Big Ideas

Resources

• Energy
• Environment
• Land Use

Essential Purpose

The relationship between the natural environment and human culture is a two-way street. Too often, only one part is asserted: that the form of the natural environment influences (or, in extreme cases, determines) the human culture of a place. Mountains may prove obstacles to communication, but transport technology overcomes the barriers. Climate may limit the growth of certain crops, but irrigation or greenhouse protection can extend a plant’s natural limits. That is not to say that the natural environment does not pose risks: hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or droughts all pose risks to human settlement. But as human technology expands, people are able to adapt to the constraints once placed by the natural environment.

Besides technological adaptation, human culture has increasingly modified the natural environment, shaping it to its needs. Clearing forests for agriculture, paving surfaces for urban areas, damming rivers, exploiting minerals, polluting air, streams and oceans, are all examples of the permanent changes to the natural world resulting from human culture.

Places are the resolution of the forces of nature and adaptations by human culture. Moreover, as this relationship changes over time, so too do places. This module will focus on how human culture is both influenced by, and adapts to, the natural world. Students should treat a human change to the environment as a diversion of energy to human society from the path it follows in the natural system.

Rather than simply comparing the nature of the physical environment with what people do with it, students should consider human perception. Thus, an environment may be considered hazardous by an objective observer, but explaining human adaptation involves knowing how the environment is perceived by those who use it. People might not be expected to settle on the sides of active volcanoes, as in Central America, or build on the shores of hurricane-prone coasts – that they do requires understanding how they perceive the environment and deal with the risk.

Delaware State Standards measured by the Transfer Task

Social Studies
Geography Standard Two 9-12a: Students will understand the Earth’s physical environment as a set of interconnected systems (ecosystems) and the ways humans have perceived, reacted to, and changed environments at local to global scales.

Essential Questions

• To what extent can people predict the consequences from human alterations to the physical environment?
• Does how humans perceive the environment affect how they choose to modify it?
• What can be learned from human modification to the environment?

Essential Content

Environment and Society

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  • Environmental Impact
  • Human-Environmental Interactions
  • Technological Change

21st Century Skills

• Exercising sound reasoning in understanding and making complex choices, understanding the interconnections among systems
• Ability to frame, analyze and solve problems
• Acting responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind

Transfer Task

This transfer task and scoring guide should be reviewed with students prior to using the activities in the module. Students should do the assessment after the activities have been completed.

Essential Question Addressed by the Transfer Task:

• To what extent can people predict the consequences from human alterations to the physical environment?

Prior Knowledge	Now that you have learned about why people build dams; have studied the cultural, economic, and environmental issues involved in the distribution of water; and understand that developing nation's perspectives are not necessarily shared by other nations, you are ready to think about the advantages and disadvantages building a dam such as the Three Gorges Dam.
Problem	The World Commission on Dams, a commission created by the World Bank, has been asked to review some major dam projects from around the world. The Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River is the focus of one of the case studies and will be reviewed for the social, economic and environmental costs and benefits. The commission plans to investigate the pros and cons of building the Kariba Dam.
Role/Perspective	Read the Letter of Invitation. You are requested to play the role of a member of the World Commission on Dams.
Product	Submit your findings in a written report that provides: An overview of the economic, cultural, and environmental advantages and disadvantages of building this dam An evaluation of the cost, benefits, and impacts of building this dam A recommendation regarding if this was an effective project given today's views
Criteria for an Exemplary Response	Keep in mind that you need to show evidence of your knowledge of the general political, social, and economic situation concerning the Kariba Dam as well as previous information already learned in class readings about the positive and negative impacts. Further research may be required.

Scoring Guide