Land Development Lesson Plans

Students examine the relationship between land development and the environment. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, students explore how population density, land development, transportation, and impervious surfaces take their toll on the environment.

Fourth graders brainstorm a list of criteria for a quality recreation center. They draft a written proposal the center they plan to design. They write to persuade a land developer to hire their company.

Students are introduced to the various ways that public lands are valued, used, and managed in the United States. They compare and contrast different types of public lands, then simulate the decision-making when converting private land to public land.

Fourth graders create a diorama of the habitat of the fish of their choice, along with a research paper. They research habitats, the factors which affect specific habitats, and how fish adapt to different habitats in order to meet their unique needs. They identify food chains as systems which facilitate the transfer of energy from one source into many others.

Seventh graders act as hydrologists as they research local issues involving water quality. In this hydrology instructional activity, 7th graders research a local water quality problem. They test the water quality of a local body of water and analyze their data. They conduct a video research conference with other students to discuss water quality issues.

Students study the orbital space plane, NASA's proposed spacecraft of the future. They work in groups to plan missions to take place twenty years from now and design orbital space planes in which to carry out the missions.

Students develop an understanding of how federal revenues are gained by taxes. This foundation enable students to decipher changes in federal tax policy. Groups of students study different types of taxes and prepare presentations on each one.

Students study the effects of human modification on the Kissimmee River in Florida; and make generalizations about what they have learned and apply them to human actions and their environmental consequences elsewhere on the globe.

Fifth graders explore the concept of environmental management.  In this ecosystem lesson, 5th graders discover how models help scientists learn more about managing ecosystems. Students create their own model, make observations and discuss their findings. 

Students simulate population growth and land use capacity by playing a board game. In this science lesson, students create new guidelines to conserve land resources. They explain how the land's carrying capacity affects living things.