The interconnection of our planet and our acceleration of energy use has brought with it plenty of challenges. Today Alphonse the camel will be here to help us identify the biggest problems facing humanity today.
Driving Question: What are the most pressing global problems today?
- In this course, we’ve learned about a number of human impacts on the planet. Especially since the planet became interconnected, those changes have accelerated. Humans are changing the biosphere in dramatic and unprecedented ways. How will future generations be affected by ocean pollution, climate change, the increasing frequency of natural disasters, acidification of the oceans, loss of biodiversity, and desertification?
Word of the Day: Climate Change
- Definition: An alteration in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change from the mid to late 20th century onwards.
- Climate refers to the long-term weather patterns that prevail in an area. The changes we’re seeing in climate today are largely attributed to increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels. Climate change is one example of a problem we face today that will certainly affect future generations.
Lesson
- Go to Khan Academy and do the activity Visions of the Future.
- In this activity, you’ll identify a problem affecting the world and predict a vision of the future based on what you know about that problem and the history of the Universe. What should we be doing about this problem now? How will it affect the people of the future 25 years and 100 years from now?
Historian’s Journal Prompt
- What is the most concerning problem affecting your local community today?
- Today we examined global issues, those problems that affect everyone on the planet. However, we know there are also other pressing needs in our local communities. As you read your local news sources and talk with members of your community, what do you think is a problem in your community? Maybe it’s keeping the local food pantry stocked with supplies. Or perhaps flooding has displaced people. Collect as much information as you can about this problem. We’re going to use it in our final historian’s journal reflection at the end of the week!
