Ninth graders research, analyze, and orally defend an issue related to the use of geologic resources. They defend their position in written form by composing a letter to an appropriate source.

Students apply knowledge of soil, environmental impacts, economics, multiple human demands, and use given data for a proposed scenario in making land use decisions. They debate land use issues and/or scenarios and discuss a case study.

Students identify what information they would need to make a decision about the breaching of a dam in order to save wild salmon. They evaluate the scenario in depth focusing on the economic impact on the community, and the salmon.