Human Impact on Ecosystems & Energy: Norfolk Public Schools Science Plans, Summaries of Fossil Fuels

Download Human Impact on Ecosystems & Energy: Norfolk Public Schools Science Plans and more Summaries Fossil Fuels in PDF only on Docsity! Norfolk Public Schools Science Learning in Place Plan: Science 6 Honors Lessons Week 4: April 6 – 10, 2020 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Important Resources Assignments: • Read the article entitled, “Human Impact on Ecosystems” o Highlight or Underline key definitions or phrases in the passage o Research and record any words you do not know the definitions (dictionary, online, phone, ask family, etc) Important Resources Assignments: • Reread the article entitled, “Human Impact on Ecosystems” • Answer the questions on the “Human Impact on Ecosystem Analysis Questions” Important Resources Assignments: • Read “Death of a Sea” on pp.499 • Answer the following: o Extend (18-20) o Identify the Independent Variable(Cause) and the Dependent Variable(Effect) in the death of a sea. Important Resources Assignments: • Review this week’s articles • Write an essay using the articles you read this week to explain to your family what you think are the three actions humans can take to protect our natural resources. Important Resources Assignments: • Review this week’s articles • Answer the four questions on Lesson Review and justify each. Week 5: April 13 – 17, 2020 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday S p r i n g B r e a k Week 6: April 20 – 24, 2020 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Assignments: • Read the article entitled, “Renewable & Nonrenewable Sources of Energy” o Highlight or Underline key definitions or phrases in the passage o Research and Record any words you do not know the definitions (dictionary, online, phone, ask family, etc) Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Assignments: • Read the article entitled, “Renewable & Nonrenewable Sources of Energy” • Complete the worksheet to compare and contrast renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Assignments: • Read “The Northeast Blackout of 2003” on pp.433 • Answer the following: o Extend (16-18) o Identify the Independent Variable(Cause) and the Dependent Variable(Effect) in The Northeast Blackout 2003. Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Assignments: • Review this week’s articles • Write an essay to explain the seven (7) ways that you can reduce your own personal consumption of energy. Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Assignments: • Review this week’s articles • Answer the four questions on Lesson Review and justify each. Human Impact on Ecosystems Human activity is a major threat to the planet's biodiversity. This is because human population growth thus far has been exponential, meaning that its growth rate stays the same regardless of population size. This makes the population grow faster and faster as it gets larger. Populations may grow exponentially for some period, but they ultimately reach a carrying capacity when they become limited by resource availability. Humans, however, have continued to work around carrying capacity as they develop new technologies to help support the ever-growing population. This threatens biodiversity because the more humans there are, the more this displaces other species and reduces species richness. Deforestation for resource mining or urbanization can displace native organisms. Destruction of forest in Madagascar. Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0. Human-mediated causes of biodiversity loss • Land-use change: Humans may destroy natural landscapes as they mine resources and urbanize areas. This is detrimental, as it displaces residing species, reducing available habitats and food sources. • Pollution: Pollution can occur from the runoff or disposal of chemical substances, or from energy sources (noise and light pollution). • Introduced species: Humans may intentionally, or unintentionally introduce a non-native species into an ecosystem. This can negatively effect an ecosystem because the introduced species may outcompete native organisms and displace them. • Resource exploitation: Humans constantly consume resources for their own needs. Some examples include the mining of natural resources like coal, the hunting and fishing of animals for food, and the clearing of forests for urbanization and wood use. Extensive overuse of nonrenewable resources, like fossil fuels, can cause great harm to the environment. Recycling products made from nonrenewable resources (such as plastic, which is made from oil) is one way to reduce the negative impacts of this resource exploitation. In addition, the development and use of renewable resources, like solar or wind energy, can help decrease the harmful effects of resource exploitation. Climate change and biodiversity The current climate change Earth is facing is caused by the increase in global temperatures. Human activity is changing Earth's atmosphere faster than it has ever changed during its history. The burning of fossil fuels in industry and by vehicles releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels and the growth of animal agriculture has caused large amounts of greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) in the atmosphere. Higher concentrations of greenhouse gases trap more heat in the biosphere and result in global warming. In turn, this drives climate change. Importance of Resources Lesson Review Directions: Justify your answers to the following questions: 1. Which of the following would be least harmful to an endangered species? A. Harvesting local natural resources B. Releasing excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere C. Introducing a competitor species into the local habitat D. Reducing the human population 2. How might an introduced species threaten biodiversity? A. It may not be able to survive in its new habitat. B. It may compete with native species for resources. C. It may breed with native species and produce new species. D. It may become prey for native species. 3. Which of the following would help ensure the natural survival of the mulgara population? A. Removing all other animal species from the habitat B. Introduce another small carnivorous species to mate with the mulgara C. Clear the habitat of plant life and build mulgara shelters D. Limit human activities in the mulgara habitat 4. Which human activity would have the largest negative effect on biodiversity? A. Regulating industrial pollution B. Passing legislation to protect an endangered species C. Developing wildlife sanctuaries D. Reproducing at an uncontrolled rate Renewable and Nonrenewable Sources of Energy You have learned about the different types of energy such as chemical, mechanical, radiant and nuclear. You have also learned that energy can be changed from one form to another. A major energy transformation in our lives is the one that changes various energy sources into electricity. Energy sources can be either renewable or nonrenewable. Renewable energy sources are those that can be replaced in a relatively short period of time. Examples of renewable resources are solar energy, wind energy, biomass and hydropower. Nonrenewable energy sources cannot be replaced as they are used. They take millions of years to form. Examples of nonrenewable energy sources are the metal uranium used as the nuclear energy source and fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil. A fossil fuel is formed from the buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Renewable and Nonrenewable Sources of Energy How are Renewable and Non-Renewable resources similar? How are they different? Directions: Use the reading above, word bank below, and your own research to fill in the Venn diagram Word Bank Can be replaced Produces electricity Gives us power Cannot be replaced Sunlight Fossil fuels Oil Natural gas Water Does not cause pollution Wood Coal Energy resource Causes pollution Wind Both Resources and Energy Name _________________________________________ D ate __________________ Period ___________ With the help of a partner, think of a definition for resource: Resource: _______________________________________________ ___________________________ ______________________________________________________________ _________________________ Working individually, complete the following Venn diagram for renewable and nonrenewable resources: RENEWABLE NONRENEWABLE Complete the following statement: Renewable resources are replenished ____________________________________ _______________ while, nonrenewable resources cannot be replenished ______________________________________________.