How Much Is Too Much? How Much Is Not Enough? Analyzing Public Policy in the Petrified Forest

GeoLiteracy
GeoSTEM
Legacy
Lesson Plan Content
Description: 
In this lesson students will consider the current policy of the Petrified Forest National Park. They will use geographical and archaeological knowledge, scientific understanding and mathematical reasoning to justify their own policy. Currently, collecting samples of petrified wood or any other natural, archaeological or historical object is forbidden by Federal Law in the United States. Students will be asked to determine if this is a reasonable policy and justify their decisions in a one page brief.
Author: 
Brian Stegall
Grade Range: 
High School
Duration: 
2 class periods
Lesson Materials
Teacher Instructions: 
application/pdf iconTeacher Instructions
Student Materials: 
application/pdf iconStudent Worksheets, Assessments, and Answer Keys
application/pdf iconTree to Stone Reading
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconPetrified Forest Power Point
Standards
National Geography Standards: 
6: How culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions
14: How human actions modify the physical environment
16: The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources
17: How to apply geography to interpret the past
18: How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future