The Changing Face of Pennsylvania
- Introduction
- Academic Standards
- Activity 1: Aerial Photos
- Activity 2: Historic Timeline
- Activity 3: Learning About Pennsylvania
- Related Materials
Success Stories
Learning About Pennsylvania
The Changing Face of Pennsylvania
This activity involves three parts. The first part participants explore information about Pennsylvania through a variety of maps to define physiographic regions and how the features of each region influenced early settlements and development patterns.
The second part involves examining population trends by county to assess the regional differences in community growth and development. In the third part, participants analyze data to determine population and land development trends. Such information provides a platform for predicting future trends.
Questions
- What are the characteristics of land forms andland cover in Pennsylvania?
- How do features in the physiographic regions influence community growth and development?
- How do population trends compare across Pennsylvania?
- What are some of the past and future trends of growth and development in Pennsylvania?
Preparation
- Participants are to work in groups. Discuss the process of working in groups. Have each group assign a leader, recorder, timekeeper, and presenter.
- Copy and prepare sets of the following and place them at each work station to be used by participants working in groups:
- Sets of Physiographic Region Cards and Photos
- PA Digital Shaded-relief Map
- PA Geologic Shaded-relief Map
- PA Land-cover Map
- PA Watershed Map
- Map of Counties
- Map of Municipalities
- Large mylar sheet with erasable markers (optional)
- Post-it notes
- Standard rulers for each team
Optional: small toy vehicles
- Prepare copies of the Percent in Population Change Worksheet for each team.
- Prepare copies of the Change in Population by County (2000-2002) pages. For the most current information visit the following website: www.pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/.
- Prepare five different sets of graphs and charts along with the appropriate worksheet. Each team will be given a different set of information. During the lesson each team will be asked to analyze the information and present a summary of their findings to the group.
Procedure
