Introduction

Land and People: Finding a Balance is an environmental study project that engages high school students in studying ecosystems resource issues. The project focuses on the interaction between people and the environment in three regions of the Unites States: Cape Cod, Los Angeles, and the Everglades. Each section of this project is devoted to one of the three regions.

Contents of This Packet

• Teaching Guide
• Poster
• Cape Cod section
• Everglades section
• Los Angeles section

How To Use This Packet

The Teaching Guide provides an overview of the project as well as a list of references for teachers, by region. The references cited in this list were used as background information for the sections of the Packet.

The poster presents a variety of visual images from each region with explanatory text about each one. Use the poster to begin a general discussion about human impact on the environment as well as to discuss the specific consequences of human actions in each region.

Each section contains a set of student materials and a set of teacher materials for either Cape Cod, the Everglades, or Los Angeles. Each section is divided into two parts: "For the Student" and "For the Teacher.". The student

materials present students with a Focus Question to answer and also provide them with several types of information they should use to answer the questions. Student materials include some or all of the following:

• a reading about the region
• a description of the "Interested Parties" so students can role-play as they answer the Focus Question
• maps
• population data
• water-use data
• photographs

The teacher materials include a brief explanation of what students will learn as they work on answering the Focus Question and a description of what form their answer might take. The teacher materials also present three Activities that will help[ students answer the Focus Question. Each Activity clearly describes what student will need to complete the Activity, explains the procedure, and in some cases, suggest extension activities. Any maps or other information students will use to complete The Activities are included in the teacher materials.

The sections can be studied in any order. A class could complete all there sections or just one. The sections can be used in whole or in part. Students might read the entire set of student materials for a region then complete all the Activities in the teacher materials, or just complete selected Activities.

Each student will need a copy of the student materials. These materials are designed to be photocopied clearly and easily. Students will also need copies of the maps and other data that accompany the Activities in the teacher materials.