The Human-Made Landscape

Lesson 3: The Human-Made Landscape

Changes in land use over time are a direct consequence of human actions. Our demand for essential resources has led to modifications of Earth’s landscape, many of which have had significant, and often irreversible, impacts on the environment. Students will use the Human Land Use overlay on the Population Map and the Timeline to investigate how our changing use of land for human settlements and agriculture has altered Earth’s physical landscape. They will then use their findings to create a comprehensive Story Map Journal using ArcGIS.

Subjects: AP Human Geography, World Geography, Environmental Science (General and AP), World History (General and AP)

Key Concepts: Human alteration of natural systems, natural resource use, agricultural and pastoral production, patterns of settlement and migration, urbanization and megacities

Lesson Materials

  • Lesson Plan
  • Student Worksheet