Changing environments: waste creation and pollution | Science

Starter quiz

The ______ is the surroundings of a living thing, including other plants or animals and the conditions they live in.

'environment' ✓
Match the living thing to the environment you may find it in .

tadpole

⇔

pond ✓

rabbit

⇔

field ✓

seaweed

⇔

sea ✓

worm

⇔

soil ✓
Which of these are requirements that all living things need to survive?

house

air ✓

shoes

water ✓

nutrients ✓
Match the negative impact to its description.

Deforestation occurs when

⇔

humans clear land of trees and use it for another purpose. ✓

Urbanisation occurs when

⇔

humans build more cities to live in. ✓

Natural disasters occur

⇔

when extreme events like flooding and earthquakes cause damage. ✓
Put these different populations in order from largest to smallest.

1

⇔

1 million people

2

⇔

500 000 thousand ants

3

⇔

20 000 oak trees

4

⇔

1 000 children

5

⇔

350 rabbits

6

⇔

30 dolphins
True or false? Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment.

True ✓
False

Exit quiz

The ______ of something is the effect it has.

'impact' ✓
Which of these human actions can have a negative impact on an environment?

picking up litter in the playground

throwing away objects after they have been used once ✓

releasing harmful gases into the air ✓

putting up bird boxes in the garden

using single-use plastic to create a shopping bag ✓
______ populations create greater amounts of waste and pollution.

Larger ✓

Smaller

Louder
Which of these can contribute to pollution in the environment?

The cars we drive ✓

The products we use. ✓

The amount we sleep.
Which of these changes could humans carry out to help to reduce waste and pollution?

compost leftover food ✓

use recyclable plastics ✓

leave the tap running when cleaning teeth

always travel by car
Which of these changes could people working in industry carry out to help reduce waste and pollution?

build more factories

use more gas and coal to fuel their factories

use alternative fuels to gas and coal, like solar and wind power ✓

use recyclable materials in their products and packaging ✓

Worksheet

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Video

Lesson Details

Key learning points

Environments can change in a negative way as a result of the actions of humans.
Larger populations can create greater amounts of waste and pollution.
The cars we drive, the products we use and the crops we eat can all contribute to pollution in the environment.
Individuals can change the way they live to reduce the impact of waste creation and pollution on the environment.
Industries can change the way they work to help create less waste and pollution.

Common misconception

Some pupils may not understand the impact of an increased human population on plants and animals.

Discuss, using examples on the slide deck, all the repercussions of increased population. If possible, include an example relevant to their location to help them see it first hand.

Keywords

Environment - An environment is the surroundings of a living thing, including other plants and animals and the conditions they live in.
Impact - The impact of something is the effect it has.
Waste - Waste is any material or substance that is no longer needed or usable which is generated as a result of human activities.
Pollution - Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment.
Industry - Industry is the companies and activities involved in the process of producing goods for sale, especially in a factory.