Introduction
Lithgow is currently seeing a great many changes, in this lesson we will explore and write about those changes and what effects they may have.
This makes Lithgow a great case study topic, it has since it founding been an industry town in manufacturing and mining, which is in real-time being overtaken by other job sectors. this allows students to research and comment on a real-time fundamental shift in the character of a place.
Task
Students can also access the links below and investigate the statistics on tourism in Lithgow
https://economy.id.com.au/lithgow/tourism-visitor-summary
https://economy.id.com.au/lithgow/tourism-value
Students must access the link below and read about the 2019-2020 black summer bushfires and the damage they caused. then access the second link, if Lithgow is not highlighted, search it and click the "Local government area", to investigate on the interactive map how Lithgow was affected by the fires.
https://www.soe.epa.nsw.gov.au/all-themes/land/fire-2021
https://webmap.environment.nsw.gov.au/PlanningHtml5Viewer/?viewer=SoE.View&map=22.1
Process
| Lithgow has historically been a manufacturing town, but as Figure 27 shows, health care and social assistance as well as Public administration and safety employ a more significant percentage of Lithgow workers than mining. Figure 27 also explains that industries like construction and education and training are also industries, like those mentioned above, that are growing quickly. using Figures 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, and 33 and any you may deem relevant, discuss how the economy of Lithgow has changed and is continuing to change from its roots as a manufacturing blue-collar town. |
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| Building upon your answer to the previous question, using the same figures again, make a prediction of what kind of economy Lithgow will have a decade from now, will it be manufacturing, a mining economy, a tourism economy, or a more urban economy? |
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| Considering Lithgow's historic ties to coal mines, with mining as Figure 27 outlines, still its third largest industry, discuss the complexities that may occur when it comes to climate change policies. Discuss the burning Lithgow received in the Black Summer of 2019 and 2020 using Figure 29. Students must discuss in this response what kind of environmental strategies could be implemented when active coal mining is being performed, make reference to Lithgow's current plant in Figures 34 and 35, and critique whether these strategies would be effective, and enough. Discuss any strategies you would include or replace the pre-existing with. |
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| Using Figures 16, 17, 18, and 19, which detail the diversifying of the people of Lithgow's ethnicity, discuss how the greater number of cultural backgrounds may influence the future culture of Lithgow. |
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Before the students leave, in whichever medium of their choice, here on the WebQuest or on paper which will be handed to the teacher at the end of class, briefly write in short sentences or dot points the key changes Lithgow is experiencing.
Evaluation
| Logical, Complete, Detailed | feasible, Complete, relatively detailed | thought out, complete some detail. | lacks logical explanation, incomplete, minimal detail. | No attempt made to support responses with evidence, incomplete, little to no detail. |
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sources have been used masterfully to articulate points. All parts are complete.
Details have been incorporated. |
sources have been used skillfully to article points. All parts are complete. Details have been used to support responses. |
Sources are referenced to support points. All parts are complete. There is some detail in the responses. |
Sources get only a brief mention, without substantive use to articulate points. The student has not completed all responses. There is minimal detail in the responses. |
The student makes no references to the sources to articulate their points. The student has not completed all responses. Students responses are shallow with no detail to support them. |
Conclusion
This lesson allowed students to explore and discuss the changes to Lithgow's culture, and economy and gave students the opportunity to discuss the complexities of sustainability in a mining town. Students used data to make projections on the future of Lithgow's economy as it is at this moment, at a time when the fundamental aspect of the town's character, industries like manufacturing and mining, have been overtaken.