Investigate how humans impact the environment with this engaging lesson on human impact on mangrove forests.
This lesson, although intended as a part of an NGSS Storyline on mangrove forests, can be used as a standalone lesson on the following topics:
- Using an interactive online map to determine how affected local ecosystems are by human activity
- Brainstorming ways that humans are impacting their environment, specifically in this case, the mangrove forests
Lesson Overview:
In this lesson, students will analyze the human impacts on local ecosystems as a preparation for designing solutions.
First, students will use a map to examine the human impact in their area. Discuss with students what they notice about the map, and what they think may be causing the impact to be what it is.
Next, break students into small groups and provide a poster paper and markers to each group. Give the groups time to brainstorm as many different ways that humans are impacting the mangroves as possible. If you’d like, allow them to use the internet.
After that, have students complete a gallery walk. They should walk around the classroom and take a look at all the group’s posters. As they visit the posters, they will write down 10 human activities that they find the most impactful.
Once students have returned to their seats, have them rank their ideas 1-10 from most impactful to least.
Finally, students will spend some time brainstorming solutions to their top concerns.
Who is this human impact on mangrove forests resource for?
This resource can be used by classroom teachers, tutors, and parents of students in grades 6-9. It comprehensively covers the topics mentioned, and provides opportunities for student responses which can be implemented in a whole group lesson or assigned for homework.
This lesson is ideal for classrooms with devices that have internet access.
This lesson is a part of a NGSS storyline unit that addresses the question: What would happen if mangrove forests disappeared?
This resource was originally designed to be used to support the conservation and restoration efforts of the UAE’s rich mangrove forest ecosystems. It has since been modified for use around the world.
How Can I Use this Resource?
- Emergency Sub Plans
- An independent work station in a set of stations
- Flipped Classroom pre-reading
- Whole or small group opportunity to model and teach Close Reading strategies and annotation
- Differentiation – Assign this reading as reteaching for students who have yet to show mastery.
- Homework
- Creation of Independent Work Packet for students who are not able to be present for direct instruction.
- Extension activity for early finishers or for students who show a special interest in the topic
- Use as a square on a Choice Board
- Interactive Notebooks: Print 2 pages in one and cut apart. Glue mini pages into notebooks with room for annotations on the side
- Interactive Notebooks: Print entire PDF as a mini booklet and add to notebooks using these simple instructions.
What’s Included?
- Student Sheet PDF
- Student Sheet Digital (Google Docs)
- 7 Slide Guiding Presentation (Google Slides)
Purchase includes a printable PDF file in color. On page 2 of this resource you will find a link to a student friendly Google Doc version of this file. You will be able to copy this file and use it with Google Classroom or any other paperless initiative.
Please take a look at the preview file to see more of this resource.
NGSS STANDARDS COVERED BY THIS HUMAN IMPACT ON MANGROVE FORESTS :
Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems. Examples of evidence include grade-appropriate databases on human populations and the rates of consumption of food and natural resources (such as freshwater, mineral, and energy). Examples of impacts can include changes to the appearance, composition, and structure of Earth’s systems as well as the rates at which they change. The consequences of increases in human populations and consumption of natural resources are described by science, but science does not make the decisions for the actions society takes.
Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment. Examples of the design process include examining human environmental impacts, assessing the kinds of solutions that are feasible, and designing and evaluating solutions that could reduce that impact. Examples of human impacts can include water usage (such as the withdrawal of water from streams and aquifers or the construction of dams and levees), land usage (such as urban development, agriculture, or the removal of wetlands), and pollution (such as of the air, water, or land).
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More questions?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions or email me at laneyleeteaches@gmail.com.
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