Lesson 10: Siting a New School

Lesson 10: Siting a New School

Objectives:

Students will:

Use the principles of economic costs and benefits and opportunity cost to analyze the questions that developers and government officials face in siting a new school.
Evaluate the role of government in addressing land use and other environmental issues.

Core Learning Goals:

Social Studies: Goal 4 - Economics: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers.

Indicator 4.1.2: The student will utilize the principles of economic costs and benefits and opportunity cost to analyze the effectiveness of government policy in achieving socio-economic goals

Social Studies: Goal 3 - Geography: The student will demonstrate an understanding of geographic concepts and processes to examine the role of culture, technology, and the environment in the location and distribution of human activities throughout history

Indicator 3.1.2: The student will evaluate the role of government in addressing land use and other environmental issues.

Materials/Resources:

Background:

In this lesson, students will grapple with questions that developers and government officials face as they decide where to locate a new school. Students will participate in a simulation, "Environomics: Where to place the school?" and then complete a costs and benefits analysis of the alternatives.

Activity 1: A Good Spot for a School

Have students read, “Your Neighborhood School,” in Picture Maryland. Then, review maps of the "ideal" community students drew in Lesson 1. Identify the location(s) of the elementary schools in the community. Discuss the rationale for placement of elementary schools (or if necessary, add two elementary schools to the maps in appropriate locations). Begin to generate a list of "pros" and "cons" for the placement of the schools.

If students did not do Lesson 1, review the location of existing elementary schools in your community and answer the same questions.

Activity 2: Environomics

Complete the "Environomics: Where to Place the School?" (follows) in small groups. Small groups should present their recommendations to the whole class for discussion/debate.

Students will complete a cost-benefit analysis on the placement of a new school. If necessary, remind students of expected behaviors during discussion before they discuss (and debate) their selections.

Review discussion on the placement of the elementary school, and the "pros" and "cons" for its location. Select the location for the school as a whole class.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Discuss: How effective was your group in deciding where to locate the new school? What caused the arguments? How effective was the process you used?

Explain some of the challenges that decision makers face in evaluating the opportunity costs of a decision. What government policies do you think should be in place to achieve the socio-economic goals of the community?

Contents | Siting a New School | Simulation:Environomics:Where to Place the School?
Student Handout:Paulford Case Study | Student Handout: Issue Analysis Worksheet

Student Handout: Expected Behaviors During Discussion Worksheet

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