Car

Scape

Background Information

Since car transportation is such an important part of our lives, land has been set aside simply to store cars. We call this land "parking spaces."

In this activity, students will inventory the amount of land set aside specifically for cars at school, at home, and in the community; compare it to land set aside for other uses, and draw conclusions regarding the relative value placed on driving in comparison to other human endeavors.

Car-Scape

Student Activities

Work in a small team of three or four classmates. Go outdoors for this activity. Write as notes or as a report as directed by the teacher.

1. Inventories: Each team should complete a single inventory. Share a class discussion.

a. Inventory land use on the school grounds.

1. Measure square footage set aside for:

2. Compare the percentage used for each purpose: does this indicate the value that the school places on various uses?
3. Interview teachers for their assessment of the relative importance of uses.
b. Inventory land use in neighborhood. Limit the area to one block.
1. Measure square footage set aside for:
2. Compare the percentage used for each purpose: does this indicate the value that the community places on various uses?
c. Inventory the use at home in your own yard or the yard of a team member.
1. Measure square footage set aside for:
2. Compare the percentage used for each purpose: does this indicate the value that the family places on various uses?
3. Interview parents regarding their assessment of the relative importance of uses.
d. Inventory land use at the city hall.
1. Measure square footage set aside for:
2. Compare the percentage used for each purpose: does this indicate the value that the city places on various uses?
3. Interview a city official regarding his/her assessment of the relative importance of various uses.
e. Inventory land use at the mall.
1. Measure the square footage set aside for:

2. Compare the percentage used for each purpose: does this indicate the value that the commercial establishments place on various uses?

3. Interview a store manager regarding his/her assessment of the relative importance of various uses.

2. Analysis

a. Does land set aside for specific purposes indicate the importance placed on the use?

b. Where does the runoff water from parking lots go? What effect does this have on flooding?

c. Notice debris, oil spots, and stains on the pavement in parking lots: What effect does this have on the local environment and waterways?

d. Are there better arrangements and organization for land use?

Car Scape

Teachers Notes

As a result of this activity, students should be aware of the large amounts of land set aside simply for storing cars, and propose alternatives that would place less land in storage as opposed to actual productive use.

They might propose building parking structures, owning less cars per family, promoting car pooling to reduce the number of parking spaces necessary, or alternative uses (such as play fields) for parking areas when not in use, or using mass transit.

Encourage thinking about and discussing alternatives.

Interdisciplinary Approach: Environmental Studies, Math, and Language Arts.