Phoenix Growth: Who Decides? (two-day lesson)

Overview

In this two-day lesson, students will engage in an inquiry about the forces behind urban growth. The central question is “Who decides where new houses should be built?” They will read five documents about housing development in Phoenix and the interactions between the state, housing developers, Native American tribes, and homeowners. In response to the inquiry question, they well generate multiple hypotheses that capture the various perspectives of all the competing interests. For homework, they will write a short essay that synthesizes the two-day inquiry.

Learning Goals:

• Students will learn about housing development, land trusts, water rights, and leapfrogging.
• Students will read and analyze documents about the various forces behind Phoenix’s growth.
• Students will learn that urban growth is complicated and the result of many interests.

DAY ONE

Website Materials:

• “Anthem”
• “Leapfrogging”
• “Affordability”

Step 1: 10 minutes: Introduction

a) Ask students to free-write in response to the following prompt: Who decides where new houses should be built?

b) Briefly elicit some student responses and write them on the board.

Step 2: 15 minutes: Read document

Hand out “Anthem” and have students read and answer questions.

Step 3: 5 minutes:

a) Elicit student responses.

b) Ask students to share their responses to question #3. How do their responses differ from the ideas in their initial free-write?

Step 4: 20 minutes: Read documents, round two

Arrange students in pairs. Hand out “Leapfrogging” and “Affordability” and have students answer questions.

Homework

Based on the two worksheets “Leapfrogging” and “Affordability,” how would you answer our initial question: Who decides where new houses should be built?

DAY TWO

Website materials:

Step 1: 10 minutes: Review homework, pair-share

Ask students to pair-share their homework answers. Elicit answers from some students.

Step 2: 5 minutes: Transition

Tell students: “So far, the documents we’ve read have given us two possible answers to our question: Who decides where new houses should be built?

In “Anthem,” the answer seems to be that young families who want more space and less congestion drive urban growth.

In “Leapfrogging” and “Affordability,” the answer seems to be that real estate developers drive growth.

Today, we are going to find two more answers to our question.”

Step 3: 10 minutes: Read document, round three

Hand out “State Land Trusts” and have students answer questions.

Step 4: 5 minutes: Share answers

Ask students: According to “State Land Trusts,” who decides where new houses should be built?

Step 5: 10 minutes: Read document, round four

Hand out “Water and Tribal Lands” and have students answer questions.

Step 6: 5 minutes: Share answers

Ask students: According to “Water and Tribal Lands,” who decides where new houses should be built?

Homework

Using the information in the 5 worksheets you’ve received, write 3-4 paragraphs in response to the following prompt:

Why is urban growth so difficult to control?

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

In order to meet standards, a student must fulfill the following criteria: