Man and the Environment: Positive and Negative Effects Social Studies JSS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 9
Subject: Social Studies
Class: JSS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 9
Age: 11-12 years
Topic: Influence of Man on the Environment
Sub-topic: Effects of Human Activities on the Environment
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- Define the environment.
- Identify how human activities affect the environment.
- List positive and negative effects of human activities on the environment.
- Suggest ways humans can reduce their negative impact on the environment.
Keywords:
- Environment
- Pollution
- Deforestation
- Conservation
- Sustainability
Set Induction:
The teacher asks students to share examples of changes they’ve noticed in their surroundings, such as construction or tree cutting, and how these changes make them feel.
Entry Behaviour:
Students have basic knowledge of the environment and its resources from previous lessons.
Learning Resources and Materials:
- Lagos State Scheme of Work
- Posters showing human activities and environmental impact
- Video clips on deforestation, pollution, and conservation efforts
Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:
In previous lessons, students learned about resources in the environment and their uses. This lesson focuses on how human activities impact the environment, both positively and negatively.
Embedded Core Skills:
- Critical thinking
- Environmental awareness
- Problem-solving
Learning Materials:
- Social Studies textbook
- Images of environmental changes caused by human activities
Reference Books:
- Lagos State Scheme of Work
- Social Studies Textbook for JSS 1
Instructional Materials:
- Posters illustrating deforestation, pollution, and conservation
- Case studies on how human activities affect the environment
Content:
1. Definition of Environment:
The environment refers to everything around us, including air, water, land, plants, animals, and humans. It is the surroundings where people, animals, and plants live.
2. Human Activities that Affect the Environment:
- Farming: Clearing land for agriculture leads to deforestation.
- Construction: Building roads, homes, and industries can lead to habitat loss.
- Pollution: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, dumping waste, and using chemicals can pollute air, water, and land.
- Mining: Extracting minerals from the earth can lead to soil erosion and water pollution.
- Overhunting and Overfishing: These activities can lead to the extinction of animals and plants.
3. Positive Effects of Human Activities on the Environment:
- Conservation Efforts: People create national parks and reserves to protect wildlife.
- Reforestation: Planting trees helps restore forests.
- Recycling: Reducing waste through recycling helps protect the environment.
- Renewable Energy: Using solar and wind energy reduces pollution.
4. Negative Effects of Human Activities on the Environment:
- Deforestation: Cutting down trees leads to loss of forests, affecting biodiversity.
- Pollution: Air, water, and soil pollution harm animals and plants.
- Climate Change: Human activities that release greenhouse gases cause global warming.
- Soil Erosion: Deforestation and poor farming practices lead to the washing away of topsoil.
5. Ways to Reduce Negative Impact:
- Plant Trees: Planting more trees helps reduce deforestation.
- Reduce Waste: Recycling and reducing waste helps reduce pollution.
- Use Renewable Energy: Solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy reduce the burning of fossil fuels.
- Conserve Water: Avoid wasting water and protect water bodies from pollution.
Evaluation (Fill-in-the-Blank Questions):
- The _______ refers to everything around us, including air, water, and land.
a) environment
b) world
c) ecosystem
d) land - _______ is the cutting down of trees for farming or construction.
a) Pollution
b) Reforestation
c) Conservation
d) Deforestation - Human activities such as _______ can cause air pollution.
a) planting trees
b) burning fossil fuels
c) walking
d) recycling - A positive effect of human activities on the environment is _______.
a) reforestation
b) mining
c) deforestation
d) pollution - The use of _______ energy can help reduce pollution.
a) fossil fuel
b) renewable
c) coal
d) nuclear - Cutting down trees can lead to _______.
a) clean air
b) biodiversity
c) deforestation
d) reforestation - One of the ways to reduce the negative impact on the environment is to _______.
a) pollute rivers
b) plant trees
c) waste water
d) burn plastic - _______ helps protect wildlife by keeping land undeveloped.
a) Conservation
b) Mining
c) Deforestation
d) Construction - Human activities like overfishing can lead to the _______ of some species.
a) growth
b) extinction
c) birth
d) reproduction - A harmful effect of mining is _______.
a) water pollution
b) conservation
c) tree planting
d) recycling
Class Activity Discussion (FAQs):
- What is the environment?
The environment is everything around us, including air, water, land, plants, and animals. - How does farming affect the environment?
Farming can lead to deforestation when trees are cut down to create space for crops. - What is pollution?
Pollution is the contamination of air, water, or land by harmful substances from human activities. - Can human activities have positive effects on the environment?
Yes, activities like reforestation and recycling can help protect the environment. - How does deforestation harm the environment?
Deforestation destroys forests, which leads to loss of animal habitats and increases soil erosion. - What can humans do to reduce pollution?
Humans can reduce pollution by recycling, using renewable energy, and planting trees. - What is climate change, and how are humans contributing to it?
Climate change is the long-term change in temperature and weather patterns, caused by the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. - How does mining affect the environment?
Mining can cause soil erosion and water pollution, harming the environment. - Why is conserving water important?
Conserving water helps protect water sources and ensures that future generations have access to clean water. - What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy is energy from natural sources like the sun, wind, and water, which do not harm the environment.
Presentation:
Step 1: The teacher revises the previous topic, “Conflict Within Social Groups: Causes, Effects, and Resolution Steps.”
Step 2: The teacher introduces the new topic by defining the environment and discussing how human activities impact it, both positively and negatively.
Step 3: The teacher encourages students to share examples of how they have seen human activities affecting their environment and suggests ways to reduce negative impacts.
Teacher’s Activities:
- Defines the environment and human impact.
- Explains both the positive and negative effects of human activities on the environment.
- Discusses ways to reduce human impact on the environment.
Learners’ Activities:
- Participate in discussions on the influence of human activities on the environment.
- Identify examples of human activities affecting their environment.
- Suggest ways to reduce negative environmental impacts.
Assessment:
- Define the environment.
- Mention two ways human activities affect the environment.
- List two positive effects of human activities on the environment.
- Explain one negative effect of deforestation.
- How can humans reduce pollution?
Evaluation Questions:
- What is the environment?
- Name two human activities that negatively affect the environment.
- How does deforestation lead to soil erosion?
- Mention one positive effect of reforestation.
- What is pollution?
- List two ways humans can reduce their negative impact on the environment.
- Why is renewable energy important?
- How does mining cause water pollution?
- What can humans do to protect animal habitats?
- How can recycling help reduce waste?
Conclusion:
The teacher goes around to mark students’ work and emphasizes the importance of reducing human impact on the environment for a better future.