Matter and Energy Unit Part 7: The Environment

This unit consists of 11 lessons of about 50 minutes and 25 pages of printable work bundle. The work bundle chronologically follows the entire set of interactive slideshows (hundreds of amazing slides). Students record fill-in notes on the red slides, answer questions, includes important video links, built-in assessments, review games, design a sustainable home project, and much more. The slideshows are engaging and interactive throughout. Everything can be uploaded to Google Classroom if you wish, and arrive fully editable.

Note to Buyer: This unit paints a clear message that the environment and its life sustaining systems are in a state of peril. It will also describe that our current relationship with the environment is out of balance. The unit will highlight a number of environmental problems, provide solutions / alternatives, challenge current systems, and discuss the importance of achieving sustainable systems. Everything arrives editable. Please read the description below.

This unit focuses on key themes in environmental studies. This lesson bundle begins discussing how matter can be recycled but energy cannot. The Law Conservation of Matter is then described and student volunteers head up to the board for some step by step readings about the topic. The idea that most of our products go from cradle to grave is described. A neat class activity has the students find an item and then trace the energy and raw materials required to extract, transport, manufacture and deliver the item to the students. Students create mini posters to describe the whole process. Environmental Studies is then described (red slides = important notes). Some environmental case studies are described (hydraulic fracturing, Love Canal, Pincher Oaklahoma, Coltan in the Congo). Tragedy of the Commons is then addressed. The teacher gets the class together on the floor and then without instructions drops candy in the middle. A few grab most of the resource. This activity moves into the tragedy of the commons and the takers of the common resource are highlighted. Lots of discussion will emerge. The lesson moves into the essential question if greed is good? Resource Allocation is described. Over consumption is addressed throughout as are electricity vampires. The 4 R's are addressed and some wasteful packaging highlighted. A neat pro