Chapter 1Understanding 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

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

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