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GRADE LEVEL: High School |
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THE
ACTIVITIES
A
DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SPRAWL TOWN KID
Description: Students will identify examples of sprawl in their daily life. They will reflect on how their daily activities directly or indirectly contribute to sprawl.
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Students will understand how sprawl originates from the smallest human activities that evolve into conditions where natural resources and land use are compromised to an unsustainable level.
Students will use creative writing to address their personal lifestyle as it relates to sprawl issues in their communities.
PROCEDURE AND TEACHING SUGGESTIONS
View the Paving the American Dream: Southern Cities, Shores & Sprawl video and list the contributing factors to sprawl. Also list the contributing factors that demonstrate smart growth.
Present
a personal example of how you, the teacher, are a consumer of sprawl.
Even though sprawl was already in place, in many cases several decades
ago, you affect sprawl and sprawl affects you. Describe a typical day
in your life: commuting to school, shopping, maintaining your home and
car(s), pursuing recreational opportunities, etc. Show how each activity
may contribute to a sprawl situation that you inherited, but nonetheless
participate in. Make the point that everything we do has an impact on
increasing sprawl problems or on decreasing the problem through smart
growth awareness and lifestyle choices.
STUDENT
ACTIVITY
- Use a journal and log each activity you perform on a typical day including: school, after school activities, shopping, visiting friends, conducting family chores, playing sports, etc.
- Describe and photograph (optional) not only what you do but where you are (your location and surroundings), how you got there, what you took from or left at that place (bought, threw away, etc.).
- Consider what happens after you leave each place and whether there are things you do that temporarily or permanently increase sprawl problems or contribute to smart growth. (Remember that you did not create sprawl, you are simply someone who has grown up in a town or city that may have made some growth and development decisions that were uninformed years ago)
- List some ways that you, your family, your school and your town and city planners can become more aware of smart growth alternatives in the future.
EXTENSION
Exchange journals
with fellow classmates or present them orally in class to compare and
contrast each student's "Day in the Life."
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