The U.S. Census is a geography teacher's toolbox. As a member of the Statistics in Schools (SIS) development team, Chris Bunin was tasked with exploring existing resources to develop lesson plans. Census.gov is a dynamic online reservoir filled with infographics and visualizations, articles and reports, and best practice instructional materials.…

The current rapid decline of Earth's biodiversity represents an enormous crisis for humanity. Among the factors producing declines in biodiversity, changes in land use may have the greatest effect in the near term. It is well known that land-use history produces strong, lingering effects on biodiversity. This phenomenon has become known as the…

Human activity has profoundly altered the deciduous forest of the eastern United States. Modern forest is a patchwork of stands of varying ages, sizes, and shapes reflecting a complex history of land use. Much modern forest is nestled in and around human communities, and faces the threat of imminent clearance for residential and commercial…

As part of a curriculum development project entitled Crossing Boundaries, these authors designed an inquiry-based activity that introduces students to landscape change and potential impacts on associated biological communities. Using pairs of current and historical satellite images, students explore landscape change in a variety of U.S. and…

Presented is a self-contained lesson in land use which can be used in a high school American studies course. The lesson is cross-referenced to major textbooks. (RM)

This teaching resource talks about the importance of land reclamation and describes how many communities have reclaimed land for productive use. Includes a student quiz, possible student outcomes, and references. (JOW)

Suggests how students can learn about typical environmental issues through participating in simulation games. Simulations are based on resort development versus environmental protection, allocating money for competing energy projects, and a court trial of an industrial polluter. (DB)

Explains the value of Sanborn maps in urban land use studies, particularly because of their detailed portrayal of street patterns lot lines, and the placement, size, shape, and use of buildings. Shows how a Sanborn map can reconstruct a "geography of the past" of Boston's waterfront. (Author/DB)

Part of a series of classroom aids designed for real estate instructors, this instructional packet was developed to help real estate students understand the opportunities and pitfalls associated with investments in undeveloped land, and ways to reduce the risk of ownership. A summary instructor's presentation is provided, which: (1) defines…

This series of self-contained lessons in land use features activities that can be used with any high school world history, global education, or European history social studies classes. The fifteen lessons included are : (1) Rome's Landed Estates; (2) The Gracchian Revolution; (3) The Feudal Land System; (4) The Domesday Book; (5) Mercantilism; (6)…

Explores the ecosystem in Pacific Northwest Coastal America and investigates land management issues. Discusses the impact of canopy trees on temperature and the forest itself. Explains fungi's relationship with trees and presents activities on stream flow, wood, volcanoes, and plants for the classroom. (YDS)

Presented are 12 learning stations containing displays relating to land use. The booklet gives the necessary information to duplicate the Land Use learning activities. The first section contains working drawings, materials list, approximate cost, and a photograph as well as a description of the model. The text of a sign giving directions to the…

The land use seminar described involves the use of 12 stations containing displays relating to land use. Each student is provided a data sheet and instructed to answer questions requiring the obtaining of data from the displays. Discussion questions are also included for later attention. The guide provides instructions for the construction of each…

This article details an undergraduate class assignment to utilize published map information for the evaluation of specific physical and environmental factors applicable to a hypothetical residential development. On-site field trips and interviews with town planners were used to augment the team-effort within the class land-use discussions and…

Fifteen activities for secondary social studies classes are provided in this unit that focuses on four central ideas stressing the role that land and the free market played in the Industrial Revolution. (1) "Women and Property" discusses the changes in both the status and rights of women, particularly in terms of women's rights in land.…