Unit Topic: Interconnected physical systems and Human
Key Learning: . Students will develop knowledge of the ways humans modify and respond to the natural environment.
9-12—Students will understand the Earth’s physical environment as a set of interconnected systems (eco-system) and the way humans have PERCEIVED, reacted to and changed environments at global to local scales.
· Environmental systems
· Systems balance
· Interdependence
sustainability
· Perception
·
Unit Essential Question(s):
How is the environment interconnected and how do humans impact it?
Concept: Natural Processes and systems / Concept: (Everglades) Humans impact on these systems / Concept: Human impact on environments can be somewhat predicted (Cancer)/ (Think other disasters) / Concept: Perception of Risks (San Andreas Fault)
.
Lesson Essential Question:
· Why might focusing on how people perceive the risks and resources of the natural environment help explain human behavior in different parts of the world?
Vocabulary:
Risk Assessment, Ring of Fire,
Lesson Essential Question:
· In what ways are the Earth’s physical systems interrelated / Lesson Essential Question:
· How can the action of humans impact the balance of these systems / Lesson Essential Question:
· To what extend can people predict the consequences from human alterations to the physical environment ?
Vocabulary:
· Relationship words: Correlation (Math), High Risk Factor (Science), Cause, and Causation vs. Association
· Water Cycle, global air circulation, Jet stream, Plate Tectonics Environment, Eco-system, Geo-graphic, GIS
· Acid Rain / Vocabulary:
Sustainability, swamp, economic development, altered environment vs. natural state, / Vocabulary:
Cancer clusters, cancer-causing,
Additional Information/Resources:
Lesson introduction:
1. Map of US- Pick 5 places you’d like to live.. What patterns are seen with this collected data? –
2. Brainstorm natural disasters – Any of those chosen places “safe”? Is that okay???
Look at “relationship words” ..
1. Remember airplane project in math class… What factors led to the greatest fight? How did you know this? --- Scatterplot graph.. Correlation (r)
2. Brainstorm things in the world that are correlated. How is this different than associated? Think cancer because this is where the unit will end up.. .
Lesson 1: Interconnectedness
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=C929D8EE-24CC-421D-B00D-5BF3174850A7&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Jig-Saw three reading with picture drawn to explain to other what is going on…
1. Water cycle – Local
2. Circulating air and water- jet stream - Global
3. Water cycle and global climate- bands on globe – Ocean
4. Ocean Currents -
Pull together to draw one giant GIS to explain what Earth’s physical systems – Ultimately why does it rain sometimes in Laurel? Predict other places and their climate/ weather .. .. Kids pick 5 places to discuss.
The hydraulic cycle…Water cycle local:
http://water.me.vccs.edu/courses/young/hydrologiccycle.html (easy read)
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/info/water_cycle/hydrology.cgi (Advanced read)
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Watercycle.shtml (pictures)
Circulating air / Jet streams:
http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.JetStreams (Easy read)
http://www.weatheranswer.com/public/Jet_Stream_by_Krista_Feierabend%20.pdf (Advanced Read)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_stream (Pictures)
Global Climates – bands:
http://plantphys.info/plant_biology/climate.shtml (Easy Read)
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm (Advanced Read)
http://www.meteorologyclimate.com/Climate.htm (pictures)
Ocean Currents:
http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/oceancurrents.htm (easy Read)
http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Mi-Oc/Ocean-Currents.html (Advanced Read)
http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/ (pictures)
Lesson 2: Everglades
Lesson 3 Cancer
Lesson-ish 4- other disasters