Caring for Planet Earth: The Great Lakes (Volume 1)		free sample lesson
Grade level: 3-12	Date: 1997	Program cost: Free
Subjects: environmental studies, geography, health, science, social studies

Publisher: Grand Rapids Community College
Correlated to education standards? Yes
Ordering Information
Table of Contents


A game-based, interactive CD-ROM program takes learners on a journey of discovery through the Great Lakes. It is designed to strengthen decision-making and problem-solving skills as well as to promote an understanding of the Great Lakes.


The Great Lakes interactive CD-ROM program takes learners on a journey of discovery through the Great Lakes. It is designed to strengthen decision-making and problem-solving skills as well as to promote an understanding of the Great Lakes. Students are challenged to learn about major topics concerning the Great Lakes ecosystem including: Science, Land, Air, Water, Biodiversity, Community, and Human Health Issues. The first part of the journey begins in the future and takes the learner through the history of the Great Lakes region. The second part takes place on the five Great Lakes during the end of the 20th century, and is exploratory in nature. Students travel in a spaceship throughout the Great Lakes, discovering keys and tokens, completing learning events, and discovering and reviewing ecological facts. Much of the learning occurs through simple content review and taking "recharge" quizzes. The last part of the journey involves traveling back to the future to address various environmental crises. Students must process what they have learned by sorting a range of responses to the crises into categories: preservationist, equilibrium (the "right") category, and development. The CD also includes a learning-focused Great Lakes Resource Guide, which provides support materials for educators. These materials are designed to help students master the major topics discovered while playing The Great Lakes game. The Resource Guide also includes information about regional organizations that students can become involved with. The Resource Guide is in Portable Document Format (pdf file) that can be opened in Adobe Acrobat Reader, and printed if desired. Fish content: Fisheries per se are not a direct focus of this CD, but are instead ancillary to an exploration of general development and pollution issues. However, fisheries receive some focused attention during discussions of biomagnification, habitat loss, and exotic species invasions.

Disclaimer: The reviews of this and the other Great Lakes Fisheries education materials were conducted by a single independent reviewer. The views of this reviewer do not necessarily reflect the views of GLIN, the Great Lakes Commission, the Great Lakes Fishery Trust, or the University of Michigan.