We

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will examine the 6 Grade Earth and Space Science standard:

ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
Human activities have significantly altered the biosphere,
sometimes damaging or destroying natural habitats and causing
the extinction of other species. But changes to Earths
environments can have different impacts (negative and positive)
for different living things. (MS-ESS3-3)
Typically as human populations and per-capita consumption of
natural resources increase, so do the negative impacts on Earth
unless the activities and technologies involved are engineered
otherwise. (MS-ESS3-3)

Your mission:
Discover how humans are impacting the earth and its
inhabitants as well as learning how you are personally involved and how you can make a difference.

Surely, you have heard of issues such as global warming, deforestation, extinction, and
overpopulation, but maybe the details of these issues are not so clear to you. As a young
adult, you should be aware of the physiological changes of the earth as well as how you
play a role in the big picture. Answering the questions below will help you better
understand how humans (including you!) are affecting the earth and all of its
inhabitants. I encourage you to think deeply about the answers to these questions
Treasure Hunt investigative questions:
1. Fossil fuels make up what percent of the Earths energy consumption?
2. True or False: If everyone in the world used the amount of energy that the average North American uses,
the worlds total energy consumption would quadruple.
3. What percent of available water to humans is considered safe drinking water?
4. List 3 ways to conserve water at your own home.
5. How do you know if you are personally being affected by changes in the Ozone Layer?
6. What does the Air Quality Index tell us?
7. Which group of animals has the highest rate of endangerment? (Choose from amphibians, birds, fish,
invertebrates, mammals, plants, or reptiles)
8. About 90% of primates, including monkeys, lemurs, lorids, galagos, tarsiers, and apes (and humans!) live in
tropical forests, which are quickly disappearing. About what percent of the primate species are at risk of
extinction?
9. Right now, roughly how many people in the world do not have enough to eat?
10. What is the IPAT formula?

Assignment Instructions

Research the questions above using the following resources (watch the videos, read the articles, explore
the websites).
In a new Word document, copy and paste the list of questions. Answer each question clearly and in your
own words.
Cite your findings by copying the link of the website from which you found the correct answer (following
your answer).
Many of the answers to these questions are likely to surprise you. After answering the ten questions,
please write a paragraph explaining which facts are surprising to you and one change you will make in
your daily life to have a positive impact on the earth.

Internet Resources:

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/humans-energy/?ar_a=4
http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/going-green-at-home.html#conserve
http://epa.gov/airquality/ozonepollution/pdfs/smog.pdf
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/biodiversity/elements_of_biodiversity/extinction_crisis/
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/09/140920-population-11billion-demographics-anthropocene/

Photo taken from: http://ida.convio.net/images/content/pagebuilder/earth_in_hands-istock.jpg