DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 061 031 SE 012 640

AUTHOR Howlett, GeorgeTITLE Twelve Major Concept Categories and Their

Rationale.INSTITUTION Project I-C7E, Green Bay, Wis.SPONS AGENCY Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Education

(DHEW/OE), WashingtOn, D.C.NOTE 16p.

EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29DESCRIPTORS Definitions; 'Ecology; *Environment; Environmental

Education; *Fundamental Concepts; InterdisciplinaryApproach

IDENTIFIERS ESEA Title III; Project I C E

ABSTRACTTwelve concepts utilized by Project I-C-E

(Instruction-Curriculum-Environment) for integrating science, socialstudies, and language arts with environmental studies are elaboratedin this booklet. The rationale for each concept is put forth togetherwith a more detailed explanation of the concept. Topics consideredinclude: energy, ecosystems, limiting environmental factors, watersupply, clean air, distribution of natural resources, factorsinfluencing land use, values and attitudes, the power of man,economics, decision making, and land stewardship. This work wasprepared under an ESEA Title III contract. un4

TWELVE MAJOR CONCEPT CATEGORIES

AND THEIR RATIONALE

by George Howlett

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Inatruction-CurricaOinskin StreeWaconsi

PLICMEMA:IONRE1

PROJECT I U.S. DEPARTMENT OF mgALTti,EDUCATION & WELFAREOFFICE OF EDUCATION

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO-DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED PROMTHE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORM,INATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILYREPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDU,CATION FOSffION OR POLICY

TWLVE HAJOR CONCEI'T CATEGoRIES

AND THEIR RATIONAtE

by George Howlett

FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY

The Concepts and Their Rationale

Goncept One: Energy from the sun, the basic source of ell orz2rgy, is convertedthrough plant photosynthesis into a form thz_t e.11 living things canuse for life processes.

When we turn on an electric light switch, we may be able to mentelly trace thsource of this useful ener3y bock to a generating station. We may eeea l'e.low that in:most cases the energy comes by releasing the energy stored 0 fossil fuels. Veryfew of us conceive of the hydrogen bomb reaction of the sui a.s being the ultimatesource of our electrical energy. Yet this sun, radiating not energy, is thesource net only of the electrical energy of our modern vorld, Nbut also of the very 1energy we need for body operation. Only the green pleat cr.n tap and store thisenergy. When light energy strikes the green plant the sfelpie common compounds of '

water and carbon dioxide are transformed into an eneru rich storage product, sugaSome of the sugar undergoes transformation over geolca-Lcal tc to energy storageproducts we call fossil fuels. Whether we use this energy sterad by the green planwhen eating plant products, when eating animals fed on plant products or when burnifossil fuels, we release this energy by using oxygen produced by the plant duringsugar manufacture. We thus free carbon dioxide and water to recycle through theenergy storage cycle to keep life systems operating.

Concept Two: All living systems interact among themselves and ehe environmentforming an intricate unit called an ecosystem.

We have seen in concept one that there is a dependency on the green plant forthe operation of the energy cycle of life. But the green plant does not operateindependently. It is dependent on the physical and biotic world in which it lives.Plants as food energy producers, animals as energy consumers and decay organismsrecycling organic matter for plant use-eall form part of a complex interactingbiotic community. These organisms are specially adapted to living with each otherwithin a physical realm which is itself a complex of interacting factors such assoil, climate, available light, season, water and oxygen supply, etc. Each bioticcommunity type is different because its surrounding and physical factors vary. Inaddition, each community has its own influence on the physical surroundings. Thiscreates a feedback situation known as the dynamic balance of nature. Constantichange is part of the whole system. We call this complex of life and physicalfactors and their interactions an ecosystem.

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FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY

The Concepts and Their Rationale

gy from the sun, the basic source of _I on?rgy, is convertedugh plant photosynthesis into a form th-t all living things canfor life processes.

on an electric light switch, we moy be able to mci,vtally trace theful enery back to a generating station. We may even kllow that in

,rgy COMCG by releasing the energy stored in fossil fuels. Veryp of the hydrogen bomb reaction of the sur) as being the ultimate-trical energy. Yet this sun, radiating light energy, is thethe electrical energy of our modern vorld, but also of the verybody operation. Only the green plEat crm trap and store this

it energy strikes the green plant the sluple common compounds ofdioxide are transformed into an eneru rich storage product, sugar.undergoes transformation over geolc3Ical ti---,o to energy storagefossil fuels. Whether we use this energy stLred by the green plantproducts, when eating animals fed on plant products or when burningt-elease this energy by using oxygen produced by the plant during

We thus free carbon dioxide and water to recycle through the21e to keep life systens operating.

living systems interact among themselves and t11._ir environment,ning an intricate unit called an ecosystem.

1 in concept one that there is a dependency on the green plant for:he energy cycle of life. But the green plant does not operate: is dependent on the physical and biotic world in which it lives.1.gy producers, animals as energy consumers and decay organismsmatter for plant use--all form part of a complex interactingThese organisma are specially adapted to living with each otherrealm which is itself a complex of interacting factors such aslilable light, season, water and oxygen supply, etc. Each bioticdifferent because its surrounding and physical factors vary. In=unity has its own influence on the physical surroundings. This: situation known as the dynamic balance of nature. Constantthe whole system. We call this complex of life and physicalinteractions an ecosystem.

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Concept Three: Environmental factors are limiting on the number of organismsliving within their influence, thus each environment has acarrying capacity.

Recent space adventures have made us aware that our astronauts are dependca life support system which must be finely planned and engineered to achieve a sand successful space voyage. We on earth live in a similar life support system.Because we have not yet treated this spaceship, Earth, with the foresight in plEthat is done for space travelers, we may be pushing this system to the limits ofresistance. Each environmental factor is a strand in the web of life and whenstrand breaks because pressure on it exceeds its capacity, the whole web is weal-and may break doun. The best measure of the strength of an environmental strancits ability to support a population of organisms. The weakest strand, of coursethe one that will limit the density of the population. We can destroy life's WGincreasing population beyond the capacity of the limiting factors; for example,overgrazing a pasture. Also, we can change the resistance within life's web byaltering the environmental structure as we do in polluting water.

Concept Four: An adequate supply of pure water is essential to life.

No life of which we know functions without water. Even a virus, basicallAsuper molecule, is active only in the watery environment of living tissue. Eaclorganism has adaptations for life in an environment that includes a certain watquantity and ouality. The varied concentrations of wastes pouring from our indand sewers change water quality so that native organisms are eliminated. Somethe new industrial compounds poured out are so strange that no organism can adjMan has changed the supply and quality of water in many areas without considerafor the quality of the biotic communities dependent on these waters. He even gon changing water quality when it is of detriment to his own use of this water.

Concept Five: An adequate supply of clean air is essential for life.

Some of our commercially most useful organisms, the yeasts, can exist witair. In fact, as obligate anaerobes, they must carry on their active life procin the absence of oxygen. But even these anomolops organisms depend on the eneladen organic molecules such as the sugars produced by oxygen respiring green p

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Environmental factors are limiting on the number of organismsliving within their influence, thus each environment has acarrying capacity.

adventures have made us aware that our astronauts are dependent onsystem which must be finely planned and engineered to achieve a safe;pace voyage. We on earth live in a similar life support system.not yet treated this spaceship, Earth, with the foresight in planningspace travelers, we may be pushing this system to the itmits of its

;I: environmental factor is a strand in the web of life and when a?cause pressure on it exceeds its capacity, the whole web is weakened)un. The best measure of the strength of an environmental strand is3upport a population of organisms. The weakest strand, of course, isLl limit the density of the population. We can destroy life's web byLation beyond the capacity of the limiting factors; for example, byisture. Also, we can change the resistance within life's web by-ironmental structure as we do in polluting water.

ul adequate supply of pure water is essential to life.

f which we know functions without water. Even a virus, basically ais active only in the watery environment of living tissue. Eachtptactions for life in an environment that includes a certain waterIlity. The varied concentrations of wastes pouring from our industries;e water quality so that native organisms are eliminated. Some of.al compounds poured out are so strange that no organism can adjust.the supply and quality of water in many areas without considerationof the biotic communities dependent on these waters. He even goesquality when it is of detriment to his own use of this water.

al adequate supply of clean air is essential for life.

r commercially most useful organisms, the yeasts, can exist withouts obligate anaerobes, they must carry on their active life processesf oxygen. But even these anomolons organisms depend on the energylecules such as the sugars produced by oxygen respiring green plants.

s

The green plant carries on respiration even as it photosynthesizes an excess ofoxygen for animal respiration. Both plant and animal respiratory systems haveevolved in an atnospheric condition predating man's inventions. We now see thedamage to plant end animal communities resulting from industrial and automotivefumes and smogs. Some organisms are more sensitive to changes in air quality asseen in the death of the Prinderosa Pine in the mountains near Los Angeles. Ourconcern is not only with the lethal effects to sensitive organisms or to moretolerant orgarlisns under disaster conditions, but also with the long term, lowlevel toxicity which is cumulative to organisms such as man because of the changesour industrial culture has on air quality.

Concept Six: Natural resources are not equally distributed over the earth or overtire, and greatly affect the geographic conditions and quality of lif

Before man's culture entered into the progression of life's history, climateland form and mineral locations presented environmental conditions that only certalplant communities and their animal associates could tolerate and to which they couladapt. The geologic activities of erosion and mountain uplift have changed the lanforms over time. Thus, plant communities were not always associated with thelocations where uan found them. Man is a most adaptable organism. His cultures hreached all regions of the earth, but until recent times even this has been bygenetic adaptation to environmental conditions. Now as industrial man seeks toextract resources for his economic machine he must trade with people of other regalHistorically, the extraction of resources has often left the populations of thoseregions poorer as the extracting nations have been enriched. Even industrial man,with his capacity to modify the environment, is confounded when he moves to a pleasplace of living like California. He finds that he has overloaded the capacity of tregion to absorb his wastes because of the special local distribution of land formin the Los Angeles Basin.

Concept Seven: Factors such as facilitating transportation, economic conditions,population growth, and increased leisure time have a great influencon changes in land use and centers of population density.

Consider tuo small settlements connected with the fur trade, one on Rock Islain Door County and the other at present day Chicago as they were several centuriesago. What makes these two sites so vastly different today? We see one located whe

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arries on respiration even as it photosynthesizes an excess ofrespiration. Both plant and animal respiratory systems haveospheric condition predating man's inventions. We now see thend animal communities resulting from industrial aad automotiveSome organisms are more sensitive to changes in air quality as

_ of the Ponderosa Pine in the mountains near Los Angeles. CurIly with the lethal effects to sensitive organisms or to more

under disaster conditions, but also with the long term, low,ich is cumulative to organisms such as man because of the changeslture has on air quality.

ural resources are not equally distributed over the earth or overe, and greatly affect the geographic conditions aad quality of life.

s culture entered into the progression of life's history, climate,ral locations presented environmental conditions that only certainand their animal associates could tolerate and to which they couldgic activities of erosion and mountain uplift have changed the landThus, plant communities were not always associated with the

an found them. Man is a most adaptable organism. His cultures havens of the earth, but until recent times even this has been byn to environmental conditions. Now as industrial man seeks tofor his economic machine he must trade with people of other regions.extraction of resources has often left the populations of thosethe extracting nations have been enriched. Even industrial man,to modify the environment, is confounded when he moves to a pleasantike California. He finds that he has overloaded the capacity of thehis wastes because of the special local distribution of land form ases Basin.

Factors such as facilitating transpartation, economic conditions,?opulation growth, and increased leisure time have a-great influence)n changes in land use and centers of population density.

(3 small settlements connected with the fur trade, one on Rock islandId the other at present day Chicago as they were several centuriesthese two sites so vastly different today? We see one located where

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the lake carrier, the railroad, the truck, the river barge and the airplane canbring and exchanEe goods from near and far. Having easily available the rawmaterials of agricultural produce, fuel, and ore and being close to the heartlandof the agricultural market meant that a profitable manufactury could develop.Financial houses grew to provide the capital funds industry needed. The city fueits own growth as early expansion increased the demand for services. As urbangrowth changes the natural site appearance, the urban man seeks to use his increafree time affluence and to return where he can linger in the rustic atmosphere hiindustry erased. Now this man invades the remote island, presently a park, tosample a way of life he cannot permit to remain where he carries on the activityeconomic man.

Concept Eight: Cultural, economic, social and political factors determine the st.

cf man's values and attitudes toward his environment.

Erich From says of western and particularly of north American man: "Man hlost his central place, ...he has been made an instrument for the purpose of econaims...he has been estranged from and has lost the concrete relatedness to his femen and to nature, ...he has ceased to have a meaningful life." We have come toin a material, merket oriented society which is conditioned to value things abovelife and person. Man has created the machine and is now owned by his own creatiolCur advertising causes us to search out in satisfaction of artificially createdfantasies. The economic system that benefits from satisfying our consumer demandEhas its own demards on the resource base. The political system is cemented toeconomics because it measures national health in terms of Gross National Product.,also set our attitude to the land in the sense that our public lands were considelwild things waiting to be reduced to dominion. The M th of Su erabundance saturalour whole outlool. In one sense we do see ourselves as centra to a l creation. Ibelieve it is our duty to go and conquer nature which has its existence only to sour demands. Hoc, different this is from the Indian culture that demanded an indiapologize to the spirit of any being or place which he needed to use for satisfacof necessary humeri activity.

Concept Nine: Men has the ability to manage, manipulate, and change his environm

As man has advanced in cultural sophistication from the food gathering andhunting-fishing cultures still retained by some few people we refer fto as aborigi

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ier, the railroad, the truck, the river barge and the airplane canhange goods from near and far. Having easily available the rawagricultural produce, fuel, and ore and being close to the heartlandltural market meant that a profitable manufactury could develop.ses grew to provide the capital funds industry needed. The city fueledh as early expansion increased the demand for services. As urbans tbe natural site appearance, the urban man seeks to use his increased,luence and to return where he can linger in the rustic atmosphere hised. Now this man invades the remote island, presently a park, tobf life he cannot permit to remain where he carries on the activity of1

Cultural, economic, social and political factors determine the statuscf man's values and attitudes toward his environment.

romn says of western and particularly of north American man: "Man hasral place, ...he has been made an instrument for the purpose of economicbeen estranged from and has lost the concrete relatedness to his fellowcure, ...he has ceased to have a meaningful life." We have come to livemerket oriented society which is conditioned to value things above

Dn. Man has created the machine and is now owned by his own creation.lg causes us to search out in satisfaction of artificially createdle economic system that benefits from satisfying our consumer demands?mards on the resource base. The political system is cemented toLuse it measures national health in terms of Gross National Product. Itzttitude to the land in the sense that our public lands were consideredkiting to be reduced to dominion. The Myth of Superabundance saturated.00l. In one sense we do see ourselves as central-to all Creation. Weour duty to go and conquer nature which has its existence only to satisfyHot, different this is from the Indian culture that demanded an individualhe spirit of any being or place which he needed to use for satisfactionmmEn activity.

MEn has the ability to manage, manipulate, and change his environment.

as advanced in cultural sophistication from the food gathering andg cultures still retained by some few people we refer to as aboriginal,

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his ability to cbange the environment has increased. Today we possess the unwan-capacity to destroy most life directly with the terrible power of atomic force.are in awe of this terrible power. We are also becoming aware that a less drama-destruction goes on under our command as we mindlessly pursue the "conquest of niWe extract the plant resources, the life giving capacities of the soil, the mine:and fuel depositE. We fill the waters with foul wastes, the marshes with our ustgoods, the air with contaminants and the land itself with the artifacts of progreWe should not forget, however, that man also has the power, when possessed of Wi !to wisely manage the land, to use his knowledge of the ways of natural systems femaintaining his Ertificial systems in balance with those systems.

Concept Ten: Shcrt-term economic gains may produce long-term environmeatal lossf

In Governing Nature, E. F. Murphy states: "If it means the return of a prcNorth Americans Imre changed even the most hostile landscapes in order to make 0serve current eccnomic demands." Market oriented entrepeneurs seeking to maximi;profit have traditionally operated with relatively short-term outlooks. We all Jthe fruit of the land dangling before our eyes and wish to grab it unconcerned athe future productivity of the land. We operate with a faith in the myth ofscientific sunrenacy which suggests that technology will atone for our abuse ofland. There are long-term environmental and social costs to be paid when we conenvironmental factors as unimportant and air, water and land as "freP goods." Tcosts must be paid. Even now we pay them as we find environmental qu,ility decreand our social problems on the increase.

Concept Eleven: Individual acts, duplicated or compounded, produce significantenvironmental alterations over time.

Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations conceived the idea of "the invisible hHe said that it uas TaTg-5TYthe individual merchant, intent on his own gain, whothe aggregate directs the availability of goods to meet the demands of a marketeconomy. This same invisible hand in the form of individual consumer decisions,guided by competitive prices and product availability, directs manufacturers toon the resources of nature to supply the market. Each supplier's decision to igthe costs of maintaining environmental quality, so better to compete on the pricschedule, has added to the present environmental damage. The individual consume

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lange the environment has increased. Today we possess the unwanted.roy most life directly with the terrible power of atomic force. Welis terrible power. We are also becoming aware that a less dramatic; on under our command as we mindlessly pursue the "conquest of nature.")lant resources, the life giving capacities of the soil, the mineral:E. We fill the waters with foul wastes, the marshes with our used7ith contaminants and the land itself with the artifacts of progress.)rget, however, that man also has the power, when possessed of wisdom,the land, to use his knowledge of the ways of natural systems forartificial systems in balance with those systems.

tcrt-term economic gains may produce long-term environmeatal losses.

mg Nature, E. F. Murphy states: "If it means the return of a profit,rave changed even the most hostile landscapes in order to make them:cnomic demands." Market oriented entrepeneurs seeking to maximizeLitionally operated with relatively short-term outlooks. We all see, land dangling before our eyes and wish to grab it unconcerned aboutEctivity of the land. We operate with a faith in the myth ofnacy which suggests that technology will atone for our abuse of thelong-term environmental and social costs to be paid when we consider

xtors as unimportant and air, water and land as "free goods." TheseAd. Even now we pay them as we find environmental quality decreasingrtoblems on the increase.

Individual acts, duplicated or compounded, produce significantenvironmental alterations over time.

in The Wealth of Nations conceived the idea of "the invisible hand."vas largely the individual merchant, intent on his own gain, who inrects the availability of goods to meet the demands of a marketame invisible hand in the form of individual consumer decisions,itive prices and product availability, directs manufacturers to drawof nature to supply the market. Each supplier's decision to Ignore

ntaining environmental quality, so better to compete on the priceded to the present environmental damage. The individual consumer,

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raking decisions to buy, to dispose of consumed goods, to participate in politicsc:ction for environmental causes has a great degree of control over further destrLto the land. If the aggregate of individuals love and respect the land as motherearth, these decisions will combine to solve present environmental problems and rmore damage to earth's environment.

Concept Twelve: Private ownership must be regarded as a stewardship and should nencroach upon or violate the right of others.

Our Indian ancestors held that the land belonged to "the people." An indivcould hold land during his lifetime, but he was to treat it as the mother spiritnourished the pecple from ages past and would do so in the far distant future .

are charged with being custodians of creation, and are held responsible for theuse of creation's bounties. If we consider ourselves masters of the earth, yetthe environment, then we are out of control, being not masters but slaves. In h'Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold found the custodianship concept an ecologicalIn ivil man is part of the community of nature, interdependent with this commThe community of the land is the life support system for all including man. Leoasks how a man might be considered a respected member of the human community whecommits crimes of abuse against the land. We should have our social consciousnesextended to a concern not only for the relationships within the human communityalso for the relationships between man and the total community of life. This Leocalls the Land Ethic.

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isions to buy, to dispose of consumed goods, to participate in politicalenvironmental causes has a great degree of control over further destruction

d. If the aggregate of individuals love and respect the land as motherse decisions will combine to solve present environmental problems and prevente to earth's environment.

elve: Private ownership must be regarded as a strwardship and should notencroach upon or violate the right of others.

Indian ancestors held that the land belonged to "the people." An individuallaad during his lifetime, but he was to treat it as the mother spirit which

the pecple from ages past and would do so in the far distant future. We tood with being custodians of creation, and are held responsible for the wiseation's bounties. If we consider ourselves masters of the earth, yet destroyInment, then we are out of control, being not masters but slaves. In hisT Almanac, Aldo Leopold found the custodianship concept an ecological necessity.,man is part of the community of nature, interdependent with this community.ity of the land is the life support system for all including man. Leopoldman might be considered a respected member of the human community when heimes of abuse against the land. We should have our social consciousnesso a concern not only for the relationships within the human community buthe relationships between man and the total community of life. This LeopoldLand Ethic.

PRCJECT I-C-E Eoisode Evaluation Form (Reproduce or duplicate as

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JECT I-C-E Episode Evaluation Form (Reproduce or duplicate as needed)

In commenting on each episode used in your class, Please use thisform. Feel free to adapt it and add more pages. Let us know allyour critipues and comments - negative and positive. In the MT-hand column, please rate (poor, good, excellent) each item. Also,make specific comments or suggestions if possible in the space pro-vided to help us make this a more usable guide. Thank you.

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