if necessary.
At the beginning of class:
- Each student will pick a home square for themselves. Hand out dexcriptions of the site chosen and mark the student's initals on the overhead map.
- Briefly highlight the contour interval, scale, and orientation of the map so that students have a general understanding of how to read it and make measurements.
- Assign Homeowner's groups. Depending on the sites chosen, try to divide students so that each group has approximately the same number. Five groups are ideal, but when using four, assign the student in the center square to serve as the "mayor" of Whetpebble. He/she will break any ties.
- Students should rearrange their seats so that all Homeowner's groups are sitting together in the appropriate area of the room, the front of the classroom serving as north.
- Present Jiffy Coal Company's offer to the class and highlight the mandatory changes that will occur. Distribute "Scenario #1: Mining" to each Homeowner's group. Note: It is important to emphasize that decisions should be made depending on the impacts the homeowners and communities will experience, not on the overall impact to Whetpebble.
Before the end of class:
- End discussion and have each Homeowner's group report on their final decision. Each group should give 3 reasons for their decision relating to factors listed in Scenario #1.
- Conclude with discussing the future environmental impact their decision will have on Whetpebble. How would mining in Whetpebble set off a series of reactions, and what environmental problems would be created as a result of mining?
Assessment:
The decision each Homeowner's group makes will help determine how effective the students were in applying the mining information to their community's situation. Debate throughout the lesson is expected and demonstrates that students understand the impact mining can have on Whetpebble, their Homeowner's group, and themselves.
Further Studies and Applications:
Problems from the Whetpebble map on measuring distances, relief, or calculating slop and area could be assigned.
There are a variety of other Scenarios applicable to the same map and Homeowner's groups that could be utilized with #1 or another lesson:
- Scenario #2: Locating a landfill
- Scenario #3: Logging in SW Whetpebble
- Scenario #4: Drinking water contamination
Agricultural runoff, endangered species protection, groundwater depletion, and other topics could be added as well.
Observations:
Homeowner's groups of 5 or more students work best. Lively discussions within the groups catch student interest and aid in better comprehension.
Reviewing vocabulary througout group discussions is helpful.
After each lesson, reviewing the information introduced before starting the next lesson is important because all the information is cumulative. Remind the students that previous facts are still applicable to future scenarios.
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