Unit One: Lesson Seven

Literature Connection: A River Ran Wild Lake Erie Timeline Changing the Environment of Michigan Houses and Adaptation

 To study a place geographers ask the question: How have people interacted with the environment of the place?  To answer that question geographers study how people changed the environment of the place.  People changed the environment of Michigan by polluting the Great Lakes and rivers.  They also changed the environment of Michigan by filling in wetlands, cutting down forests and building cities.  Geographers also study how people have adapted to the environment of a place.  In Michigan, houses can be studied in order to understand how people adapt to Michigan’s four seasons.

ways in which people use and interact with the Earth. Example: When people build new roads they are interacting with the Earth. This is one of the most important things geographers study.

Examples: ◦ Water ◦ Soil ◦ Minerals

 When people use natural resources they change the environment. ◦ For example, when people cut down trees for lumber the forest habitat is changed.

when people change the environment to fit them Example: People in Michigan modified the environment by cutting down trees to clear land for farming.

 Although this book takes place in another state, what happened in the book was very similar to what happened in Michigan. By: Lynn Cherry

 Cut out the sequence cards.  Arrange the cards in the correct sequence.

A trading post was built near the Native American village. The paper mills began to pollute the river. The river became more and more polluted. Land was cleared for farms and the village grew into a town. Factories like a paper mill were built in the town along the river. Native Americans built a village along the river. A village with houses and sawmills grew near the trading post. People worked together to clean up the river.

1. Native Americans built a village along the river. 2. A trading post was built near the Native American village. 3. A village with houses and sawmills grew near the trading post. 4. Land was cleared for farms and the village grew into a town. 5. Factories like a paper mill were built in the town along the river. 6. The paper mills began to pollute the river. 7. The river became more and more polluted. 8. People worked together to clean up the river.

Can you think of ways in which the land has been changed in your community? Clearing land for houses or building, taking up farmland, building road, etc.

 Over the years, Michigan has lost millions of acres of good farmland and open spaces as urban areas have sprawled into rural areas.  According to the Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan is losing over five acres of open space and farmland every hour. This land is being used for developments like houses and shopping malls.  To create more space for buildings, wetlands have been filled. Over half the wetlands of Michigan have already been destroyed.  Many coastal areas of Michigan have been changed. This has left Michigan shorelines in danger. Problems include overdevelopment of shoreline areas, erosion, contamination of beaches, and sand dune mining.

 Farming and lumbering helped Michigan grow and develop.  Cities provided places for people to live and find jobs.  Development along coastal areas helped bring in tourists. People often have to balance environmental concerns with economic concerns.

In fact, sometimes people have to change in order to fit their environment.

when people change to fit the environment Example: People in Michigan wear warm coats, hats and mittens to fit the environment in winter.

People have warm coats, buy snow shovels and snow blowers, and put salt on their sidewalks.

California HomeMichigan Home Why do these houses look so different?

California Home Michigan Home  Why is the roof of the California house flat and the roof of the Michigan house peaked?  Which house is likely to have a furnace? Why?  Which house is likely to have an air conditioner? Why?  Which house is the most likely to have a basement? Why? (Michigan, due to California earthquakes)  Why is the landscaping around each house so different?  Why do you think the California house has more windows?  Which house is likely to have both window screens and storm windows? Why?  Which house is likely to have the most insulation? Why?

 People in Michigan grow apples instead of oranges. Why? Because orange trees need a warmer climate like that of Florida.  People in Michigan often like water sports because there are so many lakes.  People in Michigan often own both a snow blower and a lawn mower. Why?

 The Native Americans learned to make their houses out of cattails because the riverbanks provided these materials.  The Native Americans planted corn and squash because they were crops that would grow in forest clearings.  People stopped swimming in the river because it had become so polluted.

Human/ Environment Interaction

Human/ Environment Interaction Modifying (Changing) the Environment

Human/ Environment Interaction Modifying (Changing) the Environment Adapting to the Environment

Land Water Human/ Environment Interaction Modifying (Changing) the Environment Adapting to the Environment

Land Water Human/ Environment Interaction Modifying (Changing) the Environment Adapting to the Environment Pollution of the Great Lakes River Pollution

Land Water Human/ Environment Interaction Modifying (Changing) the Environment Adapting to the Environment Problems with shorelines Loss of Wetlands Loss of farmland and open space Pollution of the Great Lakes River Pollution

Land Water Houses Human/ Environment Interaction Modifying (Changing) the Environment Adapting to the Environment Problems with shorelines Loss of Wetlands Loss of farmland and open space Pollution of the Great Lakes River Pollution