This module focuses on the historical development along rivers — the Mississippi, in particular, and looks at the ecological impact of this growth on the environment. Students research local rivers and report on both the current ecological condition of their local river as well as its historical background. Students will learn about what can happen when human beings tamper with the makeup of a river. Without thoughtful planning, the consequences can be disastrous. But if communities work together, a balance can be achieved between the needs of people and the needs of the river.
As students examine the current "health" of their own local rivers, they will begin to understand the importance of maintaining the well being of the natural and human-made processes that govern the Earth. After completing this module and participating in the accompanying field study, students should realize that human activities can produce long-term changes that impact the environment, and should be able to describe those changes.
Students will also look at the growth of towns and industries along the Mississippi as well as how America's National Parks have developed.
At the end of this module students should be able to:
Assessment
Students complete a variety of written assignments and final projects to assess progress. All work is archived in individual student folders at the 3DLearn site. Final multimedia projects are showcased at the 3DLearn site and are archived into personal student portfolio CD's at the end of the school year to document progress and student growth.3DLearn teachers provide written daily feedback on all student assignments. Students have password protected learning portals where assignment feedback is stored along with their e-gradebook. Students have access to this area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These include:
Module Resources
The books below are suggested titles to choose from. Students choose one river related novel or nonfiction title to choose from during this module.
by Harlan Hubbard
by Tim Palmer
