Lesson Purpose
As you learned in Unit 5, the biosphere is not static. The biosphere changes as a result of astronomical, geological, and biological influences. The dinosaurs, for example, became extinct as a result of an astronomical event - the effects of an asteroid impact on Earth. Every species impacts the biosphere, though the extent of that impact can vary dramatically. The impact of humans has changed over time. The impact of foragers was not dramatic, but these early humans did have the ability to destroy flora and fauna and cause fires in different parts of the Earth. Agriculture, and later the modern revolution, significantly increased the impact of humans on the biosphere. The acceleration of the last 100 years has seen an acceleration of these human impacts on the biosphere. What are the most significant of these impacts and what should humans be doing about them?
The outcomes of this lesson are: 1.) To identify important human and environmental issues that affect the future of our species and the biosphere.
The outcomes of this lesson are: 1.) To identify important human and environmental issues that affect the future of our species and the biosphere.
Activity 1 - Natural Disasters
Activity Objectives
Humans have been subject to the impact of natural disasters for as long as they have been on Earth. Disasters, unfortunately, are happening all the time. They are typically the result of a variety of factors, which begs the question, are these “natural” disasters really natural, or are they a result of something else? This activity is designed to get you to think about the variety of reasons why natural disasters occur. Activity Tasks
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Activity 2 - Globalisation II: Good or Bad? - Crash Course
Globalization is a process whose impact continues to accelerate. Keeping pace with the changes brought about by globalization will require humans to use their ability for collective learning to innovate and address biospheric changes in the future.
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Activity Objectives
This video is meant to get you thinking about globalization and whether or not this process has benefited society in general. Since you are living in the middle of the globalization process, it can be difficult to determine how everything will end up in the future, but the ideas and evidence provided here will help you think more carefully about the positive and negative effects of globalization. Activity Tasks
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Activity 3 - The Atmosphere and Climate
Activity Objectives
In this video, you are asked to think about the changing impact of humans on the Earth’s climate and how this impact has accelerated in the modern era. Activity Tasks
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The impact of the Industrial Revolution on accelerating the growth of population and innovation in commerce and trade is hard to argue against. The impact of the Industrial Revolution on climate is real, and many populations across the world are already experiencing the negative effects of climate change
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Activity 4 - Jacqueline Howard Presents: A Day on Mars
Life on Mars would require quite an adjustment from that on Earth. After a five to ten month journey, inhabitants would have to brave harsh conditions created by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, high winds, and low temperatures. These conditions result from a lack of atmospheric protection surrounding the planet. Communication back to Earth would be difficult due to the vast distances between the two planets. All aspects would not be negative, however: less gravity would make you a better leaper, and two moons would fill the sky at night!
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Activity Objectives
This video helps you gain an understanding of what the conditions are like on Mars and what life on the red planet might be like if humans attempt to colonize it in the future. Activity Tasks
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Activity 5 - Gapminder Card Sort
Activity Objectives
This activity compels you to think about gaps that exist in today’s world, and should help challenge preconceived ideas about what the world is really like today. Activity Tasks
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Activity 6 - Visions of the Future
Activity Objectives
You will identify a problem affecting the world at large, and will then predict a vision of the future based on this problem and what you now know about the history of the Universe. This activity also allows you to think about how much your thinking has changed during the Big History course, since you completed this activity in the first lesson of Unit 1. Activity Tasks
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Challenge Yourself! - Optional Activities
1. “A billion hours ago, human life appeared on earth. A billion minutes ago, Christianity emerged. A billion seconds ago, the Beatles changed music. A billion Coca-Colas ago was yesterday morning." --Robert Goizueta, chief executive of the Coca-Cola Company, April 1997
2. What does the World Meteorological Organization project for the future of weather, climate, and water?
3. You can participate in a huge, distributed computing project to help model climate data by doing… pretty much nothing. Learn how here!
4. Four minutes of eye-popping economic and lifespan statistics for 200 countries over 200 years.
2. What does the World Meteorological Organization project for the future of weather, climate, and water?
3. You can participate in a huge, distributed computing project to help model climate data by doing… pretty much nothing. Learn how here!
4. Four minutes of eye-popping economic and lifespan statistics for 200 countries over 200 years.