Urban Sprawl vs. Smart Growth

A WebQuest for Biology 8

By Ms. Pamela Allen

pallen@uticaschools.org

Donovan Middle School Utica, NY 13502

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Since the 1600’s when colonists first settled in North America, the face of the continent  changed as houses turned into villages, villages turned into towns and towns became cities. 

After World War 2, cities began to overflow their boundaries and suburbs appeared, and they kept on appearing.

Your class is going to use the Public Policy Analyst to investigate the impact of suburbs on ecosystems and human society and whether the current policy is justified or if legal limits should be placed on future growth.

 

 

TASK:

 

You are part of an urban planning team hired by New York State to help Oneida County plan for new growth expected from the new chip plant in Marcy. You team is expected to analyze the economic and environmental impact expected from this new company and develop a solution that will consider multiple factors and tradeoffs. Your group will design and construct a simulated city based on a smart growth model that will inform the public about the advantages of better urban planning. You may present a poster, a 3-d model or a slideshow to show your findings.

 

 

 

PROCESS/RESOURCES:

(Helpful TipMC900440432[1]: Read and print the rubric and evaluation before you begin your project.)

1.  You will use the 6 steps of the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) to help you solve your problem.  Use the Resources below to help you research your topic and complete the 6 worksheets of the PPA.

2.  After you have done your research, develop an outline of your major findings and projections and use them to support your solutions.

3.  Design and construct a visual model that integrates what you have learned.

4.  You will present your project to the class in a brief oral presentation and a classroom exposition.

 

 

Public Policy Analyst

1.    Identifying the Problem, and Worksheet #1

2.    Gathering Evidence, and Worksheet # 2

3.    Identify Causes of the problem, and Worksheet # 3

4.    Evaluate the Policy, and Worksheet #4

5.    Develop a Solution to the Problem, and Worksheet #5

6.    Selecting the Best Solution, and Worksheet #6

 

 

Resources: 

1.   How did the chip plant affect Malta, NY?

2.   Another perspective on the chip plant.

3.   What’s going on in Marcy?

4.   What is Urban Sprawl?

5.   Smartgrowth cities

6.   Solving Sprawl: An Overview

7.   Urban Solutions

 

 

Evaluation/Rubric:

Rubric:

yes

no

Please check to see that you have completed your project.

Did you research the economic and environmental impact that a chip plant in Marcy will have on Oneida County, based on the impact it had near Albany?

 

 

Did you research to find out the causes and effect of Urban Sprawl?

 

 

Did you research to find out what makes up a “Smart Growth” community?

 

 

Did you research to find out what solutions would best fit a Smart Growth model?

 

 

Did you use the PPA forms 2-6 to guide you through your project?

 

 

Do you have a recommendation(s) for solutions for growth for Oneida County?

 

 

Does your outline contain all Key Points?

 

 

Does your group have a brief summary for the speaker to report?

 

 

Does your model reflect Smart Growth solutions for Oneida County?

 

 

 

Conclusion and Standards:

At this point, you should be ready to present a project that make useful recommendations as our community prepares for growth. Good Luck!

 

Standards:

NYS MST Standard 4, Living Environment Key Idea 7: human activities have a profound effect on the environment.

Common Core Literacy Standards for SSST:

Reading:  Key ideas and Details 1,2, Integration of Knowledge and ideas 7,8, Range and complexity 10.

Writing: Text types and Purposes 1,2.

 

Citations:

 

1.       Benfield, Kaid “Compact and connected communities improve public health, says new research” 24 October 2014. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/compact_and_connected_communit.html 17 March 2015

2.      Cignoli, Michael, “Global Foundries chip fab plant fosters a ripple effect felt far and wide” 24 July 2012. <Saratogian.com. http://www.saratogian.com/general-news/20120724/globalfoundries-chip-fab-plant-fosters-a-ripple-effect-felt-far-and-wide> 17 March 2015.

3.       Cluckey, Keisha, “Better than advertised: Chip plant beats expectations” 27 June 2014. Albany Business Review. http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/print-edition/2014/06/27/better-than-advertised-hip-plant-beats.html?page=all

4.       Hoyt, Alia.  "How Urban Sprawl Works"  25 August 2008.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://geography.howstuffworks.com/terms-and-associations/urban-sprawl.htm>  17 March 2015.

5.       http://marcynanocenter.http

6.       http://www.nrdc.org/cities/smartgrowth/nsolve.asp

7.       http://www.nrdc.org/urbansolutions/default.asp