Understanding Our Environment Chapter 1 Understanding Our Environment

Quote “All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today” What does this quote mean? What does it have to do with the environment?

Ecolog What do you consider to be our major environmental problems? How can science help solve environmental problems?

Terms Environmental Science – the study of how humans interact with the environment Environment – refers to everything that surrounds us, including the natural world as well as things produced by humans

Environmental Problems What are some environmental problems that earth faces today?

Local Problems What are some environmental problems that Kasson-Mantorville faces today?

Activity Write a paragraph explaining how we could possibly solve these problems using the strategy of “thinking globally, and acting locally”

Terms Natural Resource – any substance that living things can use Ex. Sunlight, air, water, soil, minerals, plants, animals, forests, and fossil fuels A resource is depleted when a large part of it is used up

Terms Renewable resource – a resource that can be replaced Ex. Sunlight, Animals, Trees Nonrenewable resource – a resource that cannot be replaced Ex. Metals, fossil fuels

Case Study Read the Case study on pgs. 6 and 7 Answer the following questions: Explain how each person and group played a crucial role in the cleanup of Lake Washington How was the Scientists’ work similar to the work of the Keene High School students you read about on pg. 3?

Terms Extinction – the last individual member of a species has died and the species is gone forever The rate at which species are becoming extinct is alarming, it has been said that extinction is the single most significant environmental challenge that we face today Pollution – the introduction of harmful chemicals and waste into the environment Ex.

Terms Coal fired plants in the midwest = acid rain in the east Cars driven in the US and Europe = high levels of CO2 for all of earth’s atmosphere Destruction of Rain Forest = loss of CO2 CFC’s = ozone depletion

Terms Biosphere – thin layer of life around the earth

Developed Vs. Developing Developing Countries – Less industrialized, lower average income Developed Countries – highly industrialized, high incomes Ex. US, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Western Europe

Activity Half of the room is going to role play a typical 17 year old in America The other half is going to role play a typical 17 year old in Kenya Each skit needs to be 5 minutes long and display everyday life for that particular role The situation: Eating Dinner

Discussion Questions How does each lifestyle affect the environment?

Terms Population crisis – rapid growth in a population that stresses the environment Consumption crisis – using natural resources faster than they can be replenished Sustainable World – the goal of environmental problem solving What does this mean to you?

Questions What could the average American do to help preserve rain forests? Have we Americans been using more than our fair share of nonrenewable resources like petroleum? Should we work on changing our wasteful lifestyles before criticizing other countries about their environmental problems? Should we further develop technology to clean up the environment, and provide that technology free to other countries that feel the effects of our pollution?

Section Review Answer the four questions on page 4

The Plant Name some things that you have learned about plants in other classes Describe everything that you know about this particular plant How often should I water, and fertilize this plant? How many hours of sunlight should it have?

Science What is Science?

Types of Sciences Applied Science – uses information provided by pure science to solve problems Ex. Engineering, Medicine Environmental Science is an applied science Pure Science – seeks to answer questions about how the natural world works Ex. Physics, Biology How does the sun produce light? Or why do insects and birds have different kinds of wings?

Ecology Ecology – the study of how living things interact with each other and their nonliving counterparts Ecology is one of the most important science disciplines for environmentalists

Scientific Method Observation Hypothesizing and Predicting Ex. The sky is blue, lemons are sour, sulfur smells like rotten eggs, etc Phenology is an example of observation Hypothesizing and Predicting Hypothesis is a testable explanation for an observation

Scientific Method Experimenting Organizing and Interpreting Data Experiment is a way to test a hypothesis Control group Dependent Variable Independent Variable Organizing and Interpreting Data Graphs allow scientists to neatly communicate their findings

Activity You and your partner are going to be designing an experiment The Problem: local builders are causing soil erosion which is causing problems in the Zumbro River among others, you need to make an outline providing the best way for the builders to stop their soil erosion. All steps of the Scientific method must be documented

Section Review Answer the 5 questions on page 19

What if: McNelius steel was found dumping poisonous chemicals which showed up in your drinking water How would you solve the problem? What if McNelius said that instead of the expensive cleanup they are going to move to Cannon Falls since they have less strict environmental laws?

What if List one positive and one negative to allowing the plant to operate here List one positive and one negative to allowing the plant to move

The butterfly effect Everything is connected to everything else How is this concept related to the fact that it is often difficult for people to reach agreements about the environment?

Readings Read pages 22 and 23 and review the table on page 23.

Questions Are there any local issues similar to this one? Are there any national issues similar to this one?

Decision Making Gather information Consider Values Explore Consequences Make a decision

Section Review Answer the three questions on Page 24 Go back to your Ecolog and re-answer questions 1 and 2

Review Answer questions 1- 21 on pages 26 and 27