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E.T. A LOCAL WAY OF LEARNING
Title: URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION TASKS
Author: Eulalie R. Rivera Elementary School
Environmental Education Team
Grade Level: 5-12
Concepts: Disciplines:
7. Land Use 1. Social Studies
9. Change 2. Language Arts
11.Individual Acts
Objective:
Students will examine various factors that influence urban conditions in any
portion of such an urban-environment and then select one element for
improvement, describe it and offer a plan for change or development.
Rationale:
Personal interests for private gain are motives for much urban development. It
behooves the student to be knowledgeable about the functions of urban planning
in preparation for better citizenship, as in being vocal at zoning meetings,
voting for candidates, etc.
Directions/Activities:
Use the following information as a guide to designate and evaluate the urban
environmental characteristics in the study area:
Classify land use according to the following code:
RESIDENTIAL housing, apartments
Identify residential types on map. (Example: single family, two or
three family, row house, project, high-rise apartment, condominium).
Is there a mixture of housing types that provide people with a choice of space,
cost, and style? Does the design of the housing create any health problems? Is
the housing located near parks, schools, stores, transportation? Is it
reasonably free of traffic, noise, and other nuisances?
COMMERCIAL small stores, restaurants, office buildings, service stations
Are the stores located within easy reach of residential areas? Convenient to
transportation? Do they fill basic shopping needs or are there some things you
have to go a long way to get? What about the quality and prices in local
stores?
E.T.
URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION TASKS
INDUSTRIAL Factory, warehouse
Are there jobs available near workers homes? Do factories create traffic,
noise, or odor problems for residential areas?
PUBLIC BUILDINGS post office, firehouse, schools, government offices
Do residents of the neighborhood have quick and easy access to necessary
services of all kinds? Especially medical, fire, and police?
OPEN SPACE public square, parks, green belts, empty lots, and any open areas
Are there enough parks/playgrounds/public squares for the people in the
community? Are they easy to get to? Is space being wasted that could be used
for recreation?
TRANSPORTATION
Is there quick, cheap transportation to other parts of the city for jobs,
shopping and other things? Are there traffic or parking problems caused by cars?
What about street conditions and highway upkeep?
Perform task assignment per directions for each:
TASK A: MAPOBSERVATIONS (10-15 minutes)
Divide into groups of three or four. Determine area of study. Establish
written criteria for choosing your study area.
TASK B: OBSERVATIONS AND CLASSIFYING LAND USE IN STUDY AREA (1 hour)
1. As a group, walk throughout your study area and examine general types of land
use.
2. Construct a rough outline map of the area.
3. Calculate the approximate density of the permanent human population within
the boundaries of your study area.
4. Collect one object from your study area that best represents your feelings
about the study area. (To be used with Task D)
E. T.
URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION TASKS
People to contact:
Places to go:
Things to do:
The Proposed solution:
E. T.
URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION TASKS
TASK C: EVALUATING PRESENT LAI\'D USE OF STUDY AREA (15-20 minutes)
Work with group.
Evaluate in writing the land use of, your study area according to
characteristics given:
1. HOUSING
2. STORES
3. INDUSTRY
4. SERVICES
5. OPEN SPACE
6. TRANSPORTATION
TASK D: DEVELOPING A FUTURE LAND PLAN FOR STUDY AREA (15-20 minutes)
Work with group.
If this were your community and it was being planned to meet your needs,
describe by illustrating on a map the future development and land use planning.
Be sure to consider the basic needs of your area.
As a group present your future development and land use plan to the entire
class.
TASK E: ATTACKING A SPECIFIC PROBLEM
When urban changes occur, there are many people (decision-makers, citizens
groups, etc.) involved. There are also many places (libraries, government
buildings, city planning offices, etc.) and things (surveys, statistics,
news articles, etc.) that enable changes to occur.
Select one urban problem discovered today that you would like to see changed.
Develop an action plan for change and share it with others.
The problem BEFORE the action:
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