Home in the Country

Grades:

9th - 12th

Objective:

Students will learn about regulations that pertain to building a house in the New York City watershed.

Method:

Students choose among four possible sites on which to locate a house. They consider how regulations such as septic system and setback requirements will affect the placement and cost of the house.

Materials:

Student handouts, copied for each student or group of students. Student handout pages:

Page 1 - Introduction
Page 2 - Instructions
Page 3 - Topographic maps
Page 4 - Home selection
Page 5 - Soil tests for lots 1 and 2
Page 6 - Soil tests for lots 3 and 4
Page 7 - Construction costs and required absorptive area
Page 8 - Setback maps

Time:

Preparation Time: Copying, 10 min.
Class Time: 45 min.

Procedure:

1. For background information, have students read about the New York City Watershed Agreement. For example, read the "Watershed Rules and Regulations" section in the Catskill Center's Summary Guide to the Terms of the Watershed Agreement.

2. Distribute instructions, maps, information tables, etc. to students.

3. Students should follow the procedure, answer questions, and then hand in their answers.

4. Ask students to discuss the activity. Are there any trade-offs involved in selecting the lot or house location within the lot? Would everyone want the same lot and location? Why or why not?

Assessment:

Have the students hand in their completed activity sheet, which can be graded. Lot chosen in number #2 should meet criteria listed in #1 (uses map-reading skills). Answers to #4 and #5 should agree with the soil test report for the appropriate lot. Lot 1: standard system, 6 min., $4,000. Lot 2 or 4: fully engineered system, 6 or 7 min., $30,000. Lot 3: modified engineered system, 9 min., $12,000.

Required absorptive area in #5 depends on percolation rate and number of bedrooms (see table).

Students should mark one of the test sites as their chosen septic system location. They should also mark a house location that is uphill from the septic system. The house must be at least 100 feet from streams, 75 feet from road center lines, and 30 feet from side and rear property boundaries. Correct location shows map skills and an understanding of the requirements.

NYS Learning Standards:

English
Standard 4 - Language for Social Interaction: Listening and Speaking; Reading and Writing

Math, Science, and Technology
Standard 5 - Technology: Technological Systems; Management of Technology
Standard 6 - Interconnectedness: Optimization
Standard 7 - Interdisciplinary Problem Solving: Connections; Strategies

Social Studies
Standard 3 - Geography 2
Standard 4 - Economics 2
Standard 5 - Civics, Citizenship, and Government 4

Source: Activity developed by Mike Porter, Science teacher at Margaretville Central School, modified.