Activity Overview
Students will take the parts of individuals who are either for or against the construction of a proposed interstate exchange to connect a mythical town in Florida with I-75. They will testify before a board, which will decide on their proposal.
Before the Activity
See the attached Activity PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity.
Print the appropriate pages from the Activity for your class.
Install the LearningCheck(tm) App on the students' graphing calculators following the attached instructions.
Make copies of the Student Data Sheet, Pleasantville Gets An Interchange — Background Information and Instructions, as well as each of the individual role data sheets. Divide the class into heterogeneously mixed groups of four. Distribute a copy of the Student Data Sheet to each group along with one Role sheet.
During the Activity
Distribute the appropriate pages from the Activity to your class
Distribute the LearningCheck(tm) file(s) to your class using TI Connect(tm) and the appropriate TI Connectivity cable
Follow the procedures outlined in the Activity
Students will:
Explore the history of the Interstate Highway System.
Demonstrate a basic understanding of the Interstate Highway System, the numbering system of interstate road signs, and the major routes and cities connected by the interstate in Florida.
Analyze the economic, social, and environmental impact of the interstate on the United States, Florida, and individual communities.
Identify businesses that flourished and failed as a result of the interstate and predict business and residential growth patterns based on their proximity to interstate interchanges.
Evaluate and predict the far-reaching impact of growth in Florida and the Interstate Highway System's impact on individual communities.
After the Activity
On the second day while the board is deliberating their decision, conduct an informal discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of each group's presentation.
After the board reaches a decision about constructing the interchange, lead a class discussion about the activity using follow-up questions found in the Activity3.edc resource file.