Interview: Dave Alexander
Podcasts
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Geography
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by NOAA Voices
What it is
- This interview features Dave Alexander of Muskegon, Michigan as he describes Lake Muskegon as an integral and defining piece of his community.
- Students will learn the importance of the lake, the ecosystem services it provides, the environmental issues it has faced, and the economic activity centered around the waterfront.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The interviewee is a great storyteller and it is clear he is passionate about the waterfront.
- Many students will be able to make connections to their own experiences with nearby lakes as they listen to the interview.
Prerequisites
- If students do not live in or near Muskegon, teachers may want to take some time to discuss the city and where it is in relation to the students' hometown.
- For some students, the teacher may need to make copies of or provide the link for the transcript.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students can identify a working waterfront in their community or in a community that is important to them and research its history, economic value, and ecosystem services.
- As an exit ticket, students can answer the question; What is a working waterfront?
- Students can use this interview and other resources to create a timeline of Muskegon Lake's history.
- Students can discuss how industrial activities and anthropogenic climate change impact working waterfronts like Muskegon Lake.
- Students can choose a significant body of water or other important environment in their community and write about how it defines their community.
From the scientist review
This resource from the NOAA Fisheries provides teachers with an audio interview with Dave Alexander, the executive director of Downtown Muskegon Now, on the changes to the Muskegon waterfront. The website provides the audio interview and a PDF of the transcript. The interviewee and the interviewers are knowledgeable and are from reliable organizations. This activity would be a valuable resource for educators seeking to enhance climate-related learning experiences in the classroom.
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Hosted on voices.nmfs.noaa.gov
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