Implementing the Project Interdisciplinary Implementation This interdisciplinary unit uses cross-curricular problem-solving techniques and remote sensing data to solve a proposed problem (urban sprawl) for our area. This project asks the question: how will the local development (both industrial and residential) affect life in a community for both people and the local ecosystem. Once the students understand their local problem through the analysis of remote sensing data and additional research, they will be asked to suggest community solutions. The Maryland Smart Growth initiatives offer a model for some methods to solve urban "sprawl" growth problems. In the unit the students assume the persona of various community members, developers, scientists and citizens, who have been assembled as a committee to create a request for Smart Growth funds for their area. The students, acting in their characters, have to interpret the satellite images from that characterıs perspective. The culminating event is a town meeting where the students present their findings to the community and establish the request for Smart Growth funds. STEP ONE: Teacher Overview 1.Collect local data for the project from local sources. Science or History: Appendix C Data Collection 1. Write and mail community and parent introductory letters. English: Optional Extension Lessons: Conducting interviews and making presentations 2.        Provide list of community member roles to students 3.        Assign roles or let students choose student research role 4.        Have the students begin to create a point of view.  5.        Have students, in English class; write a journal entry answering these questions about their roles life. What does your character do for a living? How did they become interested in this career? How long have they lived in the community? What is their view of how the community changed during the time they have lived here? Science: Introduction to Remote Sensing Presentations 6.        MultiSpec and Landsat image tutorial 7.        Remote sensing tutorial 8.        Optional reading "Growth Patterns of Urban Sprawl" by Masek               Science: See Appendix F Science, History, or Math: Study population growth statistics.      See Appendix B STEP TWO: Determine extent of urban growth using Landsat and other data Science Activity: Studying Vegetation From Space Create a set of NDVI images Science Activity: Studying Vegetation Change From Space- ΔNDVI Calculation Create a D NDVI image Science Lesson: Aerial Photograph Interpretation Create a selective interpretation key for and practice reading aerial photographs Science Lesson: Vegetative Change Detection Come up with hypotheses as to what changes are occurring in the local area. Look at change over time by using the ΔNDVI images with aerial photographs and other research materials.  Math Optional Extension Lessons: Math Scaling  Rescale maps and aerial photographs to assist in using the DNDVI image to detect change in the local area. Math and or History Optional Extension Lessons: Interpreting Data (to be added later) Determine if urban growth could affect: environment- air quality, animals migrating, loss of habitats, increased erosion/ loss of ability of land to filter water, and loss of biodiversity. Appearance of town.  Town operation concerns- schools, roads/traffic, utilities.  Optional reading "Governor Parris N. Glendening on smart growth" See Appendix E: Town economic concerns- business See Appendix A for further details STEP THREE: Determine the issues affected by growth English: Optional Extension Lessons: Conducting interviews and making presentations  (to be added later) Students research their community member role using library notes and socio/demographic data See Appendix B Journal about character's perspective Have the students create and then review the questions to be used in the interview Have the students conduct interviews with community members and begin to work on an essay and speech for a town meeting See Appendix G List of characters/roles for the town meeting History Lesson: Evaluation of Growth Trends (to be added later) Use library notes and socio/demographic data to establish the effects of local growth trends.    See Appendix H Possible implementation timeline STEP FOUR: Prepare presentation and conduct the town meeting All subject areas- Optional Extension: Town meeting grading of oral presentation (to be added later) Five minute initial presentation discussing main pros and cons Determine if government growth controls should be used Each person/group needs to present their argument/side and address each of these major issues plus any other pertinent issues.  Ex. How would a low-income father of four who works at the local department store feel about each of these issues? Practice presentation with all groups Visuals developed Remotely sensed data and Landsat generated images are used to support various community members points of view Presentation Simultaneous town meetings Each viewpoint group gives a short presentation Two minute rebuttal/question & answer period Proposed solutions Closing