CHANGING THE LAND

Age: Grades: 6-12 Subjects: Social Studies, Science, Communications Skills: analysis, application, comparing similarities and differences, descriptions, discussion, inference, observation, problem solving, reporting, research, writing Duration: two to three 45 minute periods Group Size: whole class, groups of 3-4 students for research and reporting Setting: indoors Vocabulary: land-use, transportation systems

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

1. Compare historical aerial photographs with current photographs, and determine what factors influenced land use decisions;
2. Evaluate the impacts of different land uses; and
3. Consider future land use changes to accommodate growth in a community.

Method:

Students will use aerial photographs of their community to compare past land uses with current and future land uses.

Background:

This activity is an extension of "Dragonfly Pond" from the Aquatic Project WILD activity guide.

Communities are making land use decisions every day. These changes are especially noticeable in areas surrounding large metropolitan cities and in redeveloping downtown areas of older cities. Even smaller communities throughout the countryside are experiencing rapid land use changes.

Given the extensive impacts humans have already had and continue to have on the land, a major challenge now facing communities is how to plan for continued growth. What are the best ways to accommodate growth and minimize the negative impact on the existing community and the natural environment?

The purpose of this activity is to evaluate past land use changes in a community and determine the impacts on the land. Changes in communities can be easily identified by comparing historical aerial photographs to current ones. To make this activity most relevant to your students, try to use photos of your community. Aerial photos can be purchased from most Regional Planning Commission Offices. Most locations have photos going back to the 1960s or 1970s. Check the addresses at the end of this activity for your regional planning commission. Another source of aerial photos is your County Land Conservation District Office.

In looking at the land use changes, students will consider what factors may have been involved in making the various land use decisions. Students then will determine what future land use changes will be required and discuss how they should be implemented to accommodate future growth. They will also consider the impact of land use on wildlife habitat, water quality, and quality of life.

Materials:

• Aerial photographs (one historical and one current for each team of 3-4 students)
• Plastic sheets the same size as the photos
• Washable markers in various colors

Procedure:

1. Divide the class into teams of 3-4 students each. Place the plastic sheet over the older aerial photos. Identify the land uses on these older aerial photos. Identify the land uses on these photographs using different colors to show each land use. Look for waterways, forested areas, agricultural fields, residential areas, industrial areas, parks, and transportation corridors.
2. Place the same plastic sheet over the most recent aerial photo. Identify the changes that have occurred to the land during the period represented by the photos. Answer the following:
   • What were the major changes in land use? What developments occurred? Use markers to show the changes.
     
   • What types of land use were lost? Why do you think these changes were made?
   • What changes occurred in the roadways or railways? Why?
   • Was there any commercial development? Parking lots?
   • What are the possible impacts, both positive and negative, that have occurred because of these changes to water quality? Wildlife habitat? Quality of life?
3. Ask each team to identify new areas community development. Assume your community will require 50 additional housing units and 5 new businesses in the next year. Discuss how and why teams targeted certain areas for development? What transportation systems will need to change? List the impacts of these developments on your community.

Extensions:

Local Planning. Investigate local zoning ordinances in your community. Who is responsible for land use planning in your community? Who develops the zoning regulations? Invite a local planner to your classroom.

Natural Areas. Identify an area on the aerial photo where no development has occurred. Complete an on-site inventory of the plant and animal life found in this site.

Community Survey. Develop a survey instrument to administer in their local community. The survey could measure people's responses to community growth, new roads and other use issues.

Assessment: Present team reports on planned development to the class. Each team should explain their reasoning and the expected results. Share team reports with local officials. Related WILD Activities: Improving Wildlife Habitat in the Community, Planning for People and for Wildlife, Shrinking Habitat, To Zone or Not to Zone Related Aquatic WILD Activities: To Dam or Not to Dam, Migration Headache

WI REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONS

Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission
Suite 211, Old Fort Square, 211 N. Broadway
Green Bay, WI 54303, (414) 448-2820
Serves Brown, Door, Florence, Kewaunee, Manitowoc,
Marinette, Oconto and Sheboygan Counties.

Dane County Regional Planning Commission
217 S. Hamilton, Suite 403
Madison, WI 53703-3238, (608) 266-4137

East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
132 Main Street
Menasha, WI 54952-3100, (414) 751-4770
Serves Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Menominee,
Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago Counties.

Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission
Mississippi River RPC
1707 Main Street
LaCrosse, WI 54601, (608) 785-9396
Serves Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, LaCrosse, Monroe, Pepin,
Pierce, Trempealeau and Vernon Counties.

North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
North Central Wisconsin RPC
407 Grant Street
Wausau, WI 54403-4783, (715) 845-4208
Serves Adams, Forest, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon,
Oneida, Portage, Vilas and Wood Counties.

Northwest Regional Planning Commission
1400 S. River Street
Spooner, WI 54801, (715) 635-2197
Serves Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk,
Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn Counties.

Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
916 N. East Avenue
P.O. Box 1607
Waukesha, WI 53187-1607, (414) 547-6721
Serves Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth,
Washington and Waukesha Counties.

Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
426 Karrmann Library
Platteville, WI 53818, (608) 342-1214
Serves Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties.

West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
800 Wisconsin Street, Mail Box 9
Eau Claire, WI 54703-3606, (715) 836-2918
Serves Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Polk and
St. Croix Counties.

This "WILD in the City" publication was developed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Project WILD with a grant from Phillips Petroleum Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Written by Al Stenstrup, 1997.

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