Background On Environmentalism
Ecology is the interrelationship of organisms and their environment. Everything that we do in our daily lives affects this interrelationship. The earth is always changing. Many changes occur naturally like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and droughts. Today people are changing the earth faster than any forces of nature. We have created many problems like landfills, oil spills, and nuclear disasters. All of these changes have caused many environmental hazards to all that inhabit the earth.
Thirty-four years ago marine biologist and writer Rachel Carson changed the course of the environmental movement with her book Silent
Spring.
At the time the book was published people believed that pesticides were the best solution to controlling insect pest. Rachel Carson warned that if DDT and other chemicals found in pesticides continued to be used, they would spread throughout the environment. The pesticides would make ill and kill not only pests but other organisms, including humans. After reading Carson’s book, people who previously had little concern for the environment began to ask questions about the use of pesticides and their effects on humans and environment and related health risks. This began the biggest social movement in United States history, environmentalism. Gaylord Nelson was a U.S senator from Wisconsin who was very concerned about conservation. He proposed a nationwide environmental teach-in on college campuses. People joined in with the students and in 1970 the first Earth Day was celebrated. In 1972 the United States created the Environmental Protection Agency. The Environmental Protection Agency sets limits on the uses of toxic substances, hazardous wastes, and carcinogens.
Science Activity # 1
Develop a glossary.
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Toxic substance-
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hazard-
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hazardous waste-
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carcinogen-
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environmentalism-
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EPA-
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Rachel Carson-
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pesticide-
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Gaylord Nelson-
Schedule a time for the students to visit the school library or public library to locate books and other resources for information on the topics listed above. Have students work in pairs and research the list. Discuss the various sources from which they were able to get information and discuss the results. While at the library, students should get addresses of places to write to obtain the most current information.
Science Activity # 2
Record a weeks worth of visible pollution.
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Step 1—Spread a thin layer of Vaseline on one side of several 3 by 5 index cards.
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Step 2—Place the cards in a variety of places were they will be undisturbed for one week. (windows, outside hung from a branch, in the garage, kitchen, classroom or other area)
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Step 3—At the end of the week collect all the cards and record what you have observed. The result is one weeks worth of visible air pollution of that place. Do this experiment as a class project. Have the students contrast and compare data. What are the most polluted areas, what are the least? Have class discussions on what students think caused the visible pollution. Record the classes’ data in the form of a graph. Share your findings with others.