FOCUS QUESTION
How do environmental problems affect us?
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE
1. Propose measures to reduce/eliminate selected sources of solid waste pollution
2. Be aware of their responsibility to carry out good environmental practices
CONTENT SUMMARY
Conserving the environment means trying to preserve natural resources so they will be around in the future. The activities of people may affect the environment in good and bad ways. Human activities have caused serious environmental problems which have changed the earth and its climate, and have impacted the health of many living things.
Waste can be classified into five types of waste which is all commonly found around the house. These include liquid waste, solid rubbish, organic waste, recyclable rubbish and hazardous waste. Make sure that you segregate your waste into these different types to ensure proper waste removal.
The threat of waste to the environment, health and safety is huge. And so are the financial and social ramifications, waste experts say. Pollution runs into rivers and seeps into ground water. Flooding is caused by garbage clogging drains, and the atmosphere can be poisoned by the toxic discharge from trash. When organic things rot or decay, as a result of bacterial activity, we say they are biodegradable.
ENGAGE
Students, let us listen to this video clip and see what it is talking about.
Video clip: bag it bin it
Why was this video made?
Do you agree with the message it is bringing across?
EXPLORE
What problems can arise?
How is the environment affected?
How does it affect people ?
Let us categorize on the table below.
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EFFECTS OF IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE |
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Effects on environment |
Effects on
health |
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What global problems can arise?
How can a problem like this be solved? Have you ever heard of conservation methods? What are these?
Let us look at some pictures of waste on the Kingston Harbour.
You would have known by now how all these waste end up on the harbour.
What are the implications? How does it affect marine life/mangrove/coral reefs?
How can we solve?
Would you say that all the garbage or waste is harmful to the environment?
Which ones are not?
Well organic things are not harmful to the environment as other solid waste. In fact, these organic waste help the environment. When they rot or decay as a result of bacterial activity, they add nutrients to the soil. These types of waste are referred to as biodegradables. Can you think of any such waste?
Let us list some of each of the different types of waste.
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TYPES OF WASTE |
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Solid |
Biodegradable |
Hazardous |
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EXPLAIN
Explain what is meant by improper garbage disposal.
What are biodegradables? How do they help the environment?
What can we do to stem the effects of garbage problems?
EXTEND/ELABORATE
Use resource books to find out how improper disposal of solid waste can lead to the spread of diseases (eg. Vector borne and water borne) and the measures which can be taken to prevent these.
EVALUATION
1. How can waste be classified?
2. (a) Which of the following would least affect the environment?
{ banana skin, old batteries, stiro-foam}
(b) Write a statement to support your answer. ________________________________________
3. In the cartoon below, ‘Shorty’ and his friend ‘Longman’ are having a discussion. The discussion is about the method of disposal chosen by Shorty and the type of materials he is throwing away.
(i) Do you agree with Shorty’s method of garbage disposal? Yes or No _________
(ii) Explain why you agree or disagree with Shorty’s method of garbage disposal.
(iii) Later in the discussion, “Longman” suggests that plastic materials should be collected in large piles and burnt all at once. Longman believes this method saves time and is much cheaper.
(2) Write 2 points that you would use to convince Longman that burning plastics is a bad idea.
Point 1. _______________________________________________________________
Point 2._______________________________________________________________
3. Examine the poster below, read the contents, then create a similar one to show how humans can help preserve the environment.
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