Academy Curricular Exchange
Columbia Education Center
Science

TITLE:  Designing an Ecologically Sound City

AUTHOR:  Dianne S. Vance; Park City Middle School, Utah

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT LEVEL:  5th grade Science.  The class will be set up
in cooperative learning groups of four or five students.

OVERVIEW:  To make students aware of the need to respect their
environment, and its natural resources.  To apply that knowledge.  To
develop an  "ecologically sound" city.

OBJECTIVES:  Using an outline the learner will design an "ecologically
sound" city.  The city is required to include the following:
  1.  Laws for the city to help make all citizens aware of their ecological
responsibilities.
  2.  Power source for lights and heat.  These power sources do not have to
be the same.
  3.  One river that runs through of around the city.
  4.  Some method for waste disposal.
  5.  Two productive industries.
  6.  Homes for the population.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
Books
  Deep Ecology:  Living as if Nature Mattered by Bill Devall
  Saving the Earth by Will Steger
  Student Environmental Action Guide:  25 Simple Things We Can Do by
  Student Environmental Coalition
  50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save The Earth by The Earth Works Group
  Design for a Liveable Planet:  The Eco-Action Guide to Positive Ecology 
  by Jon Naar
  Ecology for Beginners by Stephen Croall and William Rankin
  The Global Ecology Handbook:  What You Can Do About the Environmental 
  Crisis by The Global Tomorrow Coalition.

Videos:
  Water A Dwindling Resource
  Ecology Today with Dan Rather

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
Outline:
Group Number:
Name of City:
Population of city:
State the laws of your city that will help your citizens be "ecologically"
responsible:
Describe the power source that your citizens use for heat:
Draw a picture of that power source:
Describe the power source that your citizens use for light:
Draw a picture of that power source:
Describe the method that your citizens use for waste disposal:
Draw a bird's eye view of your "ecologically sound" city.  Use a legend in
the corner to define industries, homes, etc.

Field trips to water purification plants,  and waste disposal sites.  Field
trips to city offices to discuss master plan of the city.  
Development of a master plan that can have a positive ecological effect
upon the city.

TYING IT TOGETHER:
Each group will design and build a model of their ecologically sound city
by using their master plan.  They will then share the model with the class
and justify their master plan. 

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