Human Impacts on

Geographic
Environments
World Geography,
Grade 10
Just Do It

Jot down
interesting
information to
share with the class
as you watch the
video.
Guiding Question:

How do humans impact

and interact with the
natural habitats that
surround them?
Standards Addressed

VA. DOE. WG.2 The student will analyze how selected physical and ecological
processes shape the Earths surface by

identifying regional climatic patterns and weather phenomena and their effects
on people and places;

describing how humans influence the environment and are influenced by it

NCSS Standards:

Standard #2: Time, Continuity, and Change

Standard #3: People, Places, and Environments

Lesson Objectives

Compare and contrast documents that explore human impact

on existing geographical environments
Analyze multiple examples of human and geographic
interactions
Discuss ways in which humans can protect, enhance, or
reverse damage to geographic habitats
Is the Great Barrier Reef
Dead?
Opening Activity

Group One (Left side): Pick up the Washington Post article Scientists Report
Devastating Death at Great Barrier Reef

Group Two (Right Side): Pick up the CNN article The Great Barrier Reef Is Not Actually
Dead

BOTH GROUPS: Pick up TWO SCIM-C pages. You will complete one as you read the
article assigned to you by group. You will complete the other when the other group
presents their Skim-C on the opposite article.
SCIM-C Refresher

Monitoring/Questioning: What else would I like to find out?

What questions do I now need to ask?
Inferencing: What does the source suggest?
Contextualizing: When, why and how was the source
produced?
Summarizing: What does the source tell us?
Reading Time

Individually read over your assigned article. While

reading, fill in the parts of your SCIM-C page. Be
prepared to share your responses with your
group.
He Said, She Said

In your groups, discuss the article. Was there

anything that confused you? Surprised you?
Fill in parts of your SCIM-C as others in your
group contribute their thoughts.
Select 4 members of your group to present
ONE part of the SCIM-C.
Group One Presentation

The Washington Post, Scientists Report Devastating Death at Great Barrier Reef

Monitoring/Questioning:

Inferencing:

Contextualizing:

Summarizing:
Group Two Presentation

CNN, The Great Barrier Reef Is Not Actually Dead

Monitoring/Questioning:

Inferencing:

Contextualizing:

Summarizing:
Activity Wrap Up

What is different about the two articles? What does this tell us
as historians?
What can we learn from comparing sources?
Do both articles advocate that humans have an impact on the
environment around them? How so?
How do humans impact
and interact with the
natural habitats that
surround them?
Some Positive Interactions

Planting Gardens and Reforestation

Rebuilds habitats

Reduces air pollution

Helps combat climate change

Some Positive Interactions

Growing food locally

Encourages planting of gardens

More plants= air purification

Economic revenues

Provides jobs
Some Positive Interactions

Recycling programs

Reduces waste

Less production= less chemical emissions

Some Positive Interactions

Animal protection initiatives

Endangered Species List

Protected environments

Encouraged reproduction and mating

Some Negative Interactions

Deforestation

Elimination natural habitats

Forced migration of ecosystems

Forests are necessary to monitoring carbon levels

 Some Negative Interactions
Animal endangerment

Many species at or near extinction levels

Often hunted for fur or precious materials

Some Negative Interactions

Pollution

Burning of fossil fuels and chemicals

Destruction of ecosystems

Build-up of landfills and trash deposits

Some Negative Interactions

Carbon and chemical emissions (Greenhouse Effect!)

Increased air pollution

Potentially linked to global warming

Higher rates of carbon dioxide and hazardous gases in the air

Some Negative Interactions

Sewage Waste

Hazardous to fragile ecosystems

Infiltrates water supply

Unsanitary water conditions

Some Negative Interactions

Global Warming: Myth? Real? Well discuss this one in depth next class...
Exit Slip

Do you agree or disagree that the Great Barrier Reef is dead?

If you agree, explain what human interactions you believe to be
the cause of its death.
If you disagree, explain what measures you think can be taken
to restore the reef.
(Response should be 3-5 sentences)