Unit E Introduction
Completion requirements
Unit E: Introduction to fresh and saltwater systems.
Watch
Watch the following introduction video for Unit E. You will see five questions during the video. Think about the questions, and think about other things you would like to learn as you study fresh and saltwater systems.
Unit E Introduction: Fresh and Saltwater Systems
Figure E.I.1 – Traditional Aboriginal cultures relied on sources of clean fresh water.
Aboriginal cultures in Canada emphasize the relationship between people and their natural environment. Humans depend on other living things for food, clothing, and shelter. All living things depend on healthy water sources to survive. Traditional Aboriginal cultures lived in sustainable ways that protected the environment and its resources for future generations.
Modern Canadians do not always act in ways that protect environmental resources. Fossil fuels, large machines, and factories provide us with energy and materials for products that make our lives more comfortable. However, people sometimes carry out resource extraction and manufacturing in a way that harms water sources. Polluted water can cause sickness and death in living things.
Understanding the role of water in our lives helps us make better decisions around water use. You will learn more about the importance and protection of water as you work through this unit on fresh and saltwater systems.
Figure E.I.2 – Aboriginal cultures understand the importance of water to human well-being.
Figure E.I.3 – The health of the environment can be found in the quality of its water.
Watch More
First Nations Perspectives on Water
In these videos, First Nations people share their perspectives on water and explain the changes they have seen to freshwater environments in Alberta.
In these videos, First Nations people share their perspectives on water and explain the changes they have seen to freshwater environments in Alberta.
Questions to Think About:
- How does water movement affect landscapes and climates?
- How do living things depend on water?
- How can humans monitor and protect water quality?
Words to Think About:
Check the word cloud below. It pictures the important words you will learn in this unit. Likely, you will know many, but check new words or any that seem fuzzy to you! Watch for these words and combinations of these words as you read. When you see them
highlighted, you can click them to learn more about their meanings. You can also visit the course glossary and read definitions for all of these words.
Unit E: Checklist and Key Ideas
Focus On: Fresh and Saltwater Systems
This unit has four sections. Each section has a key idea that will help you learn more about fresh and saltwater systems. As you work through the unit, you will complete five tasks (one at the end of each section and one unit project) that will count for marks.
On the next page is a checklist of the tasks you need to complete for the unit. On the page after that are the key ideas, lesson titles, and key questions for this unit. Note that you can reach these two pages whenever you want by clicking the "Key Ideas" and "Unit Checklist" on the top corner of almost every page in the unit.
This unit has four sections. Each section has a key idea that will help you learn more about fresh and saltwater systems. As you work through the unit, you will complete five tasks (one at the end of each section and one unit project) that will count for marks.
On the next page is a checklist of the tasks you need to complete for the unit. On the page after that are the key ideas, lesson titles, and key questions for this unit. Note that you can reach these two pages whenever you want by clicking the "Key Ideas" and "Unit Checklist" on the top corner of almost every page in the unit.