Have students imagine that they have suddenly inherited a large tract of land in, for example, northern Canada, southern Sudan, southwestern Brazil, southeastern Algeria, northeastern Zaire or northern Thailand. How would they plan to use or develop their new inheritance? Have them use multiple resources to research the area and to determine as much as possible about its climate, topography, natural resources, present transportation facilities and present occupants, it any. What could profitably be produced there, if, for example, better transportation facilities were present? What if the land were cleared or could be irrigated or drained? At what cost? What kind of skilled and unskilled labor would they need to develop the area? What markets are available – or might potentially be available – for any of the area's products? How far away? How costly to reach and what means of transportation are available to move these products? What ecological concerns should they consider for each of the changes they might suggest?