Weeks 1 & 2 - Introduction, Ecosystems, Symbiotic Relationships, and Human Impacts

3. Lab Preparation

Lesson 3

Introduction: Activity 02 - Lesson 3 Lab Preparation

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY - Observing the Recycling of Nutrients

You will complete this lab later in the module. In order to make sure you will have something to observe you must gather the materials and follow the procedures at this point. You can make your observations over the next couple of weeks. When you reach Lesson 3 you should have all your observations completed and at that time you will have to do some analysis on your data.

OBJECTIVE
Observing nutrient recycling.

MATERIALS REQUIRED

Two clear plastic or glass containers like mayonnaise jars or large peanut butter jars
Sand. Enough to fill each jar at least 1/3 from the bottom. It does not need to be perfectly clean.
Table scraps.
Worms and beetles from the garden (optional)
Two small plants or seeds.

PROCEDURE
Part 1: 1. Fill one jar approximately 1/3 full of sand.

2. Collect table scraps over a few days. Potato peals, apple cores etc. Place them in the jar with the sand. Mix them in with the top layer of sand.

3. You may add some worms and beetles from the garden if it is the right season.
4. Sprinkle a little water on it each day. (Do not add too much water)
5. Observe over at least one week.
6. Record your observations.
Part 2: 1. After the scraps have decomposed. Set up the second jar with sand but no scraps.
2. Place a small 4 inch plant in each jar (or a seed)

3. Sprinkle a little water each day.
4. Observe the plant growth.

Picture and Photos:( For specific picture reference view page source.)
Copyright © 2000-2001 www.arttoday.com, Copyright © 2001 Jeannie Charrois, Copyright © The Essentials Clip Art CD, MaGlas-l.gif, Copyright © 2001, The Object Series 10, Copyright © 2001 Shauna Burke

Lesson 3

Activity 03 - LESSON 3: Human Impacts on the Ecosystem

ACTIVITY A: Human Impacts Over Time

Humans have a history that goes back thousands of years, yet for the most part, our previous ancestors have left only very small traces of their existence. Like us, they required the basic necessities of life - water, food, clothing, shelter. But the amount of waste they created, that was not easily recycled back into the environment, appears to be so small archeologists have a difficult time studying the past. What is different about the materials they used then to the materials we use now?

A little more that a century ago, the population of Edmonton was only 600. At that time there was no need for garbage collection. Nothing of value was thrown away. What could not be re-used, traded, or repaired, was burned as a source of heat for the homes.

As the population and pace of life in Edmonton grew, so did the mounds of household waste, yard refuse, manure, and ashes. In 1892, the first town scavenger was appointed and paid $1.00 a load to collect and haul garbage to the nuisance grounds.

As our lifestyles have changed and the number of people in the area has increased the production of waste has also increased. Each Alberta household produces an average of 800 kilograms of nonrecyclable waste each year. This is more than double the amount of garbage that was produced per household only a century ago. In the past few decades all this waste was simply buried in dumps and city landfills.

Now that the population of Edmonton and surrounding areas is fast approaching 1 million, the management of waste has become serious business. No one wants to have a landfill site created in their neighbourhood, so other means of waste management had to be created. Why has the amount of garbage per household increased over the last century? What inventions or changes in lifestyle have lead to more garbage?

Textbook Readings

Science in Action 7
pages 20 to 23
or
Science Focus 7
page 18 to 23

Exercise 1.3: Human Impacts Over Time

Watch the movie below, "Dealing with waste in the 21st century" then click on the icon to answer the questions.