Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Purpose:
Duration:
Two to Three Forty-Five Minute Class Periods
Objectives:
The learner will:
- design a sound community blueprint addressing the general make-up and needs of the community.
- explain the opportunity costs involved in choosing ideas for land use.
- identify possible community needs due to population distribution and geographic location.
Materials:
- Building A Master Plan (Attachment One)
- Blue print paper and blue markers (optional)
- Scenario card for each student (Attachment Two) These will need to be copied, cut, and mounted on construction paper prior to the lesson. The teacher will need to make one set for every team. In preparing the cards it is helpful to use a different color construction paper for each team. This will help organize your groups.
- Master Plan Scoring Guide (Attachment Three)
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Ask students what a community planner does. After they have given their ideas, explain that they will try their hands at such a job.
- Have students get into teams of four or five. Distribute one Building a Master Plan (see Attachment One) to each group. Go through the directions together and ask for questions before going on. Distribute a Scenario card (see Attachment Two) to each student or give each team a set of scenario cards to be distributed among the group. As students work, they should not only decide what to include in their master plan but also consider the opportunity cost and some of the possible consequences of their decisions. One student should take notes on the business of each planning commission meeting.
Students will need to be allowed more than one session to come up with a master plan. To avoid overuse of blueprint paper, have students create a working copy of the master plan on a smaller sheet of paper. (If you have time constraints you may choose to have students work their master plan directly onto the blueprint paper.) The master plan is only a potential layout for structures. It should not actually include the buildings at this time. (You may choose to have students color-code their plan in regard to zoning.)
- Distribute a copy of the Master Plan Scoring Guide (Attachment Three) for their community model to each team. Using the master plan, have students create a three-dimensional model of their community. (Teacher Note: If students are unable to create a three-dimensional of their community, have them complete their blueprint by placing the businesses and dwellings onto the master plan.)
Assessment:
- Community Blueprint
- Community Model
- Meeting notes
School/Home Connection:
Have students peruse a local newspaper with their parents, looking at the format of a paper. They should be able to identify different sections of the paper. (Examples: current articles, weather section, community calendar, ads, classifieds, etc.)
Cross-Curriculum Extensions:
Have students create a local newspaper for their community. It should include marketing ads as well as job opportunities. You may have them include a local weather page along with a few articles on current events.
Lesson Developed By:
Cheryl LarkinPontiac School District
Madison Middle School
Pontiac, MI 48340
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Building A Master Plan
Property Description: Your community is one mile square.
Purpose of the Commission: Every community has a planning commission. Their job is to help monitor the growth of the community. Certain regulations are designed to keep the community sound. Most communities are operating from an existing master plan, which they constantly monitor and revise. Government officials alone can not decide decisions of this importance, so rather than having the local board make the decisions, a commission has been created to decide the best interest of the community.
Your task: Your job as a commission is to create the first master plan for your community. The land area here was previously empty of all roads and structures. It is your responsibility to design a plan which would not only meet the needs of a community, but also address factors that would encourage new residents and consumers to this area.
Getting Started: Your first task is to prioritize the businesses of your community. You will not have room to include everything. A neighboring community may provide some businesses. Your meeting notes should include a discussion about what services will be provided outside your community and the rationale for not having to include them. (Keep in mind, the nearest community is between 10 and 15 miles away.)
Physical Lay-out: The next task is to create a physical view of your community. You will need to include any landforms that need to be considered in regard to building, i.e., lakes or rivers. Every community should include at least one.
Infrastructure: Next you need to decide on the infrastructure of your community. Create a copy of roads, railroads, telephone service lines, and energy company lines.
Zoning: Your next task is to designate zoning areas.
Commercial: Commercial areas will be areas of commerce (business). These properties will be available for market or business type structures.
Industrial: Industrial areas would be designated for factory type structures. These could include light industrial such a mechanics or a welding shop as well as a larger factory complex.
Residential: Residential areas would include all family dwellings. You may choose to divide this section into rural (which requires larger acreage), single family (which could include individual houses or subdivisions), and multi-dwelling which (would include apartments, condos, and/or townhouses.)
Special Services: Areas designated for special services would include schools, churches, government buildings, etc.
Commons Areas: These are parts of the community that are designated for use by all citizens. Examples may include a public park or a skateboard park.
Handout 2Print Handout 2
Scenario
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Architect: You have been contracted by the local government to oversee the development of a master plan. Your job is to provide guidance and knowledge to the group in regard to zoning and appropriate layout. Your priorities are accomplishing the tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible. |
Board Member: You are a board member of the local government. You are most interested in trying to please the majority of citizens (rather than a specific interest group). Your priorities are community growth and cohesiveness (unity) in the community. You are looking for a sound plan that would generate interest in your community. |
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Concerned Citizen: You are a concerned parent of the community. You are willing to devote your time and knowledge to making sure that specific issues are addressed during the commission meetings. Your priorities would be focused on things such as health care, educational opportunities (schools and libraries), safety in traveling, as well as cultural and recreational activities. You are also concerned with fire and police protection. |
Business Representative: You are a future local business person. Your priorities include community growth, transportation routes, and ample space for commercial growth. You are also concerned about the competition. You will be cautious not to allow too many duplicate businesses to come in. You are also concerned with fire and police protection. |
The following may be added if you have five on a team:
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Concerned Citizen: You are a concerned citizen of the community. You are willing to devote your time and knowledge to making sure that specific issues are addressed during the commission meetings. You are a member of a special interest group; that may be based on ethnicity, gender, age (as in senior citizens), or other groups such as the handicapped (you get to choose). You will also need to choose your priorities. (You may get ideas from your teammates or teacher.) You are also concerned with fire and police protection. |
Handout 3Print Handout 3
Master Plan Scoring Guide
This project will include three separate grades: one for the meeting notes, one for the blueprint, and one for the final product.
Scoring for the meeting notes:
4 points:
- Must include a detailed list for all businesses within the community.
- Must include rationale for each of the businesses listed.
- Must include a detailed list of businesses (not included) that are available in a neighboring community.
- Must include information regarding the distance and travel time for each of the businesses you listed which are provided by a neighboring community.
- Clearly written, good quality.
Scoring for the blueprint:
4 points:
- All information included on the blueprint should be represented through color or symbols. (You may use a combination of each)
- Must include a full layout of the mile square plot, including land that may be vacant.
- Must include at least one landform (lake, river).
- Must include a clearly drawn plan representing the infrastructure; roads, railroads, power lines, and phone lines.
- Must include land areas allocated for each of the following zones; residential, Industrial, special services, and commons areas. (Refer to instruction sheet for information regarding zones).
- Must include a key containing color used for all of the above information.
- Clearly written, good quality.
Scoring for 3-D communities:
4 points:
- Must be 3-D.
- Includes all above information; including infrastructure, zoning areas, and buildings.
- Is a sound design, is neatly constructed, and is good quality.
- Shows creativity
The following guide refers to scoring on each of the above assignments.
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3 Points |
2 Points |
1 Point |
| Has all elements for 4 points, but details are missing and/or quality is not good. | Is missing a couple of the required elements and/or quality is poor. | Has several missing elements and is poor quality. |
Unit Contents:
Overview:Getting to Know the Community Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Four Sectors (The)
- 2.
- Exploring Our Community
- 3.
- Exploring Community Needs
- 4.
- Planning Commission (The)
- 5.
- Celebrating the Community
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
Comments
The rubric was very helpful and this was an excellent activity.
Students enjoyed designing "an ideal community."