8th Grade Science Guide

8.4 Natural Resources 3 Dimensions & Progressions

Unit 4

STANDARD ● 8.4.2 Engage in argument supported by evidence about the effect of per capita consumption of natural resources on Earth’s systems. Emphasize that these resources are limited and may be non renewable. Examples of evidence include rates of consumption of food and natural resources such as freshwater, minerals, and energy sources. (MS-ESS3-3) ● 8.4.3 Design a solution to monitor or mitigate the potential effects of the use of natural resources. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well each solution meets the criteria and constraints of the problem. Examples of uses of the natural environment could include agriculture, conservation efforts, recreation, solar energy, and water management. (MS-ESS3-3)

CONCEPTS

SKILLS

● Consumption of natural resources on Earth’s systems ● Monitor or mitigate ● Effects of the use of natural resources

● Engage in Argument ● Design a solution

LEARNING PROGRESSIONS

● Humans depend on Earth’s land, ocean, atmosphere and biosphere for resources. ● As human population increases, consumption of natural resources increase. ● Typically, when natural resource use increases, so do the negative impacts on Earth. ● Design a solution to monitor or mitigate potential effects of natural resources.

VOCABULARY

● Natural Resource ● Distribution ● Per-capita

● Human consumption ● Resource Limitation

POSSIBLE PHENOMENA ● The average American eats 12,129 hamburgers in a lifetime. ● Per capita, the people in the United States and Australia use more fossil fuels for energy than the people in China, India, Canada, or France. ● Copper is used in solar panels, smart phones, and other devices. As more applications for copper are found, consumption increases. ● By 2025, two-thirds of the world's population may be facing water shortages. ● The amount or quality of water in the local watershed is declining (fnd a local example; e.g., the amount of water fowing into Great Salt Lake is reduced as more water is taken from the Bear River). ● Our school uses energy for lighting, heating, cooling, etc. (students can research and identify energy consumption issues at the school to defne the specifc problem that needs to be monitored or mitigated).