Lesson Overview |
Students will explore how crops are grown in industrial agriculture and how those practices impact human health and ecosystems. This lesson also covers the importance of soil, freshwater, and biodiversity in agriculture. In later lessons, students will learn in more detail about ecological alternatives to industrial crop production.
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Warm-up assignment: |
Compare and contrast the two cropping systems shown below and post your observations on your "Google Classroom" Public comments section.
Consider the following as you record your observations: --What is most surprising about the real images? --How, if at all, does your impression differ from reality? --If there was a difference, why do you think our impressions differ from reality? --What do you think are some of the advantages of growing crops industrially? |
Level 3 Guiding Question: How does industrial crop production impact human health and ecosystems?
Read the slide show and answer the following questions:
◼ How do farmers prevent crops from being damaged or destroyed by pests?
◼ What can be added to the soil to enable plants to grow faster?
◼ How do crops get water besides from rain? (irrigation) What is required to transport water through irrigation systems?
◼ What machines do farmers use to manage cropland? What powers those machines?
Once you have answered these add a slide to the presentation that list as many inputs (water, fertilizer etc.) crops need to grow and thrive.
◼ How do farmers prevent crops from being damaged or destroyed by pests?
◼ What can be added to the soil to enable plants to grow faster?
◼ How do crops get water besides from rain? (irrigation) What is required to transport water through irrigation systems?
◼ What machines do farmers use to manage cropland? What powers those machines?
Once you have answered these add a slide to the presentation that list as many inputs (water, fertilizer etc.) crops need to grow and thrive.
Level 3 Investigation: Ecological Impacts
From the Ecological Impacts slide explain what are some potential negative consequences of industrial crop production:
◼ Soil erosion (primer section: Soil) ◼ Decrease in bee populations (primer section: Pesticide Use) ◼ Emergence of pesticide-resistant weeds (primer section: Pesticide Use) ◼ Aquatic dead zones (primer section: Nutrient Pollution) ◼ Depletion of phosphorus and fossil fuels (primer section: Fossil Resources) ◼ Depletion of groundwater (primer section: Freshwater) Click the button on the left to get the information you need to complete the assignment. |
assignment: |
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Level 3 Videos: industrial crop production affects human health and ecosystem
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Level 3 Elaborate: Cutting down our impacts
Watch one or two of the VDOs above and and you and your lab partner will pretend you are the guest chefs on a talk show. You will show us the new diet that will lower global impacts on our planet. You are required to have the prepared food and show your audience how to to prepared it and why your diet lowers global impacts. Don't forget to tell your audience how the typical American diet can be harmful to our planet.
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Level 3 Review: Changes in our food system
To see how much you know click on the button below. If asks to sign in use your google account to open up the practice session.
To complete your review answer the following question:
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Level 3 Summary: Unit Test
Identify parts that represent industrial crop production. Answer the following questions:
Do these accurately represent what we learned about industrial crop production? If not, what could we add to make the infographic more accurate? Each of you will draw their own versions, create a collage, or add images to the existing infographic. Take photos of your Share photos of your work on Google Classroom.
Do these accurately represent what we learned about industrial crop production? If not, what could we add to make the infographic more accurate? Each of you will draw their own versions, create a collage, or add images to the existing infographic. Take photos of your Share photos of your work on Google Classroom.