Title: Beam Me Up Scotty#153

National Standard: 18 How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

State Standard: 15

Teaching Level: E

Lesson Introduction: This lesson was created using fictionalized data regarding the population and land use of a fictitious region on a fictitious planet in a fictitious universe.

Objectives/Purpose: Students will interpret population and land use data in order to predict future environmental problems.

Materials: posters, overhead transparencies, or handouts of the following information:

Population of the region Havilla on the planet Niboj in the Cartah Galaxy over a fifty year time period

1950 = 100 (X) 1960 = 150 (x) 1970 = 230 (x) 1980 = 280 (x) 1990 = 340
Amount of Peffer trees in the region of Havilla over a fifty-year time period.

1950 = 1500 (P) 1960 = 1000 (P) 1970 = 650 (P) 1980 = 550 (p) 1990 = 350

Procedure:
1)Explain to students that aliens have landed and have come to the students for advice.
2)The aliens present their population information. The aliens explain that the favorite food of their people is called the Pefferberry, which is the fruit of the Peffer tree.
3)The aliens present their Peffer tree information. Students are asked to make comparisons of the data and speculate about the reasons for population growth and Peffer tree decline.
4)The students are then asked to write a proposal advising the Havillians of solutions to their problem increasing population and declining Peffer trees.
5)Students share and discuss their proposals.

Evaluation/Assessment: Did the students develop logical speculations and proposals? Did they utilize the data to validate their information?

Extension/Enrichment: Have the students draw a map of the region. Have students create a Havillian and a Peffer tree. Graph the data. Utilize actual population and land use data.

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: 153rtf - converted on Tuesday, 20 October 1998, 20:56