2252-397-166 UPDATED--Cycle A Individual—Dust Bowl
Cycle A Individual–-Dust Bowl
1.
Read and analyze the scenario and situation
Dust Bowl:
Why did it happen and will it occur again?
Situation:
The vegetationless land in the Plains was plowed for farming which for many years produced an
agricultural area. Through the years, there was an increased land plowing, windstorms, and fires in the
prairie, severe winter storms, invasion by locusts, and droughts which were the perfect conditions for the
coming of the “Dust Bowel.”
2.
List your personal understanding, ideas, or hunches--Prior
Knowledge
With the passage of the Homestead Act in 1862, each land occupant was entitled to 160 acres at $1.25 per
acre after residing on the land for six months. This was a great opportunity for individuals that were
landless, freed slaves, and millions of European immigrants to own property. The occupants did not
realize that the land had little vegetation and rainfall was severely limited.
Millions of citizens were homeless and lost their farm lands because of the Great Dust Bowls from 19301935.
My parents were seasonal farm workers in Colorado when I experienced a sand storm at the age of eight
years. I was the water girl for my family when they were working in the sugar beets fields. My father told
my family to get down with our faces to the ground because we were caught by surprise by a dust/sand
storm. Since I was the lightest of the group, my dad made sure I was close to him so that he could keep me
pinned to the ground. I remember the sand in my mouth, ears, hair, and the fear of being blown away. The
dust/sand storm disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
3.
List what is known
Farmers misused the land resources because of the inadequate plowing methods that were used to prepare
the land for planting at the expense of uprooting the natural resources (grasses and top soil) (Ganzel &
Group, 2003).
The region went through a severe draught (Dust Bowl) that resulted in the land becoming dry and barren,
thus, citizens were homeless and farmers lost their farmlands.
Basic ESS Analysis
Step 1: Event > Sphere Interactions:
a) E > A (Atmo)—Dust storms affected the air quality for breathing and to see—too much sand.
b) E > H (Hydro)—Dust bowl caused severe draught—land dry and barren.
c) E > B (Bio)—Quality of life was poor—breathing problems, no water, no crops, affected farm
animals, thus, people had to abandon their farmlands.
d) E > L (Litho)—Land was dry and barren due to loss of top soil due to inadequate plowing
methods.
2252-397-166 UPDATED--Cycle A Individual—Dust Bowl
Step 2: Sphere > Event Interactions (sphere > event impacts)
a) B > E—People abandoned their farms to live in other parts of the United States due to the
Dust Bowl.
b) L >E-c) H>E—There a need to find other water sources (Ogallala Aquifer) end the Dust Bowl.
d) A>E-Step 3: Sphere > Sphere Interactions
a) A>L-b) H>B—Usage of the Ogallala Aquifer improved the quality of life and the land.
4.
5.
List what is unknown:
a.
Did the “Dust Bowel” come about because of the “La Nina”/”El Nino?”
b.
Was the “Dust Bowel” the consequence of humans not caring for the tremendous plowing
of the land?
c.
Was the drying of the Ogallala Aquifer a contribution to the Dust Bowel?
d.
Was the Dust Bowl’s draught caused by the changes in sea surface temperatures?
List what needs to be done:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
6.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx
Develop a problem statement:
?????
7.
Gather information:
8.
Present findings:
2252-397-166 UPDATED--Cycle A Individual—Dust Bowl
Works Cited
Ganzel, B., & Group, T. G. (2003). Retrieved from
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/water_02.html.
Is Climate Change Starting a New Dust Bowl?: Cycle A. (2011, 9 20). (Retrieved from ESSEA Courses:) Retrieved
from
http://esseacourses.strategies.org/private/learner.module.php?course_id=397&coursemodule_id=93
0&cycle=A&cycle_label=4.