REFLECTION ON ULTIMATE SURVIVAL UNIT

Reflect on what has helped you in understanding the "big idea" of the unit.
(Big Idea:  Students will understand the use and management of natural resources, the transformation of resources into human capital, goods, tools and machines as well as sustainable development of human society to maintain the delicate balance between man and the natural environment.)

Reflect on the unit question (What is a necessity and how does an organism ensure survival of its species within its environment?) and how it relates to the unit title:  Ultimate Survival.

How did the unit question allow us to view survival through The Area of Interaction: Environments:(FOR EXAMPLE:  The effects of one environment on another, the roles our environments play in the lives and well-being of humankind, and the effects of our actions, attitudes and constructs, such as sustainable development and conservation.)


What would you have liked to do more of?  Less of? 



In your point of view, how well did we investigate the unit question, concept, and area of interaction?  Include this in your reflection as well and give specific examples to support your opinions.  

Before you write your response, go to www.bubbl.us.com and complete a web of all the related concepts and knowledge you gained throughout this unit and paste a jpg image to your blog post.  Then, respond to the above writing prompts using various words from your web. 

  

Food Inc Reflection

After watching Food Inc, what are your impressions of how science of food industry, technology of food industry, and society are interrelated?  

How did the film describe science & technology as a positive or negative impact on society or the environment?  

How do our consumer choices affect what is out on the market and therefore, our own species survival?  

How are we as humans connected to how the Earth is used?  

A few ideas that popped up in conversation throughout the movie were:  

When do we say "no" to more high tech devices and go back to what caused the problem in the first place?  Why are we only into the "HOW" things work and not the "WHY" things don't?  What did this farmer mean? 

What is the difference between natural farming and industrial farming?  Which is better?  Are they both necessary for human survival?  Why or why not? 

If technology and industry have improved so much that we are getting faster, fatter, bigger, and cheaper, how are science and technology held responsible for improving or ruining human health and survival? 

What economic costs, environmental costs, ethical costs, health costs, and cultural costs did you observe while watching the film?   

Finally, state your final thoughts about this film and any changes you see happening in the food industry in the future or even your own eating habits.   

  

Green Plastics Video: Friend or Foe?

ChemMatters - Episode 2: Plastics Go Green from ACS Pressroom on Vimeo.

Watch the video above about "Green" methods for creating plastics.

Use the questions below in writing a reflection of this video on your blog.
When you are finished, check out at least two of your classmates' blogs and make a constructive comment on each. In your comments try to make a comparison between what you and your peers learned from the video.

How are these plastics being developed?

What makes these plastics "green?"

What are some issues with plastics that were mentioned?

How might these green plastics change packaging practices?

Packaging Project Sources

Here are some really good resources:

News about new developments in plastics
http://www.sayersftp.com/webimages/plastics/pdfs/latest.pdf
Types of Plastics
http://greennature.com/article2158.html
Plastics Recycling Information Sheet
http://www.wasteonline.org.uk/resources/InformationSheets/Plastics.htm
Plastics Uses & History Resource
http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869E/CHEM869ELinks/www.plasticsresource.com/plastics_101/uses/uses.html
 Waste Education-Plastic Recycling-EXCELLENT SOURCE
http://www.essex.gov.uk/Environment%20Planning/Recycling-Waste/Waste-Education/Primary-Schools/Documents/Chapter_7_Plastics.pdf
Health Risks of Plastics
 http://www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=102202
Bioplastics
http://ezinearticles.com/?Mega-Packaging-Trends---Traditional-Plastic-Giving-Way-to-Bio-Plastic&id=2034764
Green Plastics History & Uses
http://greenplastics.com/wiki/Welcome_to_Green_Plastics

Plastic Back to Oil!!!

Hey Grade 7's!  I watched this video and it is truly an amazing example of how scientific inventions and technology can solve massive global problems.  I wonder if he could come to our school!  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGGabrorRS8&feature=player_embedded

Human Footprints

After watching the movie:  Human Footprints by National Geographic in class, you will need to write a reflection about your thoughts and opinions in your blog. Use the prompts below to help you.  I look forward to reading your thoughts.  :)

The video spoke a lot about sustainability.  What is sustainability?  Define this in your blog post and give examples of ways that you can lessen your human footprint.  What is a human footprint?  What do you think the video was trying to get across to you? 

Sometimes you will see these terms used:  Human Footprint, Carbon Footprint, and Eco Footprint.  They basically all mean the same thing. 
Visit this website:  http://www.ecovoyageurs.ca/en/page.cgi?stage=footprint/whatmakes

Find out what an Ecological Footprint is.  What does Earth have to do with our footprint?  Find out what makes an Ecological Footprint by clicking on each icon in the circle under:  What Makes an EcoFootprint?  Describe some global impacts that occur because of consumerism.  Now, follow the link below and play the game.

Using the website below, calculate your Eco Footprint and reflect on what you learned about your family behaviors and actions and what type of Footprint you are leaving on the planet.  Write down some ways that you believe you could lessen your footprint. 

 http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences/


Now, go back to the Ecovoyageurs website and click on Earthly Impacts at the top of the page.  Visit both the Global and Personal impacts pages.  Were there any facts that surprised you from the website?  What about from the video we watched in class?  What were some facts that stuck in your head and really made you think about human behavior on our planet? 

Finally, click on You Can Help to get some ideas about what you can do to help lessen the footprint you leave.

***Remember all the things that we consume or use throughout a lifetime, you may be young and just one person, but that all adds up in the end.  What are some changes you and/or your family can make? 

If you'd like to see the website from the video, follow this link:  http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/human-footprint-3224/Overview