Land Use Lesson 3 : Classifying Land Use
Students are given information about the ways that Michigan lands are used. The land use information is classified and presented in tables. Students apply several methods to compare land uses. The process of classifying and comparing helps students develop the larger concept that land is used for various purposes. Tables, a measuring stick, and graphs are used to investigate the overall uses of land. Note: If the class is not familiar with using graphs, tables, and diagrams, then preliminary work with those graphics should be completed. This may be accomplished by making tables on the board that show the number of boys and girls in class, then converting those data into a measuring stick or pie graph. That background should be sufficient for the lesson.
The big idea is that land has many uses. Land uses are classified so that policy makers and other citizens can have information about land use when they make decisions.
Students answer two essential questions in the lesson:
How is the land in Michigan used?
Who owns the land?
Major concepts include types of land classification, amount of land in various land uses, and ownership.
Subject/Target Grade
Social Studies and Science/ Upper Elementary
Duration
50 minutes – Classroom setting
Materials
per class
• Land Use in Michigan (transparency master)
• Who Owns Michigan’s Forests? (transparency master)
• Michigan Land Stewardship & Land Use/ Cover map
• Classifying Land Use Lesson Assessment (answer key)
per student
• Threats to the Forest (student activity)
per pair of students
• Land Use Measuring Stick for Michigan (student activity)
• Classifying Land Use Lesson Assessment (student assessment)
• Michigan Land Stewardship & Land Use/ Cover map (desktop size)