Title of Lesson: Local Area - Is the Land Connected to Us?#144

Key Words for Cross Reference: physical environment

National Standards: 14
How human actions modify the physical environment.
State Standards: 14

Teaching Level: E

Objectives/Purpose:
-to describe human characteristics within the Connecticut River Valley
- to identify the locality as a region by human characteristics.
- recognize ways in which people have used and modified the environment within the region

Materials:
maps of regionpictures of multiple uses of the region
markersoutline map of NH/VT

Procedure:
1. Have displayed around the room, scenes of the Connecticut River Valley. Pictures of early steamboats on the river, old mills, historical memorabilia, present day photos.

2. Have students identify some common human influences on the environment that have affected the area. (Dams, canals, sand and gravel pits, mines, clear cutting forests, agricultural practices such as locating to close to riverbank, etc.)

3. Discuss definition of a region in relation to human influences.

4. Brainstorm what characteristics could be used to define the Connecticut River Valley as a region from the concept of human influence.

5. Have students draw in and label the important human features of the region on their NH/VT outline map.

Evaluation/Assessment:
Can the student differentiate between physical and human influences in a community?

Enrichment/Extension:
Extend this to the demands of the livelihood of the community on the use, abuse, protection, etc. of the physical features within or contributing to an area.
Reflection: How successful was this lesson? Did all students benefit? Were there any surprises? What might you do differently another time? Please note any changes that will make this lesson more effective and useful in the future and pass them along to the NHGA. We appreciate your comments.
Thank you.
The authors. *

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Original file name: 144rtf - converted on Tuesday, 20 October 1998, 20:56