Natural Resources
Grade 7 Geography - Unit 2
Grade 7 Geography - Unit 2
Pick one of the topics below, and explain the interrelationships between the location/accessibility, mode of extraction/harvesting, and the use:
Pick one of the topics below and describe the extraction/harvesting method used there, including its sustainability:
Pick one the stakeholders below and assess their efforts in helping to preserve natural resources:
non-governmental organizations [NGOs] such as Friends of the Earth International, Rainforest Alliance, or the Nature Conservancy
different national governments
Create a personal plan of action outlining how you can contribute to more sustainable natural resource extraction/harvesting and/or use. For example:
a plan to use Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood or reclaimed lumber in a construction project
to reduce energy use in their home or school
to publicize more sustainable approaches to extraction/harvesting
to reduce personal consumption of consumer goods
Pick a situation from the list below, and devise high-level inquiry questions (using the bottom right hand corner of the Question Matrix - see below) that would guide investigations into your situation:
the social, economic, political, and environmental impact of overfishing
the economic, social, and environmental impact of deforestation and the adequacy of reforestation programs
the social and economic impact on Indigenous people of resource extraction in their traditional territories
the economic, political, and environmental impact of developments in the alternative energy sector
the economic, political, and environmental impact of using fossil fuels
Continuing with the same situation you picked in the task above, gather and organize information about the impact of your situation on the physical environment, ensuring your research reflects at least two different perspectives. For example:
satellite imagery showing the area flooded after the construction of a hydroelectric dam and data on the amount of hydroelectricity generated
news stories on the positions of various countries and/or NGOs with respect to the environmental and economic impact of ocean fishing or whaling
documentaries and government data on the impact of climate change; information on the impact of resource extraction from indigenous people in the area and employment data from the corporation(s) involved
Continuing with the same situation you have been working with for the last several tasks, create a map showing the spatial boundaries of your situation. For example:
thematic map to determine the extent of clear-cutting and reforestation
location map to show the spread of the emerald ash borer in American forests;
thematic or annotated map to show the short- and long-term impact of a resource industry on a local ecosystem
Continuing with the same situation you have been working with for the last several tasks, interpret and analyze information and evidence relevant to your investigation. For example:
extract information from graphs and diagrams on declining fish stocks and their impact on various regions
interpret photographs or other images to determine how mining has affected an area
analyse data to determine the economic and environmental impact of resource extraction and/or processing in a community
use a computer-based geographic tool to determine changes in rivers, lakes, and/or aquifers as a result of agricultural irrigation or commercial use of water
Continuing with the same situation you have been working with for the last several tasks, evaluate evidence and draw conclusions about the differing perspectives on your situation.
Continuing with the same situation you have been working with for the last several tasks, communicate the results of your inquiry using appropriate vocabulary (non-renewable, renewable, flow resources, extraction, sustainability, deforestation, fossil fuels, aquifer) in an appropriate format. For example:
an essay on the impact of water use, concluding with a plan of action to preserve the world’s fresh water
a thematic or annotated map showing the extent of damage to a water system from mine tailings (consider using Google My Maps)
a fictionalized narrative about a person or animal affected by a natural resource extraction processes
a web page that includes links to sites providing varying opinions on the development of alternative energy (consider using Google Sites)
a public service announcement educating people about the economic and environmental impact of invasive species (consider using We Video)
Identify Earth's resources and explain their relationship to Earth's physical features:
Renewable Resources (trees, fish, soil, plants)
Non-Renewable Resources (fossil fuels, metalic minerals)
Flow Resources (solar, running water, ocean currents, tides, wind)
What are Natural Resources used for?
Rock quarries to make building materials and roads
Trees to make building materials, furniture, paper, and fuel to burn
Fossil fuels for heating and cooling, energy production, fuel vehicles, and create plastic
Water for drinking, irrigation, energy production, and cooling nuclear reactors
Animals for food, clothing, and recreation
Natural environment for living off the land, relaxation, education, and recreation
Pick on of the following topics and describe significant short- and long-term effects on people and the environment:
deforestation
desertification
smog
acid rain
climate change
soil contamination
habitat destruction
flooding
Pick one of the stakeholder groups below, and describe their perspective on the use of the natural environment to meet human needs:
traditional Indigenous community
environmental organization
multinational mining or forestry corporation
residents of a resource town
Describe the responses to social and/or environmental challenges arising from the use of natural resources listed below:
increased use of wind, solar, or tidal energy
reduced consumption
promotion of energy saving strategies (such as thr use of energy-efficient appliances)
promotion of fair trade
marketing of “ethical” products such as “ethical oil” or “ethical diamonds”
boycotting less sustainable resources or companies using unsustainable practices
Extract information from, analyze, and construct Geographic Information Systems (GIS) relating to natural resources. For example:
determine the location of oil refineries and their proximity to population centres and agricultural land
show areas of deforestation and current land use on previously forested land