How Should Our Gardens Grow?
Land use is exploredCopyright Microsoft Corporation 1983-2001.
In this lesson, students learn about types of land use by humans and evaluate the ways land is used in their local community. They also consider the environmental effects of the different types of land use. Students will assume the role of community planning engineers and will create a future plan for their community. (Note: Teachers will need to check out the following book from the local or school library: Durell, Ann, Craighead George, Jean, and Paterson, Katherine. The Big Book For Our Planet, New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1993).
Many types of engineers contribute to the design of new communities. Civil engineers design the neighborhoods, roadways, bridges and dams within a community, as well as high-rise buildings, airports, sanitation plants and water treatment facilities. Architectural engineers and architects design safe and cost-efficient construction methods. Transportation engineers design the highways, streets, traffic flow and public transportation systems to move people and products through the community safely and efficiently.
After this lesson, the student should be able to:
- Understand and identify the different ways that land is used by humans.
- Discuss the environmental effects of different land cover/land use decisions.
- Describe different types of engineers involved in community planning.
- Write an essay on land use from the viewpoint of a planning engineer.