Teacher Resources
In this interactive lesson, students will learn how human activities affect Earth systems. They will make environmental impact initiatives using scientific principles that relate to composting and agriculture.
This interactive lesson is aligned to:
Module Information
- Grade Band: 6 - 8
- Focus Standard: Human Impact
- Topic: Earth and Space Sciences
- Completion Time: 30 - 40 minutes
- Vocabulary: Visit the Glossary page for definitions of key vocabulary in this module.
Related Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
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MS-ESS3-3 Human Impact
Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment. - MS-ESS3-4 Human Impact
Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems.
Maryland College and Career Ready (MCCR) Standards for Disciplinary Literacy
Writing Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects:Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
- MCCR Anchor Standard 7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
- RST.6-8.7. Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
Maryland Environmental Literacy Standard
(3) Environmental Impact of Human Activity.- Environmentally literate students construct and apply understanding of the environmental impact of human activities on Earth’s systems and resources.
- Environmentally literate students construct and apply understanding of individual, collective, and societal responses to human-induced environmental change.
Additional Resources
- Timeline Process for Composting Graphic Organizer
- Compost Fact Sheet from USDA | in Spanish
- Make a Composter PBS Kids
- Why is food waste contributing to climate change? PBS LearningMedia
- Teens Start Composting Business to Combat Climate Change
- School Environmental Impact Initiative with Compost Crew
- Worms Can Recycle Your Garbage Article
- Do the Rot Thing pdf of activities K-12
References
Resources used to create this lesson:Compost Outpost- ECO City Farm- Compost Crew
Composting- US Department of Agriculture
Composting at Home- US Environmental Protection Agency
Bokashi Method- Solana Center for Environmental Innovation
Reducing the Impact of Wasted Food by Feeding the Soil and Composting- US Environmental Protection Agency
Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Cooperative Agreements- US Department of Agriculture
How the US Economy and Environment can Both Benefit From Composting Management- National Library of Medicine
Composting 101- Natural Resource Defense Council
Using This Site
This lesson is built for use on classroom computers and tablets. If you have access to a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or an interactive whiteboard in your classroom, you may complete the lesson in your classroom. Otherwise, you will need to schedule time to use your school's computer lab. For technical specifications, see below.
Some activities on this site may include videos and narration, so you may want to have headphones available for students working at individual stations. For best results in viewing the videos and interactives, you should have a high-speed, stable Internet connection.
This lesson may contain PDFs for students to complete. They can print the PDFs and fill them out by hand, or download the files and fill them out on the computer. Most or all portions can be filled out online. Please check with your Instructional Technology Specialist for instructions on downloading the PDF. (Note that to complete the PDFs on the computer, you will need a viewer, such as Adobe Reader, that supports forms.)
Technology
This site is an Internet-based activity, and it was built to run on the following computer operating systems and browsers:
- Windows 7 or Newer: IE 8, 9, 10, 11; Current version of Chrome; Current version of Firefox
- Mac OS 10.7 or Newer: Current version of Safari
- iPad2/iOS6 or Newer: Current version of Safari
- Android 4.0 or Newer: Current version of Android browser
- Chromebook: Current version of Chrome
Users running Internet Explorer 8 will not be able to use the highlighter tool. Instead, teachers should consider partnering students for a brief discussion.
Visit the Accessibility page for detailed information on the site's accessibility features.
