DE Next Hospital - Hierarchy

1. DE Next Hospital - Hierarchy • Lesson Essential Question: How might the position of a place in a settlement hierarchy affect the life of the people in that place? • Background: Human settlements, large and small, do not exist in isolation. Connected by transportation and communication links, social and cultural ties, and economic interdependence, settlements form webs of interaction and activity. Understanding the critical importance of hierarchy in the day-to-day interactions of settlements is a key to effective decision making. • Key Terms – Accessibility, Hierarchy

2. Scenario and Problem • Situation: You are the member of the New Hospital Task Force of the Delaware State Planning Department. Your task is to recommend the best location for a new major hospital in the state, using geographic analysis based on the principle of hierarchy. Upon completion of your analysis, make your recommendation in the form of a report to the State Planning Director, indicating the reasons for your choice.

3. Student Reading • Read the following article quietly. • Students may take Cornell Notes while reading • Complete Reading Quiz • Answer on own piece of paper. • NO TALKING

4. Student Reading Quiz • What is the difference between a general and a specialized hospital? • Give an example of a type of specialized hospital? • On average, how big is a general hospital in the United States? • When was the last hospital built in Delaware, and which hospital was it? • How has the ratio of hospital beds to population changed in Delaware between 1985 and 2005? • Give one reason why there is no need for another hospital in Delaware? • Give one reason why Delaware may soon need a new general hospital?

5. DE Population Map & Chart

6. DE Population • Using the Delaware population table, put a number in the space in the triangle that equals the number of places that fall within the largest population band (71,529 – 27,631). • Repeat for each band. • If a population is equal to a range of numbers, that place goes in the lower band. For example, if a place has 2,294 people, it belongs in the band below the 2, 294 line. • Write the names of the places that fall within each band in the boxes on the right-hand side of the chart. Do this for each band except the last band (2294-107).

8. Northern and Southern • Use the Northern and Southern population charts to complete the next two worksheets, just has you did for the DE Population

11. DE Hospital • Circle the places on your worksheet where each hospital is located. • Write in your research notebook in which population band you find each hospital. • Note what is the minimum threshold for each hospital.

12. DE Hospital • Given the threshold requirements, identify the locations where a new hospital might be located. • What other factors do you need to consider before you can arrive at a single choice?

13. Exit Ticket • Final Page of packet

14. Report to the State Planning Director (Extra Credit) • You have now collected enough information to write your report to the State Planning Director. Remember that your task is to recommend the single best location for the new hospital. Your answer represents your best judgment – and reasonable people – other students – may come to different conclusions. The most important point to remember is to back up your recommendation with the best possible evidence to support your choice.

15. Class Work • Geography Worksheets

16. Homework • Read – Student Reading Standard One • Answer Questions