Glencoe World Geography

Chapter 11: The Physical Geography of Europe

Web Activity Lesson Plans

"Delta Plan Project"

Introduction
The Netherlands, located on the North Sea, is one of the most densely populated countries in the world—yet about 25 percent of the country's land lies below sea level! Over the centuries the Dutch have learned how to protect their land and how to reclaim it from the sea. The Delta Plan Project is one of the largest marine engineering projects in the world.

Lesson Description
Students will visit a site that describes the massive Delta Plan Project in the Netherlands. They will read a description of the project and view pictures of the structure. After answering several questions about the project, they will write a newspaper editorial on the positive effects of the project.

Instructional Objectives

  1. Students will be able to describe the effects of North Sea storms on the people of the Netherlands.
  2. Students will be able to describe the Delta Plan Project.
  3. Students will be able to describe the positive effects of the Delta Plan Project.

Applied Content Standards
Standard 4: The geographically informed person knows and understands the physical and human characteristics of places.
Standard 14: The geographically informed person knows and understands how human actions modify the physical environment.
Standard 15: The geographically informed person knows and understands how physical systems affect human systems.

Student Web Activity Answers
  1. A huge storm flood from the North Sea swept into the Netherlands and over 2,000 people drowned.
  2. The purpose of the Delta Plan Project was to engineer structures to protect the provinces of Zuidholland and Zeeland from future storms.
  3. Early inhabitants built mounds called "terps" to place their farms and houses out of water's reach. Other settlers built dikes and windmills to pump away the water.
  4. Many environmentalists were concerned that closing the estuary would destroy a valuable tidal area and endanger many species of fish. A moveable barrier that could be closed when water levels were high.
  5. Editorials will vary.
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