Thursday, Feb.
st
21
Today’s Schedule:
Turn in Bellringer Questions for Bellringer
Check 5 and any late work
Turn in Unit 7 Study Guide (all stapled
together)
due today, will not be accepted late (homework
grade)
Turn in Extra Credit (all stapled together)
Take Unit 7: Water Exam
Start working on Unit 8: Land Vocab & menu
option
Friday, Feb.
nd
22
No Bellringer Question
Today’s Schedule:
Video clip for Midway Journey documentary
Continue working on Unit 8: Land Vocab &
menu option – DUE Tuesday, Feb. 26th
 As you work, I will let you know your exam grade
Unit 8: Land
Vocab

•Don’t forget to do a NEW Vocab Menu Option!
•Once you’re done with the definition & menu option bring up
(1) work to be graded, and (2) menu option to be star-punched
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Biological control
Desertification
Lithosphere
Malnutrition
Organic farming
Pesticide
Soil
8. Soil conservation
9. Soil erosion
10.Soil profile
11.Sustainable agriculture
12.Terracing
13.Windbreak
Monday, Feb. 25th
Bellringer: The ground & rock portion
of our biosphere is called the
___________.
Today’s Schedule:
Soil article & questions
Essential Question: How do we
use, affect, & protect our land?
Land: Use & Development

Topics in this Unit:
Crops & Soil
Feeding the World
Animals & Agriculture
Land Use & Urbanization
Land Management & Conservation
Crops & Soil

Arable land: land that can be used to grow
crops
Only ~10% of Earth’s surface is arable land
Crops & Soil
Soil: a mixture of weathered rock & organic matter
Soil forms when:
 Rock is broken down into smaller & smaller pieces
by wind, water, & chemical weathering
 Burrowing animals circulate air & water through soil
& mix the minerals
Crops & Soil
 Soil has layers aka horizons:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Organic layer: known as O horizon
Topsoil: surface layer that is
composed of living organisms, rock
particles, water, air, & lots of
organic matter; known as A horizon
Subsoil: layer under topsoil that has
larger rock particles with organic
matter & inorganic compounds;
known as B horizon
Parent material: material from
which soil forms; made of broken
up bedrock; known as C horizon
Crops & Soil
 Soil is classified into 3 main categories based on structure,
permeability, & resistance to pressure:
1. Clay: thick; not permeable; small grain size (0.002mm)
2. Sand: large to small grains (2.0-0.05mm); permeable
3. Silt: small grain size (0.002mm)
 Soil is described by which category it’s made of:
 Loam: soil made of near equal mix of clay, silt & sand
Textural Triangle Activity
ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER!

 Read clay left
to right
 Read silt top
right to
bottom left
 Read sand
bottom right
to top left
 Look where
lines intersect
Thursday, Feb.
th
28
Reminders:
Assignments in this unit so far:
 Unit 8 Vocab
 Soil article questions
 Textural Triangle worksheet
Bellringer: ______ is soil with equal
amounts of sand, silt, & clay.
Today’s Schedule:
 Turn in Textural Triangle worksheet
 Soil Problem Notes (7 slides)
 Begin watching Food, Inc.
Soil:
Problems & Solutions

“ A nation that destroys its soil destroys
itself.” – F. D. Roosevelt
Soil: Problems

Soil erosion: loss of soil by
wind & water
 In US, ~50% of original topsoil has
been lost to erosion in past 200
years
 Crops cannot grow without topsoil
 Methods that increase erosion:
 Plowing
 Continuous monoculture
cropping
Soil: Problems
Erosion can lead
to Desertification:
process by which
arid (dry) land
becomes more
desert-like
 Due to poor crop
rotation &/or
overgrazing

Soil: Problems

Salinization:
accumulation of salts in
soil
 Soil can become too
salty for plants to grow
 Caused by irrigation from
“saltier” water  water
evaporates & leaves salts behind
 Especially bad in western US
where there’s low rainfall
Soil: Solutions
Practices to prevent
erosion:

1. Soil-retaining terraces
2. Contour plowing – plowing
across the slope of a hill
instead of up & down
3. Windbreaks
4. Drip irrigation
5. No-till farming - crops are
harvested without turning
over the soil
Crops:
Problems & Solutions

Crops: Problems

Pest: any organism that
occurs where not
wanted &/or causes
economic damage
 Includes plants, fungi,
bacteria, insects, viruses
 In North America, insects eat
13% of crops
 Worldwide, pests destroy ~33%
of food crops
Crops: Problems

Pesticide: chemicals used to
kill insects, weeds, & other
pests
 Problems with pesticides:
1. Pesticide resistance:
pesticides stop working
through natural selection
2. Pollution: stay in soil &
water  harm organisms &
ecosystems
 Example: DDT & bald eagles
Crops: Problems

Rank
3. Human Health
concerns:
Poisoning, cancer,
birth defects, immune
problems
Consumer exposure:
12 most contaminated
foods:
Food
1
Strawberries
2
Bell peppers
3
Spinach
4
Cherries (U.S.)
5
Peaches
6
Cantaloupe (Mexico)
7
Celery
8
Apples
9
Apricots
10
Green beans
11
Grapes (Chili)
12
Cucumbers

Lifts the veil on our nation's food industry,
exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that
has been hidden from the American consumer
with the consent of our government's regulatory
agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food
supply is now controlled by a handful of
corporations that often put profit ahead of
consumer health, the livelihood of the American
farmer, the safety of workers and our own
environment.
Friday, March
st
1
Reminders:
Unit 8 Vocab Quiz – Friday, March 8th
Unit 8: Land Exam –Thursday, March 14th
Bellringer: _________ are rows of trees or
tall crops used to prevent erosion from
wind.
Today’s Schedule:
 Crop Solution Notes (3 slides)
 Cont. watching Food, Inc.
Crops: Solutions

 Biological pest control: use of
organisms to control pests; includes
use of:
1. Pathogens (bacteria, viruses)
2. Predators
3. Chemicals from plants (toxins,
pheromones)
 Example: controlling the Cottony Cushion Scale, a
pest that was devastating the California citrus
industry in the late 19th century. A predatory
insect, the Vedalia Beetle, and a parasitoid fly
were introduced from Australia .Within a few
years the cottony cushion scale was completely
controlled by these introduced natural enemies.
Crops : Solutions

Organic farming:
Pros of organic farming:
farming with no
1. Better for environment!
hormones, antibiotics,
2. More $ for farmer
pesticides, synthetic
3. Higher biodiversity of
helpful organisms
fertilizers, or genetic
modifications
4. Less soil erosion
 “Organic”: at least 95%
of ingredients are
organic
 <1% of American farmland is
organic
Crops: Solutions

“Sustainable Agriculture”:
Eating organic food
Eating seasonal crops
Eating local foods:
farmer’s markets & co-ops
Reduces energy/ fuel
consumption
Supports local economy

Lifts the veil on our nation's food industry,
exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that
has been hidden from the American consumer
with the consent of our government's regulatory
agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food
supply is now controlled by a handful of
corporations that often put profit ahead of
consumer health, the livelihood of the American
farmer, the safety of workers and our own
environment.
Monday, March
th
4
Reminders:
Going to MC Comp Lab  Portfolio Project on
Thursday, March 7th – bring project/jmp
 NEED SOILS SAMPLES for SOIL LAB, next week
 Unit 8 Vocab Quiz – Friday (3/08)
 Unit 8: Land Exam – Thursday (3/14)
Bellringer: Using predators to eradicate pests
is an example of ______ _______ ______.
Today’s Schedule:
 GM Crops (3 slides)
 Finish watching Food, Inc.
Genetically-Modified Crops
 Genetic engineering: when
genetic material is modified
for medical or industrial use
 = getting desirable genes
from one organism (usually
bacteria) & putting them
into another organism’s
DNA
 Results in GMO food/ crops
(Genetically Modified
Organisms) = crops that
have been genetically
modified/ engineered
Genetically-Modified Crops
GM crops may have:
 Pest or Herbicide
Resistance
 Drought/ freeze tolerance
 Greater yield
 Increased nutrition
Problems with GM crops:
 Unknown side effects
 Lowers genetic diversity
 Gene transfer to wild
plants (super weeds)

Lifts the veil on our nation's food industry,
exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that
has been hidden from the American consumer
with the consent of our government's regulatory
agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food
supply is now controlled by a handful of
corporations that often put profit ahead of
consumer health, the livelihood of the American
farmer, the safety of workers and our own
environment.
Tuesday, March
th
5
Reminders:
Going to MC Comp Lab  Portfolio Project on
Thursday, March 7th
 NEED SOIL SAMPLES!
 Unit 8 Vocab Quiz – Friday, March 8th
 Unit 8: Land Exam – Thursday, March 14th
Bellringer:
Today’s Schedule:
 Feeding the World Notes (6 slides)
Feeding the World

 More than 850 million people in world are
considered chronically undernourished (diet of <
2200 cal per day) – mainly in Africa & southern Asia
Feeding the World

Poverty is main cause Often lack proper
of lack of food
Lack of food can lead
to malnutrition: when
people do not
consume enough
calories or eat a
sufficient variety of
foods
vitamins, minerals or
protein
Can lead to:
 Blindness
 Anemia
 Mental retardation
 And more…
Feeding the World

 World food supplies
are increasing & so is
obesity
 Globally, >1 billion
people are overweight
 64% of Americans
 Health issues: diabetes,
hearth attack, stroke,
some cancers, etc.
Feeding the World

Humanity depends
on three crops for
majority of its
nutrients:
1. Wheat
2. Rice
3. Corn
Wheat & rice supply
~60% of calories
consumed by humans
Feeding the World

Meat consumption is increasing
 Nearly doubled globally over past 40 years
1 reason is because of “advances” in confined
animal feeding operations (CAFOs):
1. Close quarters
2. Feed corn, soy, & animal protein to maximize growth rate
 Example: A U.S. chicken can turn a baby chick into chicken nuggets
after 8 weeks
3. Use antibiotics & steroids
Feeding the World

Seafood:
 95 million tons of
fish & seafood is
harvested every
year
 Only 2/3 of this is
directly eaten by
humans
 1/3 is fed to
captive-raised fish
Most of world’s fisheries
are threatened by
overharvesting: catching
more organisms than the
pop can replace
 13 of 17 major marine fisheries
have declined or become
commercially unsustainable
since 1989
Feeding the World

 Aquaculture: the raising of
aquatic organisms in
pens/nets for consumption
 Catfish, oysters, salmon,
crayfish & rainbow trout
are products of aquaculture
 Environmental problems
of aquaculture: habitat
destruction, pollution,
introduced species

What you can do:
Eat less/ no meat
Eat organic food
Eat locally grown & in-season food
Make sure seafood is sustainable
Today’s Assignment

By yourself or in partners, create a Public
Service Advertisement picture &/or slogan
regarding:
Organic & sustainable agriculture
Negatives of Factory farming
How we can help…
You need to brainstorm & sketch idea today
Will create finished product tomorrow
Wednesday, March
th
6
Reminders:
Going to MC Comp Lab  Portfolio Project
TOMORROW
 NEED SOIL SAMPLES!
 Unit 8 Vocab Quiz – Friday, March 8th
 Unit 8: Land Exam – Thursday, March 14th
Bellringer:
Today’s Schedule:
 Land Use Notes (4 slides)
 Finish PSA activity
Land Use & Urbanization
 Land Use in US:







28% forest (wood, wildlife, fishing)
26% rangeland (graze livestock)
20% cropland (grow plants)
13% parks & preserves
6% urban (houses, business, industry)
7% other (wetlands, deserts, mountains)
 Rural land: land with relatively few people
 Urban land: area that contains >2,500 people & has a
governing body
 As a result of Industrial Revolution (better farm equipment &
better transportation), more people live in urban areas
Land Use & Urbanization

Urbanization: the
movement of people
from rural areas to cities
 Move for jobs, education,
etc.
In 1900, 13 cities had >1
million people
In 2007, 300 cities had
>1 million people (most
in China)
Land Use & Urbanization
Problems of
When urban areas
grow too fast, can lead
to poor infrastructure
Infrastructure: roads,
sewers, buildings,
schools, hospitals,
power lines, etc. that
society builds for
public use
urbanization:
 Air pollution
 Water pollution
 Crime
 Health problems
Land Use & Urbanization

 Urban sprawl: expansion of urban area into countryside
 Suburbs!
 Example:
 From 1990-2000, Atlanta population grew 32% while the land area
increased by 300%
 Problems with urban sprawl:
 Loose farm & forest land
 Longer commutes:
 Pollution
 Need for oil
 Health issues
Today’s Assignment

By yourself or in partners, create a Public
Service Advertisement picture &/or slogan
regarding:
Organic & sustainable agriculture
Negatives of Factory farming
How we can help…
You need to brainstorm & sketch idea today
Will create finished product tomorrow
Friday, March
th
8
Reminders:
 NEED SOIL SAMPLES!
 Unit 8: Land Exam – Thursday, March 14th
Bellringer:
Today’s Schedule:
 Take Unit 8: Land Vocab Quiz
 Land Management notes (4 slides)
 Amazon Protection Force Video
Land Management,
Conservation, &
Sustainability

Farms, Rangeland, Forests, & Cities
Land Management, Conservation, &
Sustainability
Farms:

Threatened by:
Urban sprawl
Agribusiness: large scale farms that often rely on
lots of pesticides & fossil fuels
Solutions:
Farmland Protection Program (1996)- U.S.
government established to protect farmland from
urban sprawl
Organic farming practices
Land Management, Conservation, &
Sustainability

 Rangelands:
 Threatened by:
 Overgrazing: too many animals eating grasses
leads to erosion
 Urban sprawl
 Solutions:
 Public Rangeland Act of 1978: Improved rangeland
management by:
Limit herd sizes
Planting native vegetation
Building fences
Land Management, Conservation, &
Sustainability

Forests:
Face deforestation:
clearing of trees from an
area
 Trees are removed for
timber & space for farmland,
homes, roads, grazing
Particularly bad in
Tropical Rain Forests
Leads to erosion & loss of
biodiversity
Monday, March
th
11
Reminders:
 Unit 8: Land Exam – Thursday, March 14th
Bellringer:
Today’s Schedule:
 Land Management Notes (4 slides)
 Soil Lab: Prep
Land Management, Conservation, &
Sustainability

Forests:
Solutions:
Selective cutting : only cutting middle-aged &
mature trees and leaving young trees to grow
Reforestation: when trees are planted to reestablish trees that have been cut down
Some governments require reforestation after trees cut
from public land
Parks & preserves
Land Management, Conservation, &
Sustainability

 Parks & Preserves
 U.S. has 50 national parks
 Yellowstone – 1st national U.S. Wilderness Act (1964)
park, est. 1872
now
protects
32
million
 Grand Canyon
acres
 Yosemite
 Wilderness = land protected
 Everglades
from all exploitation
 Denali
 Benefits: protects wildlife,  Open to hiking, fishing,
provides recreation, saves
camping
land for future generations
 Example: Cumberland Island
Land Management, Conservation, &
Sustainability
 Sustainable/ “Green”
Cities
 Now building new
cities or re-developing
urban areas to promote
environmentallyfriendly living

“Green Cities”: based on electricity,
transportation, green living space, & recycling
1. Portland, Oregon
 America’s top green city has it all: Half its
power comes from renewable sources, a
quarter of the workforce commutes by bike,
carpool or public transportation, and it has 35
buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building
Council.
2. San Francisco, California
3. Boston, Massachusetts
4. Oakland, California
5. Eugene, Oregon
 CATEGORY LEADER: Electricity
Much of the wet Pacific Northwest draws its
energy from hydroelectric dams. But Eugene
draws an additional 9 percent of its municipal
electricity from wind farms. It also buys back
excess power from residents who install solar
panel
Land Management, Conservation, &
Sustainability

Strategies for “Green Cities” include:
 Rooftop solar panels & wind turbines to provide
energy
 Rooftop gardens
 Rainwater collection
 More bike transportation & electric car stations
 More recycling & composting centers
Soil Analysis: Prep

1. Each person will get Soil Lab sheet
2. In partners, obtain a tube and a soil sample .
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Using sharpie, put PERIOD, then names on tube
Add soil sample to tube, ½ to ¾ of tube
Add water to tube & put the top on VERY TIGHTLY!
Shake the tube vigorously until water has reached the bottom
Add tube to class rack
Tuesday, March
th
12
Reminders:
 Unit 8: Land Exam – Thursday, March 14th
Bellringer:
Today’s Schedule:
 Soil Lab: Day 2
 Sustainable City article & questions
Soil Sample Analysis: Day 2
 With your partner:
 CAREFULLY obtain soil sample that was left overnight – should
have separated into layers
 Using rulers and the Soil Activity Figure as a guide, measure the total
length of soil and the length of each category in millimeters
(Reminder: # cm x 10 = # mm)
 RECORD THESE VALUES INTO DATA TABLE 1
 Using lengths, determine the percentage of each type in the sample
Ex: ___mm sand/ _____ total mm = _____ x 100 = _______ % sand
 Using the TEXTURAL TRIANGLE and your percentages,
determine how to classify
your soil sample
Answer Post-Lab Questions
Turn in once you’re done!

Case Study – Curitiba: A
Model Sustainable City

 Read the given article
 ON A LOOSE, SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER, write
question & answer to the following :
1. How big is the population of Curitiba, Brazil?
2. Who started all the changes to make Curitiba so sustainable?
3. What did he do to protect space from future development?
4. How did education and jobs play a role in the city’s change?
5. What changes were made to the historic business district?
6. Do you think American cities could become like Curitiba?
Why or why not?
Wednesday, March
Reminders:
 Unit 8: Land Exam is TOMORROW!
Bellringer:
Today’s Schedule:
 Work on Unit 8 Study Guide
th
13