1. CITIZENS SOLVING PROBLEMS GEOGRAPHICALLY CIVICS/GEOGRAPHY

2. STINGER The Map below indicates how well American cities have recovered from the recent economic recession. Cities in red have not recovered, those in orange have partially recovered, and those in green have fully recovered. 1.What vocabulary do you need to understand the map? 2.What is the purpose of the map? 3.What information does the map provide? 4.What patterns are evident in the map? 5.Why might these patterns exist? 6.How can someone use these patterns to help the cities that have not recovered?

3. THOUGHTS ON THE MAP/REVIEW OF GEOGRAPHIC CONCEPTS Hierarchy – population density and settlement patterns More densely populated cities (Northeast/Southwest) have not yet recovered You can see I-95, which connects those densely populated cities of the East Coast if you connect the red/orange dots Less densely populated cities in the middle of the country have recovered Accessibility- how easy it is to get to and from a place Less accessible places have recovered more easily than more accessible places THIS IS WEIRD!! WHY?!? Could this have something to do with technology? Newer, less populated cities are more technologically flexible? Diffusion- the spreading of something from one place to another Not evident from the map Maybe if there were dates on the map we could see a pattern Complementarity- the relationship between two places Successful cities clustered together Unsuccessful cities clustered together

4. CIVIC PROBLEM SOLVING What could someone in an unsuccessful city do to solve the problems of his or her city? Study the policies of successful cities Determine the ways in which successful cities are the same or different Model policies after successful policies elsewhere What does that have to do with citizen involvement? Citizens should be informed Know about these issues in order to make positive choices Know about candidates and office holders Citizens should participate Vote Write letters Attend meetings Work for candidates

5. ARTICLE ACTIVITY Read your article Answer the following questions Summarize the problem that is identified in your article. Do you think there are any geographic concepts (hierarchy, diffusion, accessibility, complementarity)? How do you think your problem should be solved?

6. GETTING INTO GROUPS Find the other people who read the same article that you read. You will be given a poster, divide it into four sections, leave room at the top for a snazzy title Problem Possible Solutions Proposed Solution Action Plan You will be given data to help you define your problem and to decorate your posters

7. PROBLEM- ON PAPER Define your problem Is it a city problem, a country problem, or does it not relate to population density? Is it a problem for people who live in places that are easy or hard to get to? Does it not relate to accessibility? Is the problem moving or spreading? How? Is the problem associated with the relationship between the problematic places and other places? How? Why is this a problem?

8. PROBLEM- ON YOUR POSTER Define your problem Use the data to decorate the problem section Give brief descriptions of the data that you used.

9. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS- ON PAPER Brainstorm at least 4 possible solutions to your problem For each solution, write 3 pros and 3 cons Use the data where you can to back up your pros and cons

10. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS- POSTER Choose two of your solutions that were NOT your favorite solution Write them on the poster WITH their pros and cons Decorate with data, drawings, etc

11. PROPOSAL- ON PAPER Pick your FAVORITE solution from the last step This should be the one you think would work best Explain what the solution is and WHY you think it would work

12. PROPOSAL- ON POSTER Explain your favorite solution and WHY you think it would work the best Decorate with data, drawings, etc

13. ACTION PLAN- ON PAPER Brainstorm the steps you would have to take in order to make your proposed solution a reality Which level of government is in charge of the policy (federal, state, county, city)? Which branch (legislative, judicial, executive) is in charge of the policy? How could you contact the people in charge of the policy? What else could citizens do to help convince policy makers to change the policy? (raise money, attend meetings, write opinion articles in the newspaper, start a social media campaign, etc) Turn this into a series of 5-7 steps that your group could take

14. ACTION PLAN- POSTER Detail the steps of your action plan Decorate with data, drawings, etc

15. PRESENT!! Be Prepared to talk us through your poster!

16. EXIT TICKET How can geography help citizens understand social problems? How can geography help citizens solve social problems? How can citizens help policy makers solve social problems?