Oklahoma Academic Standard 4. The student will analyze the interactions of humans and their environment in the Western Hemisphere.

Objectives:

6.4.5  Evaluate the role of ecotourism in creating environmental awareness of resources, climate, cultures, and wildlife.

6.4.6  Describe the role of citizens as responsible stewards of natural resources and the environment. 

In a Nutshell

Students should understand the growing impact of ecotourism as defined as travel which seeks to minimize environmental impact to an area while also supporting and preserving the local community. In addition, students of geography are encouraged to view themselves as personally responsible for the conservation of natural resources, beginning with an awareness of personal choices and culminating with responsible action.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Provide opportunities for students to explain specific roles played by informed and responsible citizens which can impact the environment, both positively and negatively. 

• Assist students to apply a range of deliberative and democratic procedures to debate, make decisions, and propose action about authentic, real-world problems in out-of-school contexts. 

• Analyze the roles of specific individuals and groups on a local, national, and global scale, as they relate to impacting ecosystems.

• Engage in collaborative discussions and debates about responsible consumption of natural resources, expressing ideas clearly while building on the ideas of others. 

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• ecotourism, eco-friendly lodging and transportation, support of indigenous communities and their economies

• stewardship of resources, civic responsibility, global citizenship

• conservation, preservation

• wildlife refuges, recycling efforts, alternative renewable energy sources

• ecological "footprint"

• Many students mistakenly assume that they, as individuals, have little impact on their immediate environments or the future of the globe's resources. Such students should be encouraged and empowered to identify and make small changes to their daily habits that can have long-term significance on the environment.  

Instructional Resources