Character sheets

QCA: Innovating with Geography www.qca.org.uk/geography Conflict in National Parks Lesson Plan Environmental Issues: Conflict in National Parks Lesson aim Pupils to understand how conflicts arise in National Parks and what might be done to resolve these conflicts. Learning Objectives (to be shared with pupils) Pupils to:  understand that there are many pressures on National Parks – e.g. millions visit the Peak District National Park and 100,000 people live there all year. (Who is more important?);  understand the different views of the different parties and why they hold them;  be able to make reasoned decisions and communicate effectively to others;  understand how the decision-making process works;  know and understand how and why attempts are made to manage environments. Subject Content: National Curriculum/ Syllabus Links Exploring sustainable development 6 (j)(i) How conflicting demands on environments arise 6 (j)(ii) How and why attempts are made ………to manage environments 5 (b) Cross Curricular Links/ Themes/ Competences Citizenship – Conflict Resolution Resources Coloured role play cards & background info Advance Preparation Photo-copying of cards Arrange desks Learning objectives on board Action Points Differentiation All pupils should be able to engage with the task because: (a) They are exploring issues of conflict and resolution themselves through discussion (b) There is no right or wrong answer (c) The role cards could be used to provide differentiation by varying the amount of prompts provided QCA: Innovating with Geography www.qca.org.uk/geography Learning Activities/Tasks Time Teaching Strategies/Actions Before the lesson starts:  Tables arranged into six groups  Hand-outs face down on tables  Learning objectives and title on board  Use ‘Images of the countryside’  What do these photographs show us about the countryside?  Photographs show conflicting views: idyllic scenes and grim realities - traffic jams, closing shops etc. So what does this tell us about conflict in National Parks? How can these conflicts be resolved? Pupils to be told that they are going to take on roles in order to try to resolve some of the issues. Read ‘Setting the Scene’ as a class. Pupils on each table given a number 1-4. 1= Town Councillor (Chair) 2= Tourist 3= Local community 4= National Park Officer Pupils read through their character sheets. Pupils instructed how to fill in problem/solution grids – pupils take each problem in turn and talk about it from their character’s point of view. Teacher explains the role of the meeting in the decision-making process and the role of the Chair and agenda. Public meeting – Chair to manage. Pupils to take turns minuting using ‘Dunny on the Wold’ sheet. Use ‘Points to consider’ sheet to aid discussion. What did we find out about conflicts in National Parks? Are they easily solved? What barriers are there? Did anyone come up with a sustainable plan? HOMEWORK – Following on from lesson – Can you think of other conflicts? Starter 5 mins Learning objectives 10 mins Main task 5 mins 5 mins 15 mins 5 mins 15 mins Plenary/homework task 10 mins QCA: Innovating with Geography www.qca.org.uk/geography Assessment Opportunities, Objectives and Evidence While pupils are carrying out the thinking tasks, there is opportunity to assess their understanding by talking to groups or individuals. If pupils are having problems it is possible to point them in the right direction. If there are many common problems/misunderstandings teacher should intervene at a class level and explain what is required. Pupils’ understanding of the decision making process and examining how conflicts are resolved should provide an opportunity to assess them in terms of citizenship issues. Evaluation of Learning Evaluation of Teaching Action Points for next lesson QCA: Innovating with Geography www.qca.org.uk/geography Images of the countryside QCA: Innovating with Geography www.qca.org.uk/geography Setting the Scene ‘What problems does tourism bring?’ Between 16.2 and 20 million visits are made by car to the Peak District National Park every year and another 1.5 million visits made by public transport. Visits by Peak Park residents or other visitors on foot, account for another 1.2 million whilst a further 3 - 3.6 million people drive through the Park just to admire the scenery. Although tourism brings many benefits to an area, it also brings a number of problems. Congestion of villages and beauty spots 90% of visits to the Park are made by car. Some of the most popular honeypot areas attract large numbers of visitors, resulting in overcrowded car parks, blocked roads, and overstretched local facilities - particularly on Summer Sundays. Erosion of footpaths and sensitive vegetation There are over 3,000 footpaths in the Peak Park and heavy use of the most popular paths has led to considerable erosion. Particularly heavy wear is caused by sponsored walks and by horse riding on unsurfaced bridleways. Damage and disturbance to wildlife Wildlife may be disturbed by the level of use on some of the 200 square kilometres of moorland that are open to the public. Moorland birds (and sandpipers on the banks of streams and reservoirs) nest and roost on the ground and are therefore specially sensitive. Orienteering, mountain biking and hang gliding are likely to cause unexpected disturbance. Litter Litter of all kinds is both unsightly and can cause pollution, damage to livestock and wild animals. Broken glass is a danger to people and a possible cause of fire. Damage to farmland Trampling crops of grass reduces the amount of winter feed for farm animals. Walkers who stray from footpaths may climb over the drystone walls rather than looking out for the stiles that mark the course of footpaths across farmland. Many sheep are injured and even killed by dogs not under proper control. Tourist villages Gift shops and cafes which cater for the needs of tourists are often more profitable than shops selling everyday goods for local people (such as butchers or bakers). In some villages where tourist shops are in the majority and there are few shops catering for the local people, the local community may feel pushed out by the tourists. QCA: Innovating with Geography www.qca.org.uk/geography Character sheets Tourists  You are on holiday. You want to be able to drive wherever you want  You want access to picnic areas and toilets  You need somewhere to stay – preferably in a town or village which is in easy reach of gift shops  You need somewhere to park your car – You don’t want to get a parking ticket in every place you visit  You have come to the National Park for peace and quiet – the roads and picnic spots seem overcrowded The Local Community  Tourists bring in money, but only for a short time of the year (the summer months)  You can’t park our own cars outside your own house in the summer months  Most of the shops for local people have closed down to make way for shops that cater to tourists needs. Those that are open charge much higher prices than they used to.  Its very noisy in summer and you have very little privacy  People from the city have been buying houses in the town, forcing house prices up. This means that your children cannot afford to live in the town anymore.  Seasonal unemployment is a problem – There is only work for some in the summer  More money seems to be spent on tourist needs, than ours – there are only three buses a day in winter. QCA: Innovating with Geography www.qca.org.uk/geography National Parks Authority You are responsible for drawing up policies for planning and management of the Park. The main objectives for recreation and tourism are to: 1. provide for those seeking quiet enjoyment of the Park - through promoting quiet active recreation, such as walking, cycling etc; 2. achieve a more even spread of visits over the year - the tourism market is very seasonal and many places are overcrowded in the summer and very quiet in winter; 3. increase the number of staying visitors (who stay one or more nights) - as they spend more money and so help support the many small businesses which depend on tourism; 4. reduce the number of visits made by car - in all parts of the Park, efforts are being made to encourage greater use of public transport with extra bus services and special routes serving popular honeypot areas; 5. promote understanding of the special qualities of the Peak District to visitors; 6. maximise local social and economic benefits. National Parks Authority As a town councillor you have many responsibilities. 1. You have been elected by the local people and therefore it is important that you listen to their needs. 2. At the same time you only have a set budget, which is very small and limits the changes that you can carry out.; 3. You also run a small business, a local general goods store. Your job is to find a sustainable balance. Can you do it? QCA: Innovating with Geography www.qca.org.uk/geography DUNNY-ON-THE-WOLD Minutes from Meeting Tourist views: Best suggestion/solution Resident views Best suggestion/solution National Parks Officer views Best suggestion/solution Comments: QCA: Innovating with Geography www.qca.org.uk/geography The demand for recreation facilities is a growing one. What further types of recreation activity might be appropriate in the Peak District National Park? Staying visitors bring income into the Park which benefits local people. Can you think of ways to encourage people to stay for a few days? Justin Sharpe, Beal High School, Redbridge