Interdependence & Environmental Changes

Week 10

Directions1.Prepare your desk for science.2.Use voice level 2 (conversation) to share what

you know about how humans can interact with the environment.

Targets & Warm Up

Targets: Students will identify ways that human activity affects organisms.

Warm Up: Activity

Activity

Work with your table to come up with a list of ways that humans can harm the environment.

Table of Contents

Date Title PageHumans and the Environment 32

Once you are finished with the Table of Contents, go to page 32 and add the title and date to the top of the page.

Deforestation

Deforestation

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. Deforestation occurs around the world, though tropical rainforests are particularly targeted. Common methods of deforestation are burning trees and cutting down trees. Deforestation is typically done to make more land available for housing and urbanization, timber, farming, and cattle ranching. Seventy percent of the world’s plants and animals live in forests and are losing their habitats to deforestation. Loss of habitat can lead to species dying out.

DeforestationWhat happens? How does

it happen? [Causes]How does it affect

organisms?[Effects/Consequences]

• Forests are destroyed so the land can be used for houses, farming, etc.

• Trees are cut or burnt down to clear the land

• Plants are destroyed• Animals lose their

habitats and species can die out

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

What happens? How does it happen?

How does it affect organisms?

What happens? How does it happen? [Causes]

How does it affect organisms?

[Effects/Consequences]

• Humans release dirt, dust, and harmful gases into the air

• Factories and automobiles release harmful chemicals into the air

• Harms plants• Animals lose their

food and shelter

Water Pollution

Water Pollution

What happens? How does it happen?

How does it affect organisms?

What happens? How does it happen? [Causes]

How does it affect organisms?

[Effects/Consequences]

•Waste and chemicals get into the waterFrom sewersWashed by the

rain• Oil spills from ships

• Animals and plants get coated in oil and die (birds, fish, etc.)• Chemicals can harm

fish and plants in or near the water

Land Pollution

hazardous waste

Land Pollution

What happens? How does it happen?

How does it affect organisms?

What happens? How does it happen? [Causes]

How does it affect organisms?

[Effects/Consequences]

• Humans throw away garbage that is put into landfills• Hazardous wastes

are buried in the ground

• Disease• Fires• Destroy habitats

Strip Mining

Strip Mining

What happens? How does it happen?

How does it affect organisms?

What happens? How does it happen? [Causes]

How does it affect organisms?

[Effects/Consequences]

• Humans dig up the land to mine for coal• Giant machines dig

holes in the ground

• Soil and rocks go into ponds and rivers and affect ecosystems

Reflection Question

All of the human activities we have discussed are harmful. Can human activities be helpful as well? Share your ideas.

Targets (Revisited)

Targets: Students will identify ways that human activity affects organisms.

Homework

Subject Homework Due DateScience None None