8. Review and discuss the activity. Summarize the pros and cons, environmental impacts, economic benefits, and public opinions from the town meeting. Students should realize that using offshore ocean resources has both positive and negative impacts and involves trade-offs. Town meeting format: Mayor convenes the meeting and explains the purpose of the meeting. The company requesting the permit presents its petition. Town council members question the company representatives. Expert witnesses and citizen groups each have three minutes to testify. Town council members may question each witness. After all testimony, the town council discusses the permit request and makes a decision to represent the public opinion of the town – do you support or reject the requested permit? Suggested scenarios: The Bling Company is applying to BOEM for a permit to mine for gold in the waters off the coast of Alaska. Blue, Inc. is applying to BOEM for a permit to mine cobalt along the volcanic ridges in waters off Hawaii. Splash City, a coastal town in Louisiana, is applying to BOEM for a permit to replenish its hurricane damaged public beaches using offshore sand from the OCS. Situated on the Atlantic coast is a major metropolitan area in Surf County. The county’s public works department is applying to BOEM for a permit to collect aggregate material to use in constructing and repairing roads.
Activity 14: Island Resort Design Project & Background This design activity helps synthesize knowledge gained throughout the unit, as students must design an island home that uses ocean energy resources. This activity could be used for informal assessment or as a creative writing language arts connection.
2 Preparation Make copies of Island Resort Design Project on page 50 of the Student Guide.
Procedure 1. Pass out copies of Island Resort Design Project. 2. Allow time for students to finish their maps and one page written reports following the prompt provided. 3. Let students share their design ideas with each other. 4. As a class, critique and discuss the ideas for the real-world where cost, location, and technology available are ultimate factors. As an example, where should the hotel be located on the island, on the coast or in the center? Having the hotel located along the coast, closer to where electricity is being generated, would save on electricity transmission costs, and, offshore winds would cool the home naturally, requiring less air conditioning. Discuss which sources of ocean energy are unrealistic to use due to construction costs, size, location, etc.?
Extensions Have students complete their designs using a mapping or CAD software program. Have students create a 3D model of their proposal, similar to how design firms present ideas to clients.
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Exploring Ocean Energy and Resources Teacher Guide