ESS3.3 Day 1

​Standard:
6.ESS3.3 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the impacts of human activities on the biosphere, including conservation, habitat management, species endangerment, and extinction.

​How do human activities impact conservation, habitat management, species endangerment, and extinction in the biosphere?

​EQ:

​Engage: Discuss

​1. What do you notice?

2. What do you think caused the change?

3. Is this change helpful or harmful to living things?

​Explore:

​You and a partner will explore the 4 stations.

You will be answering the questions on your student note sheet as you work.

​Station 1: Conservation

Protecting our planet is called conservation. It means using our natural resources—like water, trees, and energy—carefully so they don't run out. By practicing conservation, we ensure a healthy Earth for everyone in the future. 

​1. Recycling: Giving Trash a New Life

Recycling is the process of taking materials that would normally be thrown away and turning them into new products. Instead of letting trash sit in a landfill for hundreds of years, we can reuse it. 

• Saves Resources: Recycling just one ton of paper saves 17 trees.

• Saves Energy: Making a new aluminum can from a recycled one uses 95% less energy than making one from scratch.

• Reduces Pollution: It keeps plastic out of our oceans, where it can harm marine life. 

2. National Parks: Nature’s Safe Havens

National parks are special areas of land protected by the government to keep nature, wildlife, and history safe from human destruction. 

• Protecting Wildlife: Parks provide a safe home for endangered animals like grizzly bears and sea turtles to recover their populations.

• Outdoor Classrooms: They are great places for people to hike, camp, and learn about ecosystems firsthand.

• Fighting Climate Change: The large forests and wetlands in these parks absorb carbon dioxide, which helps keep the Earth's temperature stable. 

3. Renewable Energy: Power from Nature

Most of the energy we use today comes from fossil fuels like coal and oil, which can run out and cause pollution. Renewable energy comes from natural sources that never run out. 

• Solar Power: Using panels to turn sunlight into electricity.

• Wind Power: Using large turbines to catch the wind and generate power.

Hydropower: Using the force of flowing water in rivers or dams to create energy.
Because these sources are "clean," they produce very little pollution and help protect our air and water.

Multiple Choice

What are some water conservation methods?

• Taking shorter showers

• Fixing leaky faucets

• Using water-efficient appliances

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Atlanta often has smog warnings during the summer. The city cautions citizens against being outside too long when smog levels are high. How can the city of Atlanta reduce smog levels?

• by increasing the use of fossil fuels

• by decreasing the use of solar power

• by decreasing the number of individual cars and increasing the number of buses

• by increasing the number of individual cars and decreasing the number of buses

​Station 2

Habitat Management is how people help take care of natural areas so plants and animals can survive.

One way is controlled burns. These are small, planned fires that clear away dead plants. Controlled burns help new plants grow, reduce dangerous wildfires, and create healthy habitats for animals.

​Another way is wildlife corridors. These are safe paths that connect habitats. They allow animals to move between areas to find food, water, and reproduce without crossing busy roads or cities.

Reforestation is planting trees where forests were cut down or damaged. New trees provide homes for animals, improve air quality, and help prevent soil erosion.

Together, these habitat management practices help protect ecosystems and keep nature balanced.

Multiple Choice

What is resource management?

• Changing the way you use resources to ensure that humans and other life on Earth continue to have everything they need to thrive

• Producing energy or products while minimizing the waste of natural resources

• A natural resource that humans use to generate energy

• The application of science for practical purposes

​Station 3

Species endangerment happens when a plant or animal population becomes very small and may disappear forever.

One cause is pollution. Chemicals, trash, and dirty water can harm animals and destroy the places they live.


Another cause is overhunting or overfishing, which reduces animal populations faster than they can reproduce.

​Habitat loss is the biggest cause of endangerment. When forests are cut down, land is built on, or wetlands are drained, animals lose their homes and food sources.

Protecting habitats and reducing pollution can help endangered species survive and recover.

Multiple Choice

Forest clearing, farming, and road building are all examples of

• Biodiversity

• Population distribution

• Habitat loss

• Climate Change

Multiple Choice

What will help prevent unnecessary habitat destruction?

• Spreading out farms and urban developments

• Finding a balance between what humans and animals need

• Decreasing animal populations

• Decreasing plant populations

​Station 4

Extinction happens when a species completely disappears and no members are left alive.

In the past, animals like the dodo bird became extinct. The dodo lived on an island and had no natural predators, but humans hunted it and destroyed its habitat. Because the dodo could not survive these changes, it disappeared forever.

​Today, many plants and animals are at risk of extinction due to pollution, climate change, and habitat loss.

By protecting habitats and using resources wisely, people can help prevent more species from becoming extinct.

​Independent Task:

On the next slide, you watch a video. In your journal, list the human impacts on the environment.

​If you finish early, work on ESS3.3 Study Island or the ESS3.3 and 2.6 vocab list.