Unit 8 - The Human Population

Of all the impacts man has on the biosphere, from interfering with food chains and nutrient cycles to polluting and destroying habitat, the fact is .... the more people there are on earth, the more damage we will do. So, in this unit we take a closer look at humans as a population in the global community.

Assignment 5: The Human Population. In the end all impacts of man in the biosphere are ultimately related to the magnitude of the human population, more people, more impact. In this final assignment in the unit we take a closer look at the human population and review many of the impacts it has on the environment. Be prepared to discuss what you learn from each lesson.

Watch the following video on "Population Growth."



Next, review some of the negative impacts (and solutions) human have on the environment by watching the following video entitled "The Effects of Overpopulation."

Take a look at "Population Pyramids" by watching this short video.



Finally, study the after effects of China's policy to curb over population by allowing couple to have only one child by watching the following video entitled "Rethinking the One-Child Policy."

Unit 7 - Resources

Specific assignments:

Assignment 1: Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources - mini lecture. Answer appropriate questions on the Resources worksheet. (Click here to see worksheet)

Click here to see video version of the mini-lecture.

Assignment 2: Write a one page essay about one of the renewable energy source from the following list:

Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Waves, Bio-diesel (bio-fuels), Nuclear

In the essay:

• name the energy source (where does it come from?)
• describe how the energy is harvested, harnessed or collected
• explain the advantage(s) of using the alternative energy resource over utilizing conventional fossil fuel(s)

A helpful resource is the video "Modern Marvels: Renewable Energy" along with the two videos below entitled "Bio-gas - a carbon offset" and "Bio-gas - How it works." Click here to see the grading rubric for this assignment.





Assignment 3: Sustainable Development - mini lecture. Take notes and participate in class discussion. Answer applicable questions on the Resource worksheet.

Click here to view a brief overview of "Sustainable Development."

Watch this video entitled "Landfill gas to energy - sustainability."



Assignment 4: Conservation and Recycling of Non-renewable resources.
a. Visit the following website: www.Earth911.com.
b. Click on the large, green tab labeled Find a Recycling Center at the top of the  page.
c. Use the information about recycling that follows to answer the questions on the Recycling Worksheet. Click here to view worksheet.

Final Project

For your final project you will write a report. The report is to be double-spaced and typed. it should include at least some pictures and/or diagrams that help illustrate what you are talking about. The length is not that important as long as you cover your topic thoroughly, however, use 4 1/2 pages as a guideline.

You have several options as to the topic of your report. Choose your topic from the Project Guidelines sheet. (Click here to view guidelines)

Unit 9 -- Environment and the Future

The purpose of this final unit is to finish this course on a positive note. So, in this unit we will first take a closer look at the impact a single human can make to the global accumulation of greenhouse gases, something we call a "Carbon Footprint."  Then, we will explore ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that Carbon Footprint through  "Green" technologies.

Assignment 1: Watch the video - "Human Footprint." Note interesting facts. Be prepared to discuss what you learned afterwards.

Assignment 2: "Your Carbon Footprint" - activity. Complete this assignment in three parts (outlined below). Use the worksheet to guide you. (Click here to see worksheet)

Part 1 - Click on the following website link and then click on the gray tab labeled "Secondary." Now calculate your personal Carbon Footprint by answering the survey questions and then clicking on the green bar entitled "Estimate Secondary Footprint." at the bottom of the survey.  Your footprint will be based on your current lifestyle choices. Record your score on the Carbon Footprint worksheet.

Part 2 - Return to the top of the webpage  and then click on "CO₂ Reduction."  List those things you are willing to do as an individual to reduce carbon emissions.

Part 3 - Click on "Carbon Calculator" at the top of the page and recalculate your Secondary Carbon Footprint employing as many of the things you listed above to reduce carbon emissions as well as any additional lifestyle choices that you might think could further reduce your footprint. Record your new score and turn in your worksheet. Afterwords, consider actually making some of those changes in your daily life


Assignment 2: Roof-top Gardening. Watch the following videos on roof-top gardens. Afterwards be prepared to discuss what you learned.

Click here to see the first video.

Now watch the following video entitled "Roof-top Garden - NYC."

 

Assignment 3:  Cement -- "How hard can this be?"  Watch the following videos about cement production.  The first video is entitled "Cement from CO2 and Sea Water" and the second entitled "Note how scientists and engineers plan to turn a process, which normally requires a lot of energy and produces tons of carbon dioxide, into an environmental friendly, carbon neutral process.

Quiz.  Coming Soon!

Unit 5 - Pollution

Pollution can be defined as anything that it released into air, soil, or water that is harmful to human health or to ecosystems or the biosphere. While some pollutants such as heavy metals and pesticides are directly toxic to living things, other substances may not normally be harmful until they are produced in such quantities that the environment can not longer break them down and recycle them. Excessive amounts of nutrients that runoff the land and lead to eutrophication of lakes and streams is a good example of this type of pollution as is the excessive buildup "greenhouse gases" that lead to "global warming." And, as we learned in the previous unit, excessive noise can be categorized as pollution. In this unit we will take a closer look at air, water, land, and noise pollution.

Specific assignments

Assignment 1: Click on this link and take note on information in the paragraph entitled "What is Pollution." Begin to define the terms on the Pollution Vocabulary Worksheet. (click here to see worksheet)

Assignment 2: Watch the video below entitled "Human Pollution" Note of the terms biodegradable and non-biodegradable; be able to explain what they mean and give examples of each.



Assignment 3: Land Pollution and Solid Waste Disposal - mini lecture.

Click on this link to review the information on Land Pollution covered in the mini-lecture.

Assignment 4: Learn about a Modern Landfill - Watch the videos entitled "Anatomy of a Landfill" and "How Does a Landfill Work." Use the information given in the videos to label a diagram of a landfill. Click here to view diagram.





Field Project: Build a compost generator . Building a compost generator is one way we can help nature recycle nutrients and reduce the amount of things we end up throwing away. This is a class project. You will be given instructions in class as the project progresses. To get credit you must participate and contribute to the successful completion of the project.

Click here for details on how to make a compost generator.

Assignment 5: Water Pollution - mini lecture.

Click on this link to read an overview of the information on Water Pollution covered in the mini-lecture.

Next, watch the short video below entitled "Non-point Source Pollution, " which explains the difference between Point Source and Non-point Source pollution.



Assignment 6 : Types of water pollution. Click on this link and then on the icon for each kind of water pollution. Take notes. Be prepared to discuss what you have learned.

Watch the video below entitled "Three Important Types of Water Pollution" to gather additional information on the affects of excess nutrient, water-born pathogens, and thermal pollution. Continue to define key terms listed on your vocabulary worksheet.




Now, click on this link to review the process known as eutrophication. Draw a simple flow diagram that explains the process.

Sediment (particulate) pollution -- "A picture is worth a thousand works." Click here.

Field Project: Stream Bio-assessment.

Assignment 8: Pollutants in the Atmosphere - mini lecture.

Click on this link to get a little background on the air around the earth we call our Atmosphere.
Click on this link to to review the information on Air Pollution covered in the mini-lecture.

Assignment 9: Global Warming and Climate Change. Complete this two part lesson on global warming and climate change. Be prepared to explain the concept of global warming, its causes, and its effects in the biosphere.

Part 1: Click on the following link for an overview of human mediated climate change.

Part 2: Watch a video on global warming entitled "Six Degrees." As you watch the film, list the effects of global warming as they are presented.

Air Pollution Project: As a class, we will assist Dr. Geoffrey Smith of the University of Georgia with his study of air pollution. The project will involve sampling and analyzing air samples for ozone and particulate matter. The work will be completed in steps over several days. Detailed instructions will be provided by Dr. Smith and his staff.

Assignment 10: Noise Pollution -- mini lecture.

Assignment 11: Remediation

Watch the following video on " Riparian Buffer Zones." Note how the creation or preservation of buffer zones around waterways prevents water pollution and benefits the environment.




Now watch thefollowing videos entitled "Bio-remediation of Sediment" and" Phyto-remediation - How it works."







Unit Quiz: Pollution.

Unit 6 - Endangered Species

As we learned in the previous unit, many of man's activities such as destroying habitat, introducing non-native species, and polluting can threatened the existence of other species on earth. In this unit we take a closer look at this problem by focusing on the variety of life that is threatened by such activity. Fortunately, we will also see what is being done to counter these threats to wildlife.

Assignment 1: Endangered Species - mini lecture.

Click here to see a video version of the mini-lecture.
Click here to see power point version of mini-lecture.

Assignment 1: Endangered Species Project. For this project you will prepare a power point presentation on an endangered species. You many choose a species (animal or plant) from a list of known endangered organisms (click here for list) or find one on your own (subject to instructor's approval). The length of the presentation is not important but it must include all the information asked for on the attached worksheet. Also, your last slide should list all websites, texts, articles etc. used to prepare your presentation. This is important for anyone who sees your presentation and wants to know more about the species you chose and its status as an endangered species. (Click here to see directions and rubric for this assignment)

Assignment 2: Share what you learned about your Endangered Species (your power point) with the rest of the class.

Assignment 3: View a segment from the video series Planet Earth entitled "Saving Species." Watch closely. Be prepared to discuss what you learned with your class.

Click here to see why preserving biological diversity is important to man.

Assignment 4: Watch the movie "Medicine Man." There is a lot of "science" in this film, but concentrate on discovering a "good reason" for human's to preserve areas of wilderness such as the tropical rain forest.

Essay: Write a short essay. In the essay explain in your own words why it is beneficial to man to preserve rather than destroy habitats and the species of organisms that live in them.

Unit 2 -- Adaptations and the Environment

The last unit revealed that life on earth displays an extraordinary ability to adapt and survive in many different environments. In this unit we will examine in more detail some of the adaptations organisms have acquired to survive in their particular environment and then study the basic mechanism by which organisms adapt, a process called "evolution by natural selection."

SEC2d. Relate the role of natural selection to organismal adaptations that are specific to their habitats and describe some examples of coevolution.

Assignment 1: Adaptations and the Environment: Watch the following videos entitled "Adaptations (defined), "Adaptations to Biomes," and "Animal Adaptations." Make a list of the specific adaptations that allow organisms to survive in the different global environments we studied in the previous unit. Define the terms on the Adaptations and Environment vocabulary worksheet as you go. Be prepared to discuss what you learn with the class. (Click here to see worksheet).








Assignment 2: Watch this next video entitled "Freshwater Sharks" to witness an extraordinary adaptation of an organism in an aquatic environment.



Quiz: Short (paper) quiz on what you have learned about "adaptations."

Assignment 3: Adaptation through "Evolution by Natural Selection" - mini lecture. Take notes. Continue to complete worksheet.

Observe evolution by natural selection in action by watching the following video entitled "Natural Selection." Participate in the class discussion that follows.



Assignment 4: Evolution, Natural Selection and the Environment. Watch the following set of videos explaining "patterns of evolution." Take note of the reciprocal role the environment plays in encouraging adaptations of organisms living in that environment. Be prepared to discuss what you learned in the videos afterwards.

Divergent Evolution
Convergent Evolution
Adaptive Radiation
Co-evolution

Adaptations to changing environment transformed terrstrial mammal into whale.