Land Use Project
7th Grade

Contents:

  Project Description  
  General Time Table  
  Project Requirements  
  Assignment Descriptions  
  -Interview  
  -Research Design  
  -Public Opinion Survey  
  Resources  
  -Issue Analysis  
  -Websites  
  -Library Databases  
  -Works Cited Worksheet (online sources)  
  -Works Cited Worksheet (print)  
  Methods of Final Presentation  
  Project Evaluation  

 

Project Description

During the last several weeks before the winter holiday, seventh grade students, working in three member teams, will conduct research on a local land use issue and create way to communicate the results of their work. Each team will be responsible for selecting an issue, assembling and analyzing information from multiple sources, and making a recommendation about what should be done.

 

General time table

During November, teachers in science, geography, and English classes will assign activities to help students prepare for the project. There are eight teachers involved in teaching these classes; preparatory activities will vary from class to class.

The week before Thanksgiving, students will go through a structured exercise to learn and practice methods for evaluating information about land use issues. The exercise will take three or four class periods, including an evaluation of students' mastery of the process. During this week, teams for the main project will be determined and topics selected.

During the first two weeks of December, teams will design and conduct research, evaluate their sources of information, and communicate the results of their work in the format of their choice. Possible formats include: poster, script for a video documentary, children's book, or newspaper.

Final projects will be due at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 19 in room 181.

 

Project Requirements

In addition to the main project, students will be responsible for producing several other project components. Some are group requirements; others are individual. Detailed instructions for each component will be provided.

1. Research plan (group): This one page plan will give a brief statement about the selected topic and the question(s) the team will research. It lists the various tasks and the team member(s) responsible for each. (complete on Nov. 26, in geography class)

2. Analysis of different perspectives on the issue (group/individual): Each team will identify two or three people with differing opinions about their selected issue and analyze the differences and similarities among these opinions. Each student will then prepare short summary of one perspective. (due Dec. 6 in English class)

3. List of research sources (group): Each team must keep track of all the sources of information used in the project and compile a list of bibliographic information about these sources. (due Dec. 12 in geography class)

4. Example of original research (individual): Each student will investigate a research question related to their topic by designing an original inquiry such as:

5. Plan for further involvement in the issue (individual): Each student will identify an opportunity to be involved in their group's selected issue by engaging in community service or advocacy. Each student will submit description of the activity and a plan for possible participation. (due Dec. 16 in English class)

6. Final Project (group): Each team will select a topic, conduct research, and create a way to communicate the results of its work. Class time will be available for research in the Arundel Library and for putting the final project together. (due 8:00 am on Thursday, December 19 in Room 181)

General Requirements: All work should be typed and double spaced in 12 or 14 point type and an easy-to-read black font. Student names should be at the top of the first page of all assignments. Students should make sure to keep copies of work turned for Project Requirements 1-5 since much of that work will be useful in completing the final project. Copies of project materials can be found through the Arundel Library Class Project section of the Potomac School Website.

 

Website Resources

General Reading on Land Use:

Center for Land Use Interpretation

USGS (United States Geological Survey) Land Use History of North America

Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA Briefing on Land Use

Sierra Club Challenge to Sprawl Campaign

Preservation Alliance of Virginia

Potomac Conservancy (land and water conservation organization)

Nature Conservancy of MD and D.C.

Southern Environmental Law Center

Fairfax Coalition for Smarter Growth

MD Coastal Zone Management

Loudoun County Land Use

Northern Virginia Conservation Trust

Smart Communities Network

Washington, D.C. - Area Transportation - Related Interest and Advocacy Groups

Journal Newspapers