The extension for determining local land-use changes will help students connect their learning to where they live, providing a richer learning experience.
The dot planimeter is an excellent tool for students who cannot yet calculate irregular areas.
Prerequisites
To see all of the materials and information, including the procedure for teaching the lesson, teachers will need to click on the link titled "Land Use Lesson 2: Measuring Land Use and Cover" on the left and the green View Resource button (or click here).
To help lead students to the definition of planimeter, teachers may first have to explain that the root plan- is derived from plane or surface.
The suggested resource, kiteseyeview.com, does not exist.
Differentiation & Implementation
Students working on calculating area can use simplified land use maps to write or answer questions such as, "What is the area of land being used for recreational purposes?"
If teachers do not have transparencies for the dot planimeters, they can have students place copies of the planimeter in a sheet protector and trace where the dots are located.
When discussing how people have changed the land, teachers can guide students in thinking about what this means for the animals and plants that once lived on that land.