Extensions and Enrichment

1. Have students write essays on one of these questions:

• If you were to be born into one of the three main subsistence ways of life, which one would you select and why?
• How is (choose one of the three types of subsistence agriculture) adapted to its physical environment?

Assignments for extensions might use a format and rubric that students use in their language arts classes.

2. Have students report on readings about the circumstances of families in Peter Menzel, 1994, Material World: A Global Family Portrait. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco, CA. This book is also on a CD. For families involved with intensive subsistence agriculture, have students examine:

The Wu Family &emdash; China &emdash; pages 56-63

The Yadev Family &emdash; India &emdash; pages 64-71

The Nguyen Family &emdash; Vietnam &emdash; pages 88-95  

Have you used this investigation?
How did you extend this investigation? Share your enrichment ideas with other teachers! Email your suggestions to Sarah Bednarz.