In our lifetime and in current news, it seems that the threat of nuclear weapons around the world is the most alarming and heavily reported topic around the world. In social studies classrooms, I believe that history gives us an outlet to teaching about science, technology, and how they effect society. Anywhere from the building of the atomic bomb during World War II in the Manhattan Project, to the race to space during the Kennedy administration and the launch of Sputnik by the Russians. Each effected the lives of people of the past and still effects people today. Helping students understand the relevance that science and technology of the past play in their lives will accomplish exactly what Saye and Loewen mentioned as far as connectedness in our lessons.
On a more personal level, during the agriculture unit of Human Geography, we focused on the Von Thünen model for land use. This was a great example of science, technology, and society as well as time, continuity and change. In 1826 Von Thünen wrote a short book called "The Isolated State" in which he illustrated the way in which land is used as centered around the central city, or market area for farmer's products to be sold. There are rings around the central market where, in the first ring, dairy and horticulture crops are produced and must be closest to the market due to the quick time that they must be consumed. In the 1800s, there was no refrigeration technology and milk only lasted about a day and the same goes for fruits and vegetables. The second ring was saved for forest and timber because there was no electricity at the time and wood was the greatest source of energy at the time. It too had to be close to the market in that wood is heavy to transport and it is needed to heat the houses as well as build houses. The students were able to see the way in which electricity and refrigeration are two technologies that today they rarely notice because it has always been a resource for them in their lives. However, they still have an understanding of food spoilage just as farmers did in the 1800s. The artifact below is a quiz that was given to the class within Google Classroom on the Von Thünen model as well as the Burgess "Concentric Zone Model."
On a more personal level, during the agriculture unit of Human Geography, we focused on the Von Thünen model for land use. This was a great example of science, technology, and society as well as time, continuity and change. In 1826 Von Thünen wrote a short book called "The Isolated State" in which he illustrated the way in which land is used as centered around the central city, or market area for farmer's products to be sold. There are rings around the central market where, in the first ring, dairy and horticulture crops are produced and must be closest to the market due to the quick time that they must be consumed. In the 1800s, there was no refrigeration technology and milk only lasted about a day and the same goes for fruits and vegetables. The second ring was saved for forest and timber because there was no electricity at the time and wood was the greatest source of energy at the time. It too had to be close to the market in that wood is heavy to transport and it is needed to heat the houses as well as build houses. The students were able to see the way in which electricity and refrigeration are two technologies that today they rarely notice because it has always been a resource for them in their lives. However, they still have an understanding of food spoilage just as farmers did in the 1800s. The artifact below is a quiz that was given to the class within Google Classroom on the Von Thünen model as well as the Burgess "Concentric Zone Model."