A2. Inquiry: Human Settlements and Sustainability
Specific Expectations
A2.1
formulate questions to guide investigations into issues related to the interrelationship between human settlement and sustainability from a geographic perspective (e.g., social, economic, and environmental perspectives on land-reclamation projects in the Netherlands or Japan; social, economic, political, and environmental perspectives on land-use conflicts in Brazil, Mexico, or Kenya, or on the global trend towards increased urbanization)
- What impact will continued urbanization have in this area? How will it affect people’s access to employment, housing, and resources? What are the costs of the encroachment of human settlement on agricultural or wilderness areas? What are the social, environmental, and economic effects of loss of agricultural land? Of the loss of forests? What impact does loss of habitat have on wildlife? Why should we care about endangered species?
A2.2
gather and organize data and information from a variety of sources and using various technologies to investigate issues related to the interrelationship between human settlement and sustainability from a geographic perspective (e.g., aerial photographs of Japanese sea walls prior to the earthquake and tsunami of 2011, photographs of or documentaries on the flooding and resulting damage caused by the tsunami, government and international data on the costs of flood-control in Japan before the tsunami and emergency measures following it, articles by or information on the website of environmental advocacy groups on the long-term effects of the tsunami)
- Why might you look at data showing a decrease in rural population and local farm production as part of your investigation into the global trend towards urbanization? Where would you find information on the social and economic consequences of loss of rural settlement?
- Why do you need to gather several sources for information and data rather than relying on only one source?
- What questions do you need to ask yourself when looking at a website for information?
A2.3
analyse and construct various print and digital maps as part of their investigations into issues related to the interrelationship between human settlement and sustainability, with a focus on investigating the spatial boundaries of the issue (e.g., use GIS to construct maps that include major cities in the developed and developing world to show how population density has changed over the past twenty years; analyse population density maps to determine where most people live on a global scale; construct a land-use map to illustrate the extent to which San Francisco has reclaimed or adapted land; analyse maps to explore possible land-use conflicts in a community; analyse thematic maps to determine the loss of green space in and around an urban centre over the past fifteen years)
- What information would you need to include on a map showing how a city has grown over the past twenty years?
- Why might a flow map be an appropriate way to illustrate the movement of people into large urban centres? What elements would you need to include on such a map?
- What layers of information would you need to include on a GIS map to show the connection between settlement patterns and transportation?
A2.4
interpret and analyse data and information relevant to their investigations, using various tools and spatial technologies (e.g., interpret photographs to determine possible land-use conflicts that could arise in relation to a proposed housing or industrial development project; use a graphic organizer to help them explore various perspectives on the construction of a new airport; use online and computer-based geographic software applications to determine population shifts from rural to urban areas)
- What does this graph tell you about changes in urbanization in this country? Are these data consistent with the information you have obtained from your other sources?
- What do these maps, photographs, and websites tell you about the amount of land this country has reclaimed over the past twenty-five years and how it is used? What can you determine about the social or environmental impact of the land reclamation from these sources?
A2.5
evaluate evidence and draw conclusions about issues related to the interrelationship between human settlement and sustainability
- Why is there increasing land-use conflict in this region? Which of the proposed uses do you think is the most sustainable? Why? Who is advocating that use? Do you think their position will win out? Why or why not?
- What did you find out about the impact of global settlement trends on the sustainability of cities? What strategies do you think need to be implemented to respond to these trends?
A2.6
communicate the results of their inquiries using appropriate vocabulary (e.g., settlement patterns, population distribution, population density, land use, sustainable development, land reclamation, migration) and formats appropriate for specific audiences (e.g., a play about the impact of urbanization on rural communities; a website that focuses on issues associated with creating more sustainable communities; a photo essay on a land-use conflict in a specific region; a report, song, or poem that addresses the impact of different kinds of human settlement on the environment; a story about sustainable communities of the future)
- Who is your intended audience? Which format would best suit them? Why? Is this format compatible with your topic and your individual learning style?
- How might you use technology as a tool in your presentation?