Individually you will select a topic that demonstrates how the environment effects how humans interact with their surroundings or how humans effect the environment that they interact with. To show these impacts, you will be required to create a map that demonstrates the topic selected. The map should be of a country, region, or city that demonstrates your chosen topic the best. This will vary depending on the topic chosen and the specific details you investigate.
Case Study Options:
How the Environment Impacts Humans:
1. How does the environment shape how and where we live?
• You will focus on a natural disaster or a recurring natural event in a specific area (country, region, or city) and analyze the impact of the natural disaster or annual event on the area.

• To do so the following is required:
a) Climate Analysis:
• Provide a climate graph that averages at least the last 10 years.
• A written discussion and analysis on the weather/climate and landform patterns of the area and why these type of natural disasters occur. How does this influence the population? (Ex. Do the build houses using specific materials, grow crops using different techniques)
b) Demographic Analysis:
• Find population data and create a population pyramid for the area.
• A written discussion and analysis on how the environment impacts population growth of the area. (Ex. Droughts create famine, series of high death tolls from disasters impacting young and old)
c) Socio-economic Analysis:
• How do these events effect the social aspects (culture, religion, language) and the economic stability of the area? Is the disaster recurrent every year or is it unpredictable and how does this affect the people?

Humans effect the environment
2. How do humans effect their environment and shape it to suit their needs?
• You will focus on a specific type of development in one area and analyze the impacts (or potential impacts) of the development on the area.

• To do so the following is required:
d) Climate Analysis:
• Provide a climate graph that averages at least the last 10 years.
• A written discussion and analysis on the weather/climate or landform patterns of the area and why these aspects encourage the development of the specific structure. How does this influence the population? (Ex. Do they move their home, change hunting and gathering patterns)

e) Demographic Analysis:
• Find population data and create a population pyramid for the area.
• A written discussion and analysis on how the development impacts population growth of the area. (Ex. Are there less or more people in the area because of the development?)
f) Socio-economic Analysis:
• How do these developments effect the social aspects (culture, religion, language) and the economic stability of the area? Does the development provide jobs to the community? Does the development change or alter traditional First Nations ceremonies?

The Map:

The map should be completed by hand (with computerized elements as needed), but it must be original. The map details that should be included are the following:

• Completed on a 11” x 17” piece of paper
• Map title
• Cardinal directions
• Legend – should contain all the items that essential to the reading of a map
• Colour
• Major landforms and water bodies labelled
• Scale bar
• Date
• Climate graph
• Inset map – locating the country and capital on a world map

The Written Analysis:
As mentioned above in the criteria for each topic, a climate, demographic and socioeconomic analysis must be provided. The written analysis should contain the following.

• Maximum length is 4 pages – 1.5 spacing, Times New Roman, page numbers, section headings, introduction and conclusion, title page.
• Explain why the country or region presented in the map best demonstrates the topic selected.
• Climate analysis
• Demographic analysis
• Socioeconomic analysis
• A bibliography