Lesson+4+-+Researching+the+Issues

Before you begin researching, provide students with the research matrix called "Effects of Natural Processes and Social Circumstances on Natural and Cultural Resources". (Download this blank resource matrix: ).

Providing students with choice is important for student engagement. There are several National Parks that could serve as context for this project (see Table 2). These National Parks are called out for the vast amount of information available.

Table 2. (Consider visiting the U.S. National Parks Service Homepage ). || Moab, UT || || Death Valley, CA, NV || || Miami, Naples, and Homestead, FL || || Northwest Montana, MT || || Hilo, HI || || The Sierra Nevada, CA ||
 * **Name of Park** || **Location** ||
 * Arches National Park
 * Death Valley National Park
 * Everglades National Park
 * Glacier National Park
 * Grand Canyon National Park || Grand Canyon, AZ ||
 * Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
 * Yellowstone National Park || Yellowstone National Park, ID, MT, WY ||
 * Yosemite National Park
 * Badlands National Park || South Dakota ||
 * Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve || Gustavus, AK ||

As students begin to research, discuss utilizing these databases and appropriate key word searches. Some possible key word terms are listed below:

//environmental factors, environmental problems, environmental issues//

Most of the US National Parks websites have a left side-bar menu. If you look under Nature & Science, you should see a link to //Environmental Factors//.