Earth and Human Activity

In Lesson 2 you will continue to broaden your understanding by examining human impacts and their effects on Earth's systems through data sets from the Living Planet Report.  

This lesson focuses on the following NGSS standard:

MS-ESS3-4. Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems. [Clarification Statement: 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).

Note that the interpretation and analysis of data and evidence is a key skill emphasized in both NGSS and CCSS. (The connections are outlined on this page, MS-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity) These standards address multiple ways to present data, including graphs, tables, diagrams, and maps.

Assignments may include an activity or reading with guiding questions to respond to in your own personal journal, through an online forum, and/or to include in the Lesson 2 Response form,  if you are taking this course for credit, which  will be submitted electronically by  Sunday, July 19, 2015.

Note: Page numbers for readings refer to the actual page numbers of the document, not the pdf page numbers.