GRADE LEVELS: 7 to 12 DURATION: 5 to 6 classes DESCRIPTION: Students will study the theory that social development must occur at a rate that can be supported by nature; otherwise such development will result in negative effects upon nature and upon the environment.

GOALS: From studying examples of sustainable development, students will:

1. understand the 'carrying capacity' of nature, in any area/region/place, will effect the quality of man's lifestyle (e.g., food supplies, usable water supplies, soil types);
2. appreciate the natural resources found in an area/region/place and ways these resources improve the quality of life for human inhabitants;
3. understand the need for inhabitants of built-up environments (cities, neighborhoods, towns, villages) to embrace 'stewardship' practices that guarantee available resources for future generations.

OBJECTIVES: Students will:

1. define selected vocabulary and incorporate into writings and presentations;
2. read about 'carrying capacity', natural resources, built environments, culture traits;
3. write about 'carrying capacity, natural resources, built environments, culture traits;
4. use globes and maps to locate natural resource areas, built environments, natural environments, etc;
5. build model communities - representing types of architecture, areas of economic activity, open spaces, residential zones, etc;
6. create bulletin board displays;
7. research selected topics;
8. question guest speakers;
9. use a variety of print/nonprint and Internet resources;
10. conduct oral history interviews;
11. work cooperatively in groups;
12. use cameras and videotape equipment to collect data.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• digital cameras, videotape equipment and tapes
• audio tape recorders and tapes
• globes and maps
• print resources (books, magazines, newspapers)
• audiovisual presentations (films, filmstrips, still photographs, slides, audio tapes, videos)
• community resources (people, places, things, events, processes)

PROCEDURE:

Students will visit local/area places and sites in order to gain first-hand knowledge regarding topics/situations related to Sustainable Development.

Audiovisual presentations will be used to introduce/expose students to issues related to 'carrying capacity', culture traits, lifestyles, natural resources, and built environments on a (distant) global scale.

Interacting with community resource people, students will acquire information pertaining to Sustainable Development issues/topics and policies in the local community, and will conduct research activities at field-based sites.

Guest speakers, print materials, Internet resources, audiovisual presentations, 'television-in-the-classroom' presentations, etc. will introduce students to types of built environments, on a global scale, and discuss/depict the impact of natural environments on human activities and lifestyles.

As a result of these activities, students will become advantaged, better informed about contemporary and historical issues and events in their lives/in their community - as a result of varied experiences and access to knowledge/skills acquisition, application, reinforcement, and refinement.

EVALUATION:

Students will demonstrate their ability to::

1. write about selected issues/topics,
2. create audio/visual presentations,
3. conduct field-based research,
4. collect data,
5. create research reports,
6. demonstrate globe/maps skills,
7. create bulletin board displays,
8. talk about selected issues/topics,
9. conduct interviews - as part of an oral history project.