SCIENCE / THE ENVIRONMENT (Part 1) (2 lessons)

FOCUS QUESTION

 Why is it important to care for the environment?

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Formulate a definition of environment.

2. Justify the importance of conserving the natural environment.

3. Recognize the need for and importance of conserving living things and the environment to sustain the balance in the ecosystem.

4..  Show concern for the impact of humans on the environment.

CONTENT SUMMARY

The environment is all the physical surroundings on the Earth, including all living and non-living things, and which affects life on earth. Deserts, forests, wetlands, grasslands, marine, freshwater and tundra are examples of environments which differ in vegetation, animal  life, soil and terrain and climate. The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth. It is the environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species. All types of environment are either on land i.e. terrestrial (Desert, Grassland, Forest) or in water, i.e. aquatic (marine, brackish, freshwater).

ENGAGE

Students I want you to examine the pictures below. What are they all depicting?

Are they all the same?

What are their special features?

Well of course they are all representing the different types of environment.

EXPLORE
Now students can we all try to find a definition for "ENVIRONMENT"

Can you think of any other type of environments other than those represented above?

Do you think all organisms can live in all the environments we have identified?

Provide some reasons for your answers.

Ok let's watch the video clips below to glean more information on the different types of environments.

Video clip # 2

So what makes an environment suitable for an organism?

Have you ever heard of the term ADAPTATION? 

How are organisms suited to their environment?

Let us listen to this clip below.

Video clip: How organisms adapt to their environment.

Do you think humans can make an environment unfit for organisms to live in?

Explain your answer.

EXPLAIN

Now students I want you to tell me:

What is an environment?

What are the different types of environment?

What are some of the conditions that make an environment suitable for organisms.

How do humans impact the environment?

EXTEND/ELABORATE

Now let's look at the picture below and let's have a discussion.

What is happening here? What problems can be created?

How will it affect the marine lives?

Explain how some other environments are destroyed or made unfit to inhabit.

Read to find out how organisms adapt to their environment.

Watch this video to show how humans impact the environment.

EVALUATION

1. Define the term environment.

2.Tell what the different environments are for selected animals/organisms.

3.Write at least one paragraph about what makes an environment suitable for an organism.

4. List at least 4 ways in which humans can disturb a habitat.

5. Write at least a paragraph to show how these practices will make the environment unsuited for the organisms.

3.        6. Read the excerpt below then answer the question that follows.

Few years ago, my habitat was so clean. There was no oil spill, no plastic bottles or plastic bags. Today I am saddened by the number of garbage that is disturbing my home. I am finding it so hard to breathe. Sometimes some of my friends die from eating some of the waste that enter my home. I am experiencing too much heat here, especially with all this grease or oil!

7. Find a suitable media to present information on how the environment is being impacted negatively by human activities. 

8. Examine the picture below and explain what will happen next.

9. What are some things/practices human can do to preserve the environment and the habitats of organisms?

10. Read each statement. Indicate the type of adaptation that each organism has.

STATEMENTS	STRUCTURAL	BEHAVIOURAL
The brown fur of an Arctic rabbit turns white during winter
Many desert animals are active at nights when it is cooler.
Penguins huddle close together and keep moving to stay warm.
In tropical rainforests, climbing plants grow on others to reach sunlight.
Birds have hollow bones that make them light and feathers to help them fly.
A lady wears a large sun hat and dark glasses while on a sunny beach.

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