Ozark karst: A fragile landform

Students will become familiar with karst topography in the Ozark Plateau Natural Division, and with the impact that modern humans have had on the sensitive cave ecosystems created by this landform. Presented with a typical commercial development proposal in a mythical North Arkansas town, students will research and assume the roles of community leaders and activists to solve a potential environmental problem. This lesson will take several days to complete.

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies

Grade Level: 5-8 Middle School

Time period: Modern Era 1968 to Present

Arkansas Academic Standards are subject to revision every six years by the Arkansas Department of Education. The frameworks used in the majority of lesson plans on the Arkansas History Hub are from the 2006 Social Studies Frameworks and the 2007 Arkansas History Amendments and School Library Media Frameworks.

C.5.5.12, C.5.6.11, E.7.5.5, E.7.6.2, E.7.6.5, E.7.7.2, E.7.8.2, ESS.8.5.6, G.1.AH.7-8.1, G.3.5.7, G.3.6.7, NS.1.5.5, NS.1.6.5, NS.1.7.5, NS.1.8.7