Submitted by: Molly Lynde
School: Mills E. Godwin High School
Summary
As part of US/VA Government curriculum students are required to obtain awareness and working knowledge of local government, local community decisions, as well as the local social and economic impacts such decisions have.
Essential question: What are the economic and social costs a locality faces when deciding the placement of schools?
The lesson entails three steps:
1- The exercise begins with a land simulation exercise where students are tasked to choose the placement of a proposed new elementary school. They are given economic, social, and environmental limitations of a particular parcel of land. In small groups they must decide where they will locate the elementary school in a setting restricted by several elements like wetlands, sacred burial grounds etc. Then they are to conduct a second round where they again make the decision in which they are given more specific economic cost concepts such as the cost of relocating endangered/protected species, cost of cleaning up an EPA dump site, etc.
2- Follow up with a visit by Henrico, County Public Schools planning and research personnel. The teacher provides all students home zip codes so that the planning and research personnel can provide in depth explanation of both the GIS system as well as elements schools consider when projecting long term population growth and school facilities needs. Using the different layers of the county GIS system school personnel where able to show students where projected growth is anticipated as well as the incorporation of census data.
3- An additional visit was made by Henrico County supervisor Pat O’Bannon and Planning Commissioner Bonne Leigh Jones. The officials speak to the bigger county picture than mere schools. Long range land use plans are discussed covering such topics as infrastructure growth, industrial corridors, tax bases, and changing community needs such as green spaces. A further explanation of the funds requisition process from county schools to county commissioners is explained. A real life example of the newest Henrico County High School, Glen Allen High School, is used as officials walk students through the complete process including various bureaucratic steps taken en route.
TIPC Ratings
This is an authentic task in which students investigate the process by which schools are selected. Students are asked to research county data to justify placement of schools. Students gain concrete knowledge from county and school personnel.
Students in small groups are asked to make critical decisions based upon realistic information. Students use Google Docs to authentic their inquiries to schools and county personnel.
Students must justify their school placement choices and respond to purposeful questions.
Students must use digital tools and information to make predictions of school placements.
Student Artifact
