How Do We Plan to Feed Everyone With Population Increase
Activity 1: Constructing an Argument: Land Management
10 mins
Students will learn how to create a good scientific argument in the context of land management. They will continuously encounter questions that ask them to make a claim, explain their answer, rate their certainty with their answer, and explain that rating.
DIRECTIONS
Tell students that Activity 1 (Constructing an Argument) on the lesson Can We Feed the Growing Population? introduces the structure of the scientific argumentation they will be asked to do in the rest of the lesson. Tell students that Activity 1 will give them practice with analyzing a data set and making a good scientific argument from the evidence. Encourage students to review the questions and example best answers provided in Activity 1 before starting on the current activity.
Activity 2: Using the Land
45 mins
Students explore data showing how humans have changed Earth's land. They examine maps showing the distribution of suitable agricultural land and investigate the effect of human development on agricultural lands.
DIRECTIONS
1. Introduce the concept of land use by looking at global land use history.
Show the A Tale of Two Planets image. (Download the image by clicking on the down arrow in the lower right corner of the media carousel window.) These maps illustrate which land areas have been changed by humans over time. Tell students that humans have changed Earth's landscapes greatly over time. Have students study the evidence of change illustrated on the map models. Then ask:
- Which areas have been changed by humans for the longest period? (Europe, Central America, the Middle East, India, and eastern Asia have been used intensively for thousands of years, along with some areas along the Andes Mountains in South America, northeastern North America, and parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The orange to red coloration on the map shows this.)
- How do you think humans changed the land? (Humans have used the land for farming as well as housing.)
2. Discuss the role of uncertainty in the scientific process.
Tell students that science is a process of learning how the world works and that scientists do not know the "right" answers when they start to investigate a question. Students can see examples of scientists' uncertainty in forecasting crop yields. Show the Projection of Maize Crop Yields in France image from the media carousel above. (Download the image by clicking on the down arrow in the lower right corner of the carousel window.) Tell students that the graphs in this image show the projection of maize crop yields in France over this time period—the average daily precipitation, number of hot days, and yield of maize. The gray line shows the predictions for crop yield based on technological improvements. The pink shading shows the expected yield based on temperature and precipitation influences. The red lines outside the pink shading show the total uncertainty. Ask:
- Does the technology trend (gray line) accurately predict crop yields? (No, the technology trend does not accurately predict crop yields. This is because crop yields are dependent on temperature and precipitation as well as technological improvements.)
- Why do you think the crop models still have uncertainty even after accounting for precipitation and temperature differences year to year? (Student answers will vary. The crop yield could be affected by a pest infestation.)
Tell students they will be asked questions about the certainty of their predictions and that they should think about what scientific data is available as they assess their certainty with their answers. Encourage students to discuss the scientific evidence with each other to better assess their level of certainty with their predictions.
3. Introduce the concept of stocks and flows in a system.
Tell students that materials flow into and out of systems. The flow of the materials over time can change and can be influenced by many different factors and interacting parts.
Scientists think about how one part of the system can affect other parts of the system. Give students a simple example of a stock and flow in a system, as described in the scenario below.
There is a bathtub with water flowing in from the faucet and water leaving through the drain. Ask:
- When the drain is plugged, what happens to the level of water in the bathtub? (The water level will increase because the outflow of water is stopped, but water keeps coming in from the faucet.)
- When the faucet is turned off, what happens to the level of water in the bathtub? (The water level will decrease because the inflow of water is stopped, but the water keeps leaving through the drain.)
- How can the level of water in the bathtub be kept at the same level? (The water in the bathtub can be kept at the same level by making the inflow equal to the outflow. Then the water that comes in through the faucet will be offset by the water that leaves through the drain.)
Tell students they will be following the flow of materials, in this case the amount of topsoil and nutrients, through a system. Let students know they will be exploring some environmental and human factors that contribute to changes in the quality of soil in the modeled system.
4. Implement the Using the Land interactive .
Provide students with the link to the Using the Land interactive. Divide students into groups of two or three, with two being the ideal grouping to allow groups to share a computer workstation. Tell students they will be working through a series of pages of questions related to the data in the interactive. Ask students to work through the interactive in their groups, discussing and responding to questions as they go.
NOTE: You can access the Answer Key for students' questions—and save students' data for online grading—through a free registration on the High-Adventure Science portal page.
Tell students that this is Activity 2 of the Can We Feed the Growing Population? lesson.
5. Discuss the issues.
After students have completed the activity, bring the groups back together and lead a discussion focusing on these questions:
- How have humans changed Earth's natural landscape? (Humans have cut down forests and plowed up prairies for farming and housing. Waterways have been changed for irrigation and to prevent seasonal flooding. Other areas have been less affected by human actions, but there are few places on Earth that have not been affected by human actions.)
- What is a consequence of turning forested land into farmland or residential land? (The forests provide homes for many organisms. Many forest lands are sloped, which may not be good for either farming or housing. Forests provide oxygen, prevent water runoff and erosion, and store carbon dioxide.)
- How has the proportion of agricultural land in the United States changed since 1950? (Agricultural land has decreased. Urban areas have increased, as have special use areas [parks, wilderness areas, defense/industrial lands]).
- Why isn't agricultural land spread evenly around the world? (Agricultural land needs to have good soil, adequate precipitation, and moderate temperature. These features aren't found evenly across Earth.)
Informal Assessment
1. Check students' comprehension by asking them the following questions:
- Has agricultural production kept pace with human population growth in areas around the world?
- What are some consequences of turning agricultural land into suburbs or cities?
- What are some consequences of turning forested land into farmland, suburbs, or cities?
- Why isn't all land equally suitable for agricultural uses?
2. Use the answer key to check students' answers on embedded assessments.
Activity 3: Preserving Soils
45 mins
Students explore a map showing cropland density around the world. They discover how soil is formed and explore how plants get nutrients from topsoil. Finally, they use computational models to explore how wind, water, and plants affect soil quality.
DIRECTIONS
1. Spark students' thinking about preserving soils.
Tell students that plants get most of their nutrients through their roots, which grow in soil. Ask:
- How can the soil be worn away? (Soil can be eroded by wind and by water.)
- What do you think can prevent soil erosion? (Answers will vary. To prevent erosion, you have to protect the soil from wind and water. This can be done by covering it with plants or rocks. Holding the soil together by covering it and preventing flooding events will prevent soil loss.)
2.Discuss the role of uncertainty in the scientific process.
Tell students that science is a process of learning how the world works and that scientists do not know the "right" answers when they start to investigate a question. Students can see examples of scientists' uncertainty in forecasting crop yields. Show the Projection of Maize Crop Yields in France image from the media carousel above.(Download the image from the media carousel above by clicking on the down arrow in the lower right corner of the image window.)Tell students that these graphs in this image show the projection of maize crop yields in France over this time period—the average daily precipitation, number of hot days, and yield of maize. The gray line shows the predictions for crop yield based on technological improvements. The pink shading shows the expected yield based on temperature and precipitation influences. The red lines outside the pink shading show the total uncertainty. Ask:
- Does the technology trend (gray line) accurately predict crop yields? (No, the technology trend does not adequately predict crop yields. This is because crop yields are dependent on temperature and precipitation as well as technological improvements.)
- Why do you think the crop models still have uncertainty even after accounting for precipitation and temperature differences year to year? (Student answers will vary. The crop yield could be affected by a pest infestation.)
Tell students they will be asked questions about the certainty of their predictions and that they should think about what scientific data is available as they assess their certainty with their answers. Encourage students to discuss the scientific evidence with each other to better assess their level of certainty with their predictions.
3. Introduce the concept of stocks and flows in a system.
Tell students that materials flow into and out of systems. The flow of the materials over time can change and can be influenced by many different factors and interacting parts.
Scientists think about how one part of the system can affect other parts of the system. Give students a simple example of a stock and flow in a system, as described in the scenario below.
There is a bathtub with water flowing in from the faucet and water leaving through the drain. Ask:
- When the drain is plugged, what happens to the level of water in the bathtub? (The water level will increase because the outflow of water is stopped, but water keeps coming in from the faucet.)
- When the faucet is turned off, what happens to the level of water in the bathtub? (The water level will decrease because the inflow of water is stopped, but the water keeps leaving through the drain.)
- How can the level of water in the bathtub be kept at the same level? (The water in the bathtub can be kept at the same level by making the inflow equal to the outflow. Then the water that comes in through the faucet will be offset by the water that leaves through the drain.)
Tell students they will be following the flow of materials, in this case the amount of topsoil and nutrients, through a system. Let students know they will be exploring some environmental and human factors that contribute to changes in the quality of soil in the modeled system.
4. Introduce and discuss the use of computational models.
Introduce the concept of computational models and give students an example of a computational model they may have seen, such as forecasting the weather. Project the NOAA Weather Forecast Model, which provides a good example of a computational model. Tell students that scientists use weather models to predict future conditions based on current information about the energy and moisture in the atmosphere. There are many different types of models. Scientists can use soil models to predict the movement and quality of soil in a region. Let students know that they will be using models of soil movement and quality.
5. Have students launch the Preserving Soils interactive .
Provide students with the link to the Preserving Soils interactive. Divide students into groups of two or three, with two being the ideal grouping to allow groups to share a computer workstation. Tell students they will be working through a series of pages of questions related to the data in the interactive. Ask students to work through the interactive in their groups, discussing and responding to questions as they go.
NOTE: You can access the Answer Key for students' questions—and save students' data for online grading—through a free registration on the High-Adventure Science portal page.
Tell students that this is Activity 3 of the Can We Feed the Growing Population? lesson.
6. Discuss the issues.
After students have completed the activity, bring the groups back together and lead a discussion focusing on these questions:
- Why do plants' roots grow extensively in the topsoil? (The topsoil has the most nutrients. Plants get nutrients through their roots. The topsoil is the best place to get the nutrients.)
- How did you use the model ( Model 2: Landscapes With Plants ) to prevent erosion on a hillside? (Plants reduced the erosion rate on the slope. This is because the plants' roots hold the topsoil together, preventing it from eroding.)
- How does erosion affect plant growth? (Erosion will cause plants to not grow as well. If the soil erodes, the nutrients go with it. If the soil doesn't have enough nutrients, the plants won't grow well. If the plants won't grow well, then more soil will erode because there are few roots to hold the soil together.)
Informal Assessment
1. Check students' comprehension by asking them the following questions:
- What natural processes can result in soil erosion?
- What natural process can prevent or minimize soil erosion?
- Is erosion more likely on a slope or on a flat area? Why?
- How does erosion affect plant growth?
2. Use the answer key to check students' answers on embedded assessments.
Activity 4: Climate and Crop Growth
45 mins
Students explore climate graphs and an interactive computational model to discover the role of temperature and precipitation on the growth of crops. They examine how the extremes of precipitation (drought and flood) affect plant growth and they use maps of average precipitation and temperature to predict which area will be best suited for agricultural production.
DIRECTIONS
1. Engage students in learning about climate and crop growth.
Tell students that plants need water and sunlight to grow. Some plants have long growing seasons while others have shorter growing seasons. Show the Climate Graphs image. (Download the image from the media carousel above by clicking on the down arrow in the lower right corner of the carousel window.)These graphs provide climate information for Quibdó, Colombia; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and El Paso, Texas. Ask:
- Will a crop grow the same in Quibdó, Colombia and Minneapolis, Minnesota? (No, the crops will grow differently. There is no dry season in Quibdó, and the temperature remains warm year-round. The climate in Minneapolis is very different.)
- Would you plant a crop that needs a lot of moisture in El Paso, Texas? (No, a crop that requires a lot of moisture would not do well in El Paso unless there was irrigation. El Paso has a very dry climate.)
2.Discuss the role of uncertainty in the scientific process.
Tell students that science is a process of learning how the world works and that scientists do not know the "right" answers when they start to investigate a question. Tell students that they can see examples of scientists' uncertainty in forecasting crop yields. Show the Projection of Maize Crop Yields in France graphs. (Download the image by clicking on the down arrow in the lower right corner of the carousel window.)Tell students that these graphs show the average daily precipitation, number of hot days, and yield of maize. The gray line shows the predictions for crop yield based on technological improvements. The pink shading shows the expected yield based on temperature and precipitation influences. The total uncertainty is shown by the red lines outside the pink shading. Ask:
- Does the technology trend (gray line) accurately predict crop yields? (No, the technology trend does not adequately predict crop yields. This is because crop yields are dependent on temperature and precipitation as well as technological improvements.)
- Why do you think the crop models still have uncertainty even after accounting for precipitation and temperature differences year to year? (Student answers will vary. The crop yield could be affected by a pest infestation.)
Tell students they will be asked questions about the certainty of their predictions. Let students know that they should think about what scientific data is available as they assess their certainty with their answers. Encourage them to discuss the scientific evidence with each other to better assess their level of certainty with their predictions.
3. Introduce the concept of stocks and flows in a system.
Tell students that materials flow into and out of systems. The flow of the materials over time can change and can be influenced by many different factors and interacting parts.
Scientists think about how one part of the system can affect other parts of the system. Give students a simple example of a stock and flow in a system, as described in the scenario below.
There is a bathtub with water flowing in from the faucet and water leaving through the drain. Ask:
- When the drain is plugged, what happens to the level of water in the bathtub? (The water level will increase because the outflow of water is stopped, but water keeps coming in from the faucet.)
- When the faucet is turned off, what happens to the level of water in the bathtub? (The water level will decrease because the inflow of water is stopped, but the water keeps leaving through the drain.)
- How can the level of water in the bathtub be kept at the same level? (The water in the bathtub can be kept at the same level by making the inflow equal to the outflow. Then the water that comes in through the faucet will be offset by the water that leaves through the drain.)
Tell students they will be following the flow of materials, in this case the amount of topsoil and nutrients, through a system. Let students know they will be exploring some environmental and human factors that contribute to changes in the quality of soil in the modeled system.
4. Introduce and discuss the use of computational models.
Introduce the concept of computational models and give students an example of a computational model they may have seen, such as forecasting the weather. Project theNOAA Weather Forecast Model, which provides a good example of a computational model. Tell students that scientists use weather models to predict future conditions based on current information about the energy and moisture in the atmosphere. There are many different types of models. Scientists can use soil models to predict the movement and quality of soil in a region. Let students know that they will be using models of soil movement and quality.
5. Have students launch the Climate and Crop Growth interactive .
Provide students with the link to the Climate and Crop Growth interactive. Divide students into groups of two or three, with two being the ideal grouping to allow groups to share a computer workstation. Tell students they will be working through a series of pages of questions related to the data in the interactive. Ask students to work through the interactive in their groups, discussing and responding to questions as they go.
NOTE: You can access the Answer Key for students' questions—and save students' data for online grading—through a free registration on the High-Adventure Science portal page.
Tell students that this is Activity 4 of the Can We Feed the Growing Population? lesson.
6. Discuss the issues.
After students have completed the activity, bring the groups back together and lead a discussion focusing on these questions:
- What happens in the model ( Model 3: Landscapes with Climate Controls ) when there is very little precipitation? (The plants don't grow as well as they did when there was more precipitation.)
- If you know the climate of an area, can you predict its ability to grow crops? (If you know the climate of an area, you can start to predict its ability to grow crops, but you cannot accurately predict its ability to grow crops. This is because climate is only one part of growing crops. You also need to have good soil to grow crops. If the climate is suitable, it doesn't mean the soil is suitable.)
- What can farmers do to grow crops even when the weather isn't cooperative? (Farmers can irrigate their fields during dry weather. During wet weather, they can try to drain their fields more quickly so the plants don't drown.)
Informal Assessment
1. Check students' comprehension by asking them the following questions:
- What happens to plant growth if there is not enough precipitation?
- What happens to plant growth if there is too much precipitation?
- What climates are common among agriculturally suitable lands around the world?
2. Use the answer key to check students' answers on embedded assessments
Activity 5: Soil Quality
45 mins
Students explore the conditions that make high-quality soils. Using data from field research and interactive computational models, they determine which farming practices best preserve and increase soil quality.
DIRECTIONS
1. Engage students in learning about soils and crop growth.
Tell students that plants grow better in high-quality soils than in lower-quality soils. Ask:
- Soil quality is a measure of the level of nutrients in soil and its structure. How does plant growth reflect the soil quality?(Plants grow better in high-quality soil because there are more nutrients in it. They grow less well in lower-quality soils because there are not sufficient nutrients.)
- How do you think humans could improve the quality of soils? (Answers will vary. Soil quality can be improved by adding more nutrients, which can be done by composting or leaving more roots in the soil year to year.)
2.Discuss the role of uncertainty in the scientific process.
Tell students that science is a process of learning how the world works and that scientists do not know the "right" answers when they start to investigate a question. Let students know they can see examples of scientists' uncertainty in forecasting crop yields. Show the Projection of Maize Crop Yields in France graphs. (Download the image from the media carousel above by clicking on the down arrow in the lower right corner of the carousel window.)Tell students these graphs show the average daily precipitation, number of hot days, and yield of maize. The gray line shows the predictions for crop yield based on technological improvements. The pink shading shows the expected yield based on temperature and precipitation influences. The total uncertainty is shown by the red lines outside the pink shading. Ask:
- Does the technology trend (gray line) accurately predict crop yields? (No, the technology trend does not adequately predict crop yields. This is because crop yields are dependent on temperature and precipitation as well as technological improvements.)
- Why do you think the crop models still have uncertainty even after accounting for precipitation and temperature differences year to year? (Student answers will vary. The crop yield could be affected by a pest infestation.)
Tell students that they will be asked questions about the certainty of their predictions. Let students know that they should think about what scientific data is available as they assess their certainty with their answers. Encourage them to discuss the scientific evidence with each other to better assess their level of certainty with their predictions.
3. Introduce the concept of stocks and flows in a system.
Tell students that materials flow into and out of systems. The flow of the materials over time can change and can be influenced by many different factors and interacting parts.
Scientists think about how one part of the system can affect other parts of the system. Give students a simple example of a stock and flow in a system, as described in the scenario below.
There is a bathtub with water flowing in from the faucet and water leaving through the drain. Ask:
- When the drain is plugged, what happens to the level of water in the bathtub? (The water level will increase because the outflow of water is stopped, but water keeps coming in from the faucet.)
- When the faucet is turned off, what happens to the level of water in the bathtub? (The water level will decrease because the inflow of water is stopped, but the water keeps leaving through the drain.)
- How can the level of water in the bathtub be kept at the same level? (The water in the bathtub can be kept at the same level by making the inflow equal to the outflow. Then the water that comes in through the faucet will be offset by the water that leaves through the drain.)
Tell students they will be following the flow of materials, in this case the amount of topsoil and nutrients, through a system. Let students know they will be exploring some environmental and human factors that contribute to changes in the quality of soil in the modeled system.
4. Introduce and discuss the use of computational models.
Introduce the concept of computational models and give students an example of a computational model they may have seen, such as forecasting the weather. Project theNOAA Weather Forecast Model, which provides a good example of a computational model. Tell students that scientists use weather models to predict future conditions based on current information about the energy and moisture in the atmosphere. There are many different types of models. Scientists can use soil models to predict the movement and quality of soil in a region. Let students know that they will be using models of soil movement and quality.
5. Have students launch the Soil Quality interactive .
Provide students with the link to the Soil Quality interactive. Divide students into groups of two or three, with two being the ideal grouping to allow groups to share a computer workstation. Tell students they will be working through a series of pages of questions related to the data in the interactive. Ask students to work through the interactive in their groups, discussing and responding to questions as they go.
NOTE: You can access the Answer Key for students' questions—and save students' data for online grading—through a free registration on the High-Adventure Science portal page.
Tell students that this is Activity 5 of the Can We Feed the Growing Population? lesson.
6. Discuss the issues.
After students have completed the activity, bring the groups back together and lead a discussion focusing on these questions:
- In Model 5: Landscape With Soil Quality Measurements, how could you treat the soil to improve its quality? (You can minimally till the soil, leaving roots in the soil year to year. This increases the soil quality.)
- How does constantly tilling the soil decrease its quality? (Lots of tillage breaks up the plant roots. This allows the soil to erode. When the soil erodes, it loses nutrients. That decreases the quality of the soil.)
Why does crop rotation work?(Different plants have different nutrient requirements. If you plant the same type of plant in a field year after year, the nutrients that it requires will be depleted from the soil. If you rotate other crops in, you have diversity in their nutrient requirements. Some plants add nutrients to the soil as they grow; legumes add nitrogen to the soil, for example. Using different crops to fertilize each other leads to less need for inorganic fertilizers.)
Informal Assessment
1. Check students' comprehension by asking them the following questions:
- Why do plants grow better in high-quality soils than in low-quality soils?
- What type of tillage (intensive or conservative) results in better-quality soils? Why?
- How can plants increase soil quality?
- Why does crop rotation increase soil quality?
- What happens to plant growth if there are not enough nutrients in the soil?
- What are the consequences of adding too much fertilizer to plants?
2. Use the answer key to check students' answers on embedded assessments.
Activity 6: Best Practices
45 mins
Students explore the reasons for increased agricultural production and make predictions about future agricultural production. They examine data and investigate field research that is attempting to increase plants' yields without chemical or biological interventions. Students propose land management strategies for different fields.
DIRECTIONS
1. Engage students' interest in learning about agricultural production.
Show the Yields of Cereal Grains from 1961 to 2012 graph image. (Download the image from the media carousel above by clicking on the down arrow in the lower right corner of the carousel window.)Tell students that agricultural yields have increased over the past 50 years. Ask:
- Which area has the highest agricultural production of cereal grains? (North America has the highest yields of cereal grains.)
- Why do you think there are occasional dips in crop yields? (Answers will vary. Yields could drop because the weather was not cooperative or because there were pest infestations.)
Tell students they will explore the factors that led to increased crop yields and be asked to predict whether these increases can continue in the future.
2.Discuss the role of uncertainty in the scientific process.
Tell students that science is a process of learning how the world works and that scientists do not know the "right" answers when they start to investigate a question. Tell students that they can see examples of scientists' uncertainty in forecasting crop yields. Show the Projection of Maize Crop Yields in France graphs. (Download the image by clicking on the down arrow in the lower right corner of the media carousel window.)Tell students that these graphs show the average daily precipitation, number of hot days, and yield of maize. The gray line shows the predictions for crop yield based on technological improvements. The pink shading shows the expected yield based on temperature and precipitation influences. The red lines outside the pink shading show the total uncertainty. Ask:
- Does the technology trend (gray line) accurately predict crop yields? (No, the technology trend does not adequately predict crop yields. This is because crop yields are dependent on temperature and precipitation as well as technological improvements.)
- Why do you think the crop models still have uncertainty even after accounting for precipitation and temperature differe nces year to year? (Student answers will vary. The crop yield could be affected by a pest infestation.)
Tell students they will be asked questions about the certainty of their predictions. Let students know that they should think about what scientific data is available as they assess their certainty with their answers. Encourage them to discuss the scientific evidence with each other to better assess their level of certainty with their predictions.
3. Introduce the concept of stocks and flows in a system.
Tell students that materials flow into and out of systems. The flow of the materials over time can change and can be influenced by many different factors and interacting parts.
Scientists think about how one part of the system can affect other parts of the system. Give students a simple example of a stock and flow in a system, as described in the scenario below.
There is a bathtub with water flowing in from the faucet and water leaving through the drain. Ask:
- When the drain is plugged, what happens to the level of water in the bathtub? (The water level will increase because the outflow of water is stopped, but water keeps coming in from the faucet.)
- When the faucet is turned off, what happens to the level of water in the bathtub? (The water level will decrease because the inflow of water is stopped, but the water keeps leaving through the drain.)
- How can the level of water in the bathtub be kept at the same level? (The water in the bathtub can be kept at the same level by making the inflow equal to the outflow. Then the water that comes in through the faucet will be offset by the water that leaves through the drain.)
Tell students they will be following the flow of materials, in this case the amount of topsoil and nutrients, through a system. Let students know they will be exploring some environmental and human factors that contribute to changes in the quality of soil in the modeled system.
4. Have students launch the Best Practices interactive .
Provide students with the link to the Best Practices interactive. Divide students into groups of two or three, with two being the ideal grouping to allow groups to share a computer workstation. Tell students they will be working through a series of pages of questions related to the data in the interactive. Ask students to work through the interactive in their groups, discussing and responding to questions as they go.
NOTE: You can access the Answer Key for students' questions—and save students' data for online grading—through a free registration on the High-Adventure Science portal page.
Tell students this is Activity 6 of the Can We Feed the Growing Population? lesson.
5. Discuss the issues.
After students have completed the activity, bring the groups back together and lead a discussion focusing on these questions:
- What techniques have been used to increase crop yields around the world? (Different ways of planting crops have increased the yield of rice, as in the System of Rice Intensification project. Scientists have been able to crossbreed crops to create better-yielding crops, and genetic modifications have allowed some crops to be grown without using pesticides. Scientists have developed fertilizers that can help crops grow to their full potential. Farmers use irrigation during dry years to provide enough moisture to their crops.)
- What is the relationship between monocropping and pesticide usage? (When crops are monocropped [a single crop being grown year after year in the same fields] pesticide usage can be high. This is because the pests have a lot of access to a single crop. When the crops are rotated or smaller fields are planted with different crops, the amount of food available to a specific pest is limited. With large fields of the same crop, pests have a feast. To limit the damage caused by pests, pesticides might need to be applied more than they would be in smaller fields with different types of crops.)
- Do you think agricultural production will continue to increase? (Answers will vary. There are many challenges facing agriculture today. Much of the increased yield is due to modern technology, but there may be limits to how much technology can continue to increase crop yields. The technology used in North America might not be applicable to agricultural areas of other regions of the world.)
- Why won't a land management plan from one field be just as good for another field? (Land management plans should differ for different fields because they should be suited to the land, not a one-size-fits-all solution. A field on a hill will need to be planted differently than a flat field. Fields in a very rainy or windy climate will need to be treated differently than fields in drier, less windy climates. The land management plan should focus on preserving the soil and increasing its quality. This means the first focus should be on preventing erosion. The next focus should be on putting more organic material into the soil so it can hold more moisture and be more nutrient-rich. This can be done with different tillage strategies and crop rotation.)
Informal Assessment
1. Check students' comprehension by asking them the following questions:
- How does monocropping lead to increased fertilizer and pesticide usage?
- Compare and contrast different methods of pest control.
2. Use the answer key to check students' answers on embedded assessments.
Subjects & Disciplines
- Earth Science
Objectives
Students will:
- explain why agricultural land is unevenly distributed on Earth's land surfaces
- describe how humans have changed Earth's landscape
- describe how plants prevent or minimize erosion
- describe the relationship between slope and erosion rates
- describe the characteristics of topsoil (soil layer from which plants derive nutrients)
- describe why a plant's growth could be affected by erosion
- describe the role of nutrients in plant growth
- describe how crop rotation can minimize the amount of fertilizer that needs to be added to the field
- describe a farming practice that can increase soil quality and decrease erosion
- describe how genetic modifications can increase crop yields
- describe how monocropping can lead to increased fertilizer and pesticide use
- describe the role of precipitation in plant growth
- describe the role of temperature in plant growth
- explain why different landscapes require different land management plans
- propose a land management strategy for a field, given information on the topography of the field and climate of the area
- create a good scientific argument in the context of land management
- describe some consequences of using land (forests, agricultural land) for other purposes (human development)
Teaching Approach
- Inquiry-based learning
- Learning-for-use
Teaching Methods
- Discussions
- Multimedia instruction
- Self-directed learning
- Self-paced learning
- Visual instruction
- Writing
Skills Summary
This lesson targets the following skills:
- 21st Century Student Outcomes
- Information, Media, and Technology Skills
- Information, Communications, and Technology Literacy
- Learning and Innovation Skills
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Information, Media, and Technology Skills
- 21st Century Themes
- Global Awareness
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Analyzing
- Evaluating
- Understanding
Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices
National Science Education Standards (5-8) Standard A-1: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry (5-8) Standard D-1: Structure of the earth system (5-8) Standard F-1: Personal health (5-8) Standard F-4: Risks and benefits (9-12) Standard A-1: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry (9-12) Standard A-2: Understandings about scientific inquiry (9-12) Standard C-5: Matter, energy, and organization in living systems (9-12) Standard F-1: Personal and community health (9-12) Standard F-2: Population growth (9-12) Standard F-4: Environmental quality (9-12) Standard F-5: Natural and human-induced hazardsCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12: Key Ideas and Details, RST.11-12.3 Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12: Key Ideas and Details, RST.6-8.1 Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12: Key Ideas and Details, RST.6-8.3 Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12: Craft and Structure, RST.6-8.4 Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12: Key Ideas and Details, RST.9-10.1 Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12: Key Ideas and Details, RST.9-10.3 Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12: Craft and Structure, RST.9-10.4 Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12: Key Ideas and Details, RST.11-12.1 Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6-12: Craft and Structure, RST.11-12.4ISTE Standards for Students (ISTE Standards*S) Standard 3: Research and Information Fluency Standard 4: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making Next Generation Science Standards Crosscutting Concept 1: Patterns Crosscutting Concept 2: Cause and effect: Mechanism and prediction Crosscutting Concept 3: Scale, proportion, and quantity Crosscutting Concept 4: Systems and system models Crosscutting Concept 5: Energy and matter: Flows, cycles, and conservation Crosscutting Concept 7: Stability and change Science and Engineering Practice 1: Asking questions and defining problems Science and Engineering Practice 2: Developing and using models Science and Engineering Practice 3: Planning and carrying out investigations Science and Engineering Practice 4: Analyzing and interpreting data Science and Engineering Practice 5: Using mathematics and computational thinking Science and Engineering Practice 6: Constructing explanations and designing solutions Science and Engineering Practice 7: Engaging in argument from evidence Science and Engineering Practice 8: Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.
What You'll Need
Resources Provided
The resources are also available at the top of the page.
Required Technology
- Internet Access: Required
- Internet access: Required
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per learner, 1 computer per pair, 1 computer per small group, Interactive whiteboard, Projector
Physical Space
- Classroom
- Computer lab
- Media Center/Library
Setup
- None
Grouping
- Heterogeneous grouping
- Homogeneous grouping
- Large-group instruction
- Small-group instruction
Accessibility Notes
- None
Background Information
Recommended Prior Lessons
- None
Vocabulary
Noun
the art and science of cultivating land for growing crops (farming) or raising livestock (ranching).
arable
Adjective
land used for, or capable of, producing crops or raising livestock.
Noun
part of the Earth where life exists.
cereal
Noun
type of grain, including wheat.
claim
Verb
to state as the truth.
climate
Noun
all weather conditions for a given location over a period of time.
Noun
agricultural produce.
crop rotation
Noun
the system of changing the type of crop in a field over time, mainly to preserve the productivity of the soil.
Noun
period of greatly reduced precipitation.
Noun
act in which earth is worn away, often by water, wind, or ice.
evidence
Noun
data that can be measured, observed, examined, and analyzed to support a conclusion.
fertilizer
Noun
nutrient-rich chemical substance (natural or manmade) applied to soil to encourage plant growth.
genetic modification
Noun
process of altering the genes of an organism.
land
Noun
solid part of the Earth's surface not covered by water.
land management
Noun
process of balancing the interests of development, resources, and sustainability for a region.
Noun
the geographic features of a region.
model, computational
Noun
a mathematical model that requires extensive computational resources to study the behavior of a complex system by computer simulation.
organic
Adjective
composed of living or once-living material.
potassium
Noun
chemical element with the symbol K.
soil
Noun
top layer of the Earth's surface where plants can grow.
Noun
use of resources in such a manner that they will never be exhausted.
system
Noun
collection of items or organisms that are linked and related, functioning as a whole.
terrain
Noun
topographic features of an area.
topsoil
Noun
the most valuable, upper layer of soil, where most nutrients are found.
Tips & Modifications
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/lesson/can-we-feed-growing-population/?utm_source=BibblioRCM_Row
0 Response to "How Do We Plan to Feed Everyone With Population Increase"
Post a Comment