U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Skip Header
Activities
Resources
Standards
About
Search data, events, resources, and more

Activities
Bring your classroom to life with real world data. Select an activity that supplements what you are currently teaching in subjects including English, Math, Geography and History.
Resources
Increase the data literacy of your students with resources that display data in fun ways. Choose from monthly Fun Facts, 5-Minute Challenge warm-up activities, maps, videos and more.
Standards
Statistics in Schools activities are based on relevant education standards and guidelines that outline the foundational knowledge and skills students should have at certain levels.
About
Statistics in Schools is a free Census Bureau program that uses the data to create resources for K-12 students in a variety of subjects.

Examining Changes to the Environment Through Pictures and Data

Examining Changes to the Environment Through Pictures and Data

Activity Description

eg1-160

Students will examine how human actions and population changes can affect the environment. Students will examine a series of photographs that compare famous landmarks (Times Square, the Saltair Pavilion in Utah, Laguna Beach, and Niagara Falls) across time, and then they will identify human-generated changes in the physical environment, such as the addition of bridges and roads. Students will also examine U.S. Census Bureau population and housing data to see how population changes can contribute to changes in the physical environment. In addition, students will describe the impact of these changes on the environment.

Suggested Grade Level

4-6

Approximate Time Required

60 Minutes

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to describe changes they see in photographs of the same location or landmark taken in different years.
  • Students will be able to explain how population changes and other factors affect the environment.

Materials Required

  • The student version of this activity, 15 pages
  • Teacher computer with Internet access and a projector to display Web sites

Activity Items

The following items are part of this activity. The items and their sources appear at the end of this teacher version.

  • Item 1: New York City, NY
  • Item 2: Salt Lake City, UT
  • Item 3: Laguna Beach, CA
  • Item 4: Niagara Falls, NY

For more information to help you introduce your students to the Census Bureau, read Census Bureau 101 for Students This information sheet can be printed and passed out to your students as well.

Teacher Notes

Blooms Taxonomy

Understanding
Blooms Taxonomy

Students will be able to understand how human behaviors affect the physical environment.

Subjects

Elementary School Geography

Topics

  • Environmental changes
  • Population

Skills Taught

  • Analyzing changes over time
  • Comparing and contrasting
  • Drawing conclusions
Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
Is this page helpful?
Thumbs Up Image Yes Thumbs Down Image No
NO THANKS
255 characters maximum 255 characters maximum reached
Thank you for your feedback.
Comments or suggestions?

Top

Back to Header