Grades:

Grade 10-12

Subjects:

Social Studies

Overview

This lesson introduces students to the concept of wilderness and the role that wilderness preservation has played throughout American history. Students will conduct research on different historical wilderness issues or events and analyze those events in the context of the political and cultural climate of that particular time

Suggested Time Allowance:

1 hour

Objectives:

Students will

• define wilderness;
• communicate varying opinions on the preservation of wilderness;
• describe key players and events in the history of wilderness preservation;
• research and analyze one historical wilderness issue or event; and
• design a newspaper from the year of their assigned wilderness event, linking it to politics, culture, and other historical events.

Materials:

Computers with Internet access

Lesson Plan:

Begin by asking students to list words or phrases that come to their mind when they hear the word "wilderness." Discuss the different ways that wilderness was represented in these phrases. What are reasons for such different perspectives on wilderness?

Explain that throughout American history, wilderness has meant different things to different people; there have been debates about what it is and what, if anything, should be "done" with it. Ask the students to form 5 groups. Explain that each group will each research a particular moment in the history of wilderness preservation and analyze the different perspectives on the wilderness represented in the debate.

Before giving the assignment, go over some background information on wilderness. Try to define wilderness. Does every student in the class agree that wilderness must be preserved? Do all countries in the world feel the same way? Can the students find out how much are is designated as wilderness in various countries of the world? How much of  this area is protected from development?

Divide the students into small groups, providing each with one of the following newspaper headlines and its corresponding year:

• New York Voters' Approval of New Constitution Preserves Adirondack Park as "Forever Wild," 1894
• Despite Protests from Wilderness Supporters, President Wilson Signs Law Allowing a Dam to Flood Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley, 1913
• Conservation Leaders Establish New Organization called The Wilderness Society; Forester Bob Marshall Takes Command, 1935
• Sierra Club Director, David Brower, Leads Successful Opposition to Development at Dinosaur National Monument, 1955
• President Lyndon Johnson Signs Landmark Wilderness Legislation, 1964
• President Carter Signs Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), Adding 56 Million Acres to the National Wilderness Preservation System, 1980
• California Desert Protection Act Brings the National Wilderness Preservation System Up to 104.7 Million Acres, 1994

Have each group of students create a newspaper or front page of a newspaper that includes their assigned headline. They should research other events that took place during that year and can include in their paper other news stories, editorials, advertisements, cartoons, and so on—as long as they are all historically accurate. The article corresponding to their assigned headline should be an analysis of that wilderness event that

• provides basic factual information about the event or issue;
• describes any debate that led to this event, including the main arguments of those supporting this action and those opposing it;
• links the event to other events occurring in the United States at the time; and
• explains what, if any, influence the current political climate had on their wilderness event.

Have each group give an oral presentation about its newspaper to the rest of the class. One option is to present a skit in which a group of people or a family reads their newspaper and discusses the day's news with each other. They could also present a news "broadcast" that highlights the day's events.

Using the newspapers as the main resource, have each student write an essay on historical trends in wilderness preservation and on how wilderness preservation has been linked to other events and political issues throughout American history.

Assessment:

Students will be evaluated based on their involvement in class discussions and subsequent essay.

Source:

NationMaster