Nine12B4.Htm

Science Curriculum Preview Committee Clarification of Learning Results

Revised 04/08/04

9-12

B4: Analyze the impact of human and other activities on the type and pace of change in ecosystems.

Curriculum Organizing Questions

In what ways have humans impacted this ecosystem?

What would you imagine this ecosystem will look like in 100 years? If people were to vanish tomorrow, would you have the same prediction?

How have human activities changed the fertility of the land?

What human technologies have had the greatest affect on other species?

What human activities have had the greatest affect on the chemical cycles of the earth?

How do humans change their environment?

What societal factors influence the impact that humans have on the earth?

Should humans stop using any of our technologies in order to minimize negative effects on the earth?

How have humans increased the carry capacity of ecosystems?

If you were an alien tourist, how would you describe humans and their impact on earth's systems?

How has techology changed human life on earth?

If humans stopped using "techology," what would life be like for your grandchildren?

Elaboration
Students should examine the way society responds to the promise or threat of technological change and add detail to their awareness of the effects of the human presence on life. Out of this should come some awareness that people can make some decisions about what life on earth will survive, and a sense of responsibility about exercising power. Students should criticize decisions in which major trade-offs are not acknowledged.

Students should recognize that humans often accelerate natural processes of change.

Specific Ideas

Human destruction of habitats through direct harvesting, pollution, atmospheric changes, and other factors is threatening current global stability, and if not addressed, ecosystems will be irreversibly affected.NSES C4e

Humans are changing many of the basic processes that natural ecosystems provide(e.g., maintenance of the quality of the atmosphere, generation of soils, control of the hydrologic cycle, disposal of wastes, and recycling or nutrients). These changes may be detrimental to humans.NSES F4a

Human beings are part of the earth's ecosystems. Human activities can, deliberately or inadvertently, alter the equilibrium in ecosystems. Benchmarks 5D3

The amount of life any environment can support is limited by the available energy, water, oxygen, and minerals, and by the ability of ecosystems to recycle the residue of dead organic materials. Human activities and technology can change the flow and reduce the fertility of the land. Benchmarks 5E2

The human species has a major impact on other species in many ways; reducing the amount of the earth's surface available to those other species, interfering with their food sources, changing the temperature and chemical composition of their habitats, introducing foreign species into their ecosystems, and altering organisms directly through selective breeding and genetic engineering.Benchmarks 3C4

Human inventiveness has brought new risks as well as improvements to human existence. Many changes in the environment designed by humans bring benefits ot society, as well as cause risks.Benchmarks 3C5

Materials from human societies affect both physical and chemical cycles of the earth.NSES F4b

Changes in technology can cause significant changes, either positive or negative.

Many factors influence human impact on environmental quality (e.g., population growth; resource use; population distribution; overconsumption; the capacity of technology to solve problems; poverty; economic, political, and religious views; the way humans view the earth).

Human activities can enhance potential for hazards. Acquisition of recources, urban growth, and waste disposal can accelerate rates of natural change.NSES F5b

By burning fossil fuels, humans are releasing vast quantities of heat energy and large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Developmental & Instructional Implications

Examples

Back to Big Ideas Grid B Back to Standard B Back to Index

Curriculum Organizing Questions	In what ways have humans impacted this ecosystem? What would you imagine this ecosystem will look like in 100 years? If people were to vanish tomorrow, would you have the same prediction? How have human activities changed the fertility of the land? What human technologies have had the greatest affect on other species? What human activities have had the greatest affect on the chemical cycles of the earth? How do humans change their environment? What societal factors influence the impact that humans have on the earth? Should humans stop using any of our technologies in order to minimize negative effects on the earth? How have humans increased the carry capacity of ecosystems? If you were an alien tourist, how would you describe humans and their impact on earth's systems? How has techology changed human life on earth? If humans stopped using "techology," what would life be like for your grandchildren?
Elaboration	Students should examine the way society responds to the promise or threat of technological change and add detail to their awareness of the effects of the human presence on life. Out of this should come some awareness that people can make some decisions about what life on earth will survive, and a sense of responsibility about exercising power. Students should criticize decisions in which major trade-offs are not acknowledged. Students should recognize that humans often accelerate natural processes of change.
Specific Ideas	Human destruction of habitats through direct harvesting, pollution, atmospheric changes, and other factors is threatening current global stability, and if not addressed, ecosystems will be irreversibly affected.NSES C4e Humans are changing many of the basic processes that natural ecosystems provide(e.g., maintenance of the quality of the atmosphere, generation of soils, control of the hydrologic cycle, disposal of wastes, and recycling or nutrients). These changes may be detrimental to humans.NSES F4a Human beings are part of the earth's ecosystems. Human activities can, deliberately or inadvertently, alter the equilibrium in ecosystems. Benchmarks 5D3 The amount of life any environment can support is limited by the available energy, water, oxygen, and minerals, and by the ability of ecosystems to recycle the residue of dead organic materials. Human activities and technology can change the flow and reduce the fertility of the land. Benchmarks 5E2 The human species has a major impact on other species in many ways; reducing the amount of the earth's surface available to those other species, interfering with their food sources, changing the temperature and chemical composition of their habitats, introducing foreign species into their ecosystems, and altering organisms directly through selective breeding and genetic engineering.Benchmarks 3C4 Human inventiveness has brought new risks as well as improvements to human existence. Many changes in the environment designed by humans bring benefits ot society, as well as cause risks.Benchmarks 3C5 Materials from human societies affect both physical and chemical cycles of the earth.NSES F4b Changes in technology can cause significant changes, either positive or negative. Many factors influence human impact on environmental quality (e.g., population growth; resource use; population distribution; overconsumption; the capacity of technology to solve problems; poverty; economic, political, and religious views; the way humans view the earth). Human activities can enhance potential for hazards. Acquisition of recources, urban growth, and waste disposal can accelerate rates of natural change.NSES F5b By burning fossil fuels, humans are releasing vast quantities of heat energy and large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Developmental & Instructional Implications
Examples