Teaching Techniques

What in the World? James G. McGuire

Topic

Environmental health

Lesson Objective

1. Become aware of “Earth Day” and why it was estab-

2. Identify progress made since Earth Day began. 3. Identify major causes of environmental problems. 4. List ways to practice being an environmentalist.

lished.

Assessment Criteria

Students discuss environmental issues and create a list of ways to protect the environment.

Activities and Strategies

At the beginning of class, the teacher divides the students into groups of four-five students, and writes the following dates on the board: January 15, February 14, March 17, May 12, June 16, and November 28. Inform .students that each date represents a recognized holiday for the upcoming year. Each group chooses a recorder to write down the dates. Encourage students to discuss as a group which holiday each date represents. Also, students formulate a one-sentence statement explaining why the holiday was established.

Following a brief discussion of the holidays, the teacher writes April 22 on the board and asks each group to discuss what this date represents each year.

After students have discussed this date, each group is ~~ ~~

James G. McGuire, PhD, CHES, Assistant Professor, West Georgia College, Dept. of Physicaf Education and Recreation, Carrollton. GA 30118. This article was submitted January 22, 1996, and accepted for publication March 4, 1996.

asked what they believe the date represents. If students are unable to answer, write the words Earth Day on the board. Indicate that, in 1970, this day was first recog- nized as a time for Americans to demonstrate their support for saving the American environment.

Provide background information on Earth Day: The first Earth Day was held April 22, 1970. This event was the first nationally recognized day for Americans to collectively acknowledge that the environment was in danger and a concerted effort was necessary to ensure environmental protection. This also was the year the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was organized. Since the fmt Earth Day in 1970, the U.S. Congress has enacted more than 40 major federal environ- mental laws that focus on a variety of issues includ- ing clean air, clean water, energy conservation, eliminating hazardous waste, and developing or expanding national parks and wilderness areas. Note the following specific points to show the progress made since Earth Day began in 1970: 1) lead has been banned in gasoline, 2) several dangerous pesticides have been banned, 3) environmental groups have closed numerous

4) automobiles now have standards for fuel econ-

5) standards have been set for air and water quality, 6) recycling now is becoming a household habit,

7) government regulations are set for disposal of

Approximately 80% of Americans consider them- selves environmentalists, defined as a person who works toward protecting the natural environment.

Ask each group to discuss why environmental prob- lems exist. Have each group identify three major threats to the environment and how each contributes to environ- mental problems.

After a discussion of the major threats as perceived by students, note that most environmental problems exist because of three reasons:

First and foremost, environmental problems result from population growth. As more people inhabit the earth, there will be more food required, more energy required, and more waste and pollution produced. Ask students to discuss as groups how they believe food will be provided, how energy needs will be

unsafe garbage dumps across the nation,

omy and pollution,

and

industrial waste .

Journal of School Health May 1996, Vol. 66, No. 5 191

met, and how waste will be disposed. Allow time for the groups to discuss the options. The teacher then leads a class discussion, including such facts as: 1) the world population currently is about 5.5

billion and by the year 2050, the world popula- tion will be more than 10 billion; the world’s population increases by 90 million people each

2) the U . S . population currently is about 260 million,

3) to control world population, family planning will be a necessity, especially in developing coun- tries,

4) nuclear power will be needed to meet the increas- ing demand for energy,

5) Incinerators will be needed to dispose of solid waste,

6) Recycling must become more prevalent, and 7) People must become more educated regarding

energy conservation and potential threats to the environment.

The second cause of environmental problems is manmade pollutants. Coal-burning electrical plants, automobile emissions, farm and industrial waste, and pesticidesherbicides are the primary causes of land, water, and air pollution. Students discuss how each contributes to environmental problems. The teacher leads a class discussion, including such facts and options as:

1) Electrical plants produce sulfur dioxide and motor vehicles produce nitrous oxides, both toxic to plants and humans and contribute to water, air, and soil pollution.

2) Farm and industrial waste, as well as pesticides, are leading causes of soil and water pollution.

3) High levels of solid waste fill each new landfill within a few years, thus contaminating land and underground water.

4) Automobile manufacturers and electrical plants must establish methods to restrict pollutants from reaching the air.

5) Pesticides must be monitored closely to ensure safety to humans, animals, and plants.

The third cause of environmental problems is tech- nological advances. As a culture, we constantly are developing ways to simplify life. More potent chemicals, more clear-cutting of forests, more high- ways, more houses and stores built, and more indus- try all serve to deplete resources and create more pollutants. Students discuss as groups any techno- logical advances they believe are unnecessary or extreme. The teacher leads a discussion including such facts and options as:

year,

1) Many forests, including rain forests, are clear-cut to make pastures for cattle, which become meat for fast food restaurants.

2) Shopping malls and quick-stop food stoplgas stations rapidly are claiming any available space.

3) As the population increases, more homes and roads will be required.

4) Fast food restaurants create a large portion of the solid waste in this country, primarily from the packaging which is used less than five minutes.

5) More advanced medical and industrial equipment will require more energy and may produce more detrimental health and environmental effects.

6) Recycling must become more prevalent. 7) Further education regarding land clearing and

Following a discussion, each group of students creates a list of 10 ways they personally can prac- tice being an environmentalist. This project may be an outside assignment. Examples include recycling, repair leaky faucets, limiting water use when wash- ing dishes or brushing teeth, use dishcloths rather than paper towels, purchase products in larger sizes, turn off lights when not needed, use phosphate-free laundry detergent, run dishwasher only when full, eat more fresh (unprocessed) foods, replace conven- tional shower-head with water-conserving model, pull weeds by hand instead of using chemicals, clean filters in air conditioners on a regular basis, open blinds and curtains for daylight hours during winter months, and keep car tuned. As an optional approach, assign each group an outside assignment to investigate various issues mentioned throughout the lesson, such as water pollution, industrial waste, etc.

new pollutants must occur.

Grade level and Subject Area

Grades 7-9/Health or social studies

Resources and Materials

References Browner CM. The earth is in your hands. EPA J. 1995;21(1):4-7. Mullen KD, Gold RS, Belcastro PA, McDermott RJ. Connections

Nelson G . Earth day 25 years later. EPA J . 1995;21(1):9-10. Payne W, Hahn D. Understanding Your Health, 4th ed. St Louis,

for Health. 3rd ed. Madison, Wisc: Brown and Benchmark; 1993.

Mo: CV Mosby; 1995.

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