Humans, the Environment, and the Great Plains

Building a City on the Northern Great Plains

Background:

Students should be aware of the need to respect their environment and its natural resources. To apply this knowledge, students can design an "ecologically sound" city.

 Objective:

Using an outline, students will design an ecologically sound city on the northern Great Plains. The city is required to include the following:

• Concern for some of the ecological constraints of the Great Plains in terms of climate and soils.
• Laws to help make all citizens aware of their ecological responsibilities.
• Power sources for light and heat. These sources do not have to be the same.
• One river that runs through or around the city.
• Some ecologically sound method of waste disposal.
• Two productive industries.
• Homes for the population.
• Recreation area like a park.

 Plan:

1. Set the class up in cooperative learning groups of four or five students.
2.  Set up an outline for a master plan for the city using the requirements outlined in the 'objective' section. Each group will determine the population for its city. All the other infrastructural requirements will depend on the number of people living in a city. Make field trips to city offices to discuss master plans that can have a positive ecological effect upon the city.
3.  Have each group state the laws of its city that will help the citizens be 'ecologically' responsible.
4.  Each group will describe the power and heat source (s) for its city. Groups will also draw pictures of these energy sources. Students should be reminded that these sources should be 'environment friendly' or should not generate any kind of pollutants in the water or air.
5.  Have the groups then describe the method the citizens of each city will use for waste disposal. These methods should be chosen carefully, again keeping in mind factors like hygiene, biodegradability of some waste, etc.
6.  Finally, each group will draw a bird's eye view of its ecologically sound city. Legends should be used in the corner to define industries, homes, etc. 

Testing, Grading, and Evaluation:

Each group can design and build a model of its ecologically sound city by using its master plan. These models can then be shared with the class. Have one member from each group justify the master plan to the rest of the class.

 Involvement in the designing of a city that is environment friendly will bring students close to the reality that humans and their environment depend on one another for survival.

 Adapted from Lesson Plan by Dianne S. Vance, Park City Middle School, Utah

 Primary Course: Social Studies

 Applicable Grades: 5 - 12

 Materials Needed: Paper, pencils, construction paper, colored markers, glue or computer graphics program

Related Courses: Science

Time Required: Two 1-hour sessions

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