Natural resources extraction
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/16/g912/wherefrom.html
A lesson plan for grades 9–12 Science
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In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the environmental, cultural, and human rights issues that are frequently associated with the extraction of natural resources. Activities in this lesson engage students in collaborative group work, online research, and development of presentation skills.
Students will:
- list the natural resources we depend on for our modern lifestyle, and discuss their lists;
- research a particular natural resource to see how it’s used, where it comes from, how it’s extracted, and what concerns are associated with this extraction process; and
- create posters or multimedia presentation to show the results of their research.
Xpeditions provides detailed directions for completing the lesson, suggestions for assessment and extension activities, discussion and research questions, and links to related activities.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 9–12 — AP Earth and Environmental Science
- Goal 4: The learner will build an understanding of the distribution, ownership, use and degradation of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
- Objective 4.01: Analyze sources and uses of freshwater and oceans.
- Renewal rates.
- Agricultural, industrial and domestic water uses.
- Increasing water supplies: Dams and desalination.
- Fisheries and aquaculture.
- Water management and conservation.
- Objective 4.04: Analyze biological resources.
- Benefits of biodiversity.
- Threats to biodiversity.
- Endangered species management.
- Nutrition and food supplies.
- Green revolution.
- Objective 4.05: Analyze and compare conventional and alternative energy sources.
- Coal.
- Natural gas.
- Oil.
- Nuclear power.
- Solar energy.
- Biomass.
- Energy from the Earth's forces: Wind, Water, Geothermal, Tidal.
- Energy conservation.
- Identify facility parts (Coal, Nuclear).
- Monthly/annual costs.
- Objective 4.06: Analyze land types and uses.
- Residential and commercial, land use planning.
- Agricultural and forestry.
- Recreational and wilderness.
- Ecotourism, Parks and preserves.
- Objective 4.01: Analyze sources and uses of freshwater and oceans.
- Goal 7: The learner will build an understanding of environmental decision making.
- Objective 7.02: Analyze cultural and ethical considerations regarding the environment.
- Environmental worldviews.
- Indigenous peoples.
- Sustainable development.
- Objective 7.03: Recognize significance of major environmental laws and regulations: regional, national and international.
- Clean Air Act.
- Clean Water Act.
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
- Endangered Species Act.
- Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Control Act.
- Kyoto Protocol.
- Lacey Act.
- Mining Act.
- Montreal Protocol.
- National Environmental Policy Act.
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
- Wilderness Act.
- Objective 7.04: Develop an awareness of environmental options.
- Conservation.
- Preservation.
- Restoration.
- Remediation.
- Mitigation.
- Objective 7.02: Analyze cultural and ethical considerations regarding the environment.
Grade 9–12 — Earth/Environmental Science
- Goal 1: The learner will develop abilities necessary to do and understand scientific inquiry in the earth and environmental sciences.
- Objective 1.01: Identify questions and problems in the earth and environmental sciences that can be answered through scientific investigations.
- Objective 1.02: Design and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions related to earth and environmental science.
- Create testable hypotheses
- Identify variables.
- Use a control or comparison group when appropriate.
- Select and use appropriate measurement tools.
- Collect and record data.
- Organize data into charts and graphs.
- Analyze and interpret data.
- Communicate findings.
- Objective 1.06: Identify and evaluate a range of possible solutions to earth and environmental issues at the local, national, and global level including considerations of:
- Interdependent human and natural systems.
- Diverse perspectives.
- Short and long range impacts.
- Economic development, environmental quality and sustainability.
- Opportunities for and consequences of personal decisions.
- Risks and benefits of technological advances.
- Goal 2: The learner will build an understanding of lithospheric materials, tectonic processes, and the human and environmental impacts of natural and human-induced changes in the lithosphere.
- Objective 2.06: Investigate and analyze the importance and impact of the economic development of earth's finite rock, mineral, soil, fossil fuel and other natural resources to society and our daily lives:
- Availability.
- Geographic distribution.
- Conservation/Stewardship.
- Recycling.
- Environmental impact.
- Challenge of rehabilitation of disturbed lands.
- Objective 2.07: Analyze the sources and impacts of society's use of energy.
- Renewable and non-renewable sources.
- The impact of human choices on Earth and its systems.
- Objective 2.06: Investigate and analyze the importance and impact of the economic development of earth's finite rock, mineral, soil, fossil fuel and other natural resources to society and our daily lives:
