YOUR ECOSYSTEM 150 YEARS AGO
To introduce the simulation ECOPOLIS to you, your teacher helped you experience the concept of the ecosystem in your classroom. Some of you were Indians and Settlers and some of you were lower animals. You simulated the ecological change that has swept across one area of America during the last 150 years. Some of you "died". Some "emigrated". All of you saw a quiet, unpolluted environment change to a large American city with many pollution problems. Now you should be ready to look into your simulated city's present ecology.
IS GROWTH PROGRESS?
The map below shows one of the fastest growing cities in the country. In the past people wanted growth. But now everyone does not. A leading businessman spoke out, "Growth used to mean more jobs and more taxpayers. Now growth means air and water pollution, ugly streets, traffic jams, crowded schools, and too much noise. Growth now means higher taxes to support the new people who have flooded in. Perhaps the time has come for us to stop so much growth."
TWO COMMUNITY GROUPS
You are about to become one of many Ecopolis citizens concerned about their city's future. Your class will be divided into two groups so that every student will have a better opportunity to become involved. Each group will read about a crisis situation and then go to a community meeting to debate a proposed solution to the problem. When your group tries to solve an ecological problem in Ecopolis, you will have many tasks to perform. You will read about the problem: 10 a brief history of the problem; 2) a proposed solution to the problem; 3)argument for and against the solution. The second thing you will do is fill out Cornell Notes on he reading. These Cornell Notes will help you understand the problem, the proposed solution, and some of the arguments for and against it. Next you will draw and identification tag. This tag will help you understand how different people in Ecopolis feel about the problem and the proposed solution. While preparing for the community meeting, you can use the information on the identification card to help you plan what to say in the meeting. Finally, during the meeting you will be come residents and will role-play your viewpoints about what should be done about the problem.
COMMUNITY CRISIS
As residents of Ecopolis you will face two crisis situations: 1) How should our lands be used? and 2) What should be done about our growing population? The first problem that faces the citizens of Ecopolis is what should be done with a large county park that is located southeast of the city. Should the land just be left wild and natural with only limited public use? Or should the park be developed so that more people could use it? A committee of local businessmen who were asked to study the problem has come up with a Master Plan for Alcott Park. These persons recommend that some of the unused land be leased to outside groups. Development would result in more campgrounds, more roads, new boat docks and bike trails, and a lumber mill. As citizens of Ecopolis you will be asked to either support or oppose this proposal.
The second crisis situation raises this question: What should be done about the growing number of people in the world? A population group called STOP (stop the over population) will ask the City Council to support a proposal to encourage people to limit their families to two children. Those supporting this proposal will argue that the earth cannot support its present population. They believe that if something isn't done soon more and more people with either stare or live less satisfying lives. They also believe that more and more people means more and more pollution. Those who opposed the proposal will point out that the government has no right to interfere with people's private lives. They will argue that people are intelligent enough to solve their own problems without interference. They will also stress that the problem of children and families is a religious problem and not a governmental problem. Again as citizens you will be asked to either support or oppose the proposal.
In conclusion, we are expecting ECOPOLIS to provide you with more insight into some of the problems that face our environment. The future of our earth depends on people who understand these problems and are willing to work for their solutions. These solutions will include both scientific technology and personal hard work. Scientists will help. They will have to improve everything from the automobile to home laundry detergents. But each of us as citizens will have to stop destroying nature, stop polluting our environment, and start cleaning up the mess that we have made. Her you can influence your parents, your brothers and sisters and your friends. All of us together will face the eco-crisis and save our earth.
To introduce the simulation ECOPOLIS to you, your teacher helped you experience the concept of the ecosystem in your classroom. Some of you were Indians and Settlers and some of you were lower animals. You simulated the ecological change that has swept across one area of America during the last 150 years. Some of you "died". Some "emigrated". All of you saw a quiet, unpolluted environment change to a large American city with many pollution problems. Now you should be ready to look into your simulated city's present ecology.
IS GROWTH PROGRESS?
The map below shows one of the fastest growing cities in the country. In the past people wanted growth. But now everyone does not. A leading businessman spoke out, "Growth used to mean more jobs and more taxpayers. Now growth means air and water pollution, ugly streets, traffic jams, crowded schools, and too much noise. Growth now means higher taxes to support the new people who have flooded in. Perhaps the time has come for us to stop so much growth."
TWO COMMUNITY GROUPS
You are about to become one of many Ecopolis citizens concerned about their city's future. Your class will be divided into two groups so that every student will have a better opportunity to become involved. Each group will read about a crisis situation and then go to a community meeting to debate a proposed solution to the problem. When your group tries to solve an ecological problem in Ecopolis, you will have many tasks to perform. You will read about the problem: 10 a brief history of the problem; 2) a proposed solution to the problem; 3)argument for and against the solution. The second thing you will do is fill out Cornell Notes on he reading. These Cornell Notes will help you understand the problem, the proposed solution, and some of the arguments for and against it. Next you will draw and identification tag. This tag will help you understand how different people in Ecopolis feel about the problem and the proposed solution. While preparing for the community meeting, you can use the information on the identification card to help you plan what to say in the meeting. Finally, during the meeting you will be come residents and will role-play your viewpoints about what should be done about the problem.
COMMUNITY CRISIS
As residents of Ecopolis you will face two crisis situations: 1) How should our lands be used? and 2) What should be done about our growing population? The first problem that faces the citizens of Ecopolis is what should be done with a large county park that is located southeast of the city. Should the land just be left wild and natural with only limited public use? Or should the park be developed so that more people could use it? A committee of local businessmen who were asked to study the problem has come up with a Master Plan for Alcott Park. These persons recommend that some of the unused land be leased to outside groups. Development would result in more campgrounds, more roads, new boat docks and bike trails, and a lumber mill. As citizens of Ecopolis you will be asked to either support or oppose this proposal.
The second crisis situation raises this question: What should be done about the growing number of people in the world? A population group called STOP (stop the over population) will ask the City Council to support a proposal to encourage people to limit their families to two children. Those supporting this proposal will argue that the earth cannot support its present population. They believe that if something isn't done soon more and more people with either stare or live less satisfying lives. They also believe that more and more people means more and more pollution. Those who opposed the proposal will point out that the government has no right to interfere with people's private lives. They will argue that people are intelligent enough to solve their own problems without interference. They will also stress that the problem of children and families is a religious problem and not a governmental problem. Again as citizens you will be asked to either support or oppose the proposal.
In conclusion, we are expecting ECOPOLIS to provide you with more insight into some of the problems that face our environment. The future of our earth depends on people who understand these problems and are willing to work for their solutions. These solutions will include both scientific technology and personal hard work. Scientists will help. They will have to improve everything from the automobile to home laundry detergents. But each of us as citizens will have to stop destroying nature, stop polluting our environment, and start cleaning up the mess that we have made. Her you can influence your parents, your brothers and sisters and your friends. All of us together will face the eco-crisis and save our earth.