Lesson 1: How Humans Affect the Earth

How do human activities affect the air, water, and land?

What are the main ways humans change Earth’s natural systems?

How can we use data to identify human impacts on the environment?

What patterns in human activity contribute to pollution or climate change?

How do local actions contribute to global environmental effects?

Human impact

Pollution (air, water, land)

Greenhouse gases

Climate change

Environmental degradation

Mitigation

Adaptation

HS-ESS3-1 – Evaluate the availability and use of natural resources and the impact of human activities on Earth systems.

NGSS Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

Systems and System Models

Stability and Change

Patterns

Students will analyze real-world environmental data (pollution levels, greenhouse gas trends, land use changes) to support scientific explanations.

Students will develop literacy and analytical skills by interpreting graphs, charts, and case studies about human impacts.

Students will build the ability to construct evidence-based explanations, connecting observations with environmental science concepts.

Students will explore how humans affect the Earth by examining real-world examples of pollution, resource use, and greenhouse gas emissions. They will analyze patterns in data and identify cause-and-effect relationships between human activities and changes in Earth’s systems.

Students will participate in hands-on activities, such as mapping local pollution sources, comparing data on carbon emissions, or simulating ecosystem impacts of human activity. This lesson helps students connect observable environmental changes with scientific explanations, reinforcing vocabulary such as human impact, pollution, and climate change.

Human impact is visible in students’ communities through air and water quality, local land use, and climate effects. Understanding these impacts helps students make connections to policy, personal decisions, and global sustainability. Learning about human effects empowers students to take informed action and engage with environmental issues that affect their daily lives.

Students may think climate change is entirely natural and not influenced by humans.

Students may confuse weather and climate.

Students may believe that individual actions cannot make a difference, overlooking cumulative effects.

Students may struggle to connect abstract data (e.g., CO2 graphs) with real-world consequences.

Tiered Assignments, Scaffolded Instruction

Graphic Organizers for interpreting environmental data

Technology Integration (online carbon footprint calculators, data visualization tools)

Clear expectations and rubrics for lab or project-based activities

Peer collaboration for problem-solving and discussion

Support for reading graphs, charts, and case studies

• Checkpoints during labs and data analysis exercises

• Quizzes on key concepts and vocabulary

• Evaluation of local pollution mapping or carbon footprint activities

• Constructed-response assignments using real-world data to explain human impacts

• Environmental Science slides and worksheets

• Carbon footprint calculators

• Local air and water quality data (online databases or local agencies)

• Materials for simple pollution modeling experiments (safe household chemicals, water, soil)

• Case studies or articles on human impact and climate change