Students listen to the story, Just A Dream, by Chris Van Allsburg, and identify some of the ways people affect natural resources. Cooperative groups conduct several pollution detection investigations, such as trapping particles from the air and testing water for pH, clarity, and bacteria content. Groups perform a soil compaction test, look for evidence of erosion on the school grounds, and collect and classify litter. They locate some news articles concerning natural resources in the community and share these with the class. Students examine the use of minerals by people.
Groups design posters to show some of the different ways people use minerals.
They explore a model of an area containing mineral resources, use tools to simulate mining techniques, and restore the model after mining. They describe some effects of mining on living things and perform a skit explaining the ways they can reduce their use of minerals by reusing or recycling. Students also prepare milk cartons for Lesson 14. Students work together to list the ways people affect wildlife. They record information about an animal they observe on the school grounds.