Name _________________________________ Class __________________ Date _________________________ Edit File

QUICK LAB

Investigating Human Impact on

the Land
OBJECTIVE
In this activity, you will read about an environmental issue related
to land use in your local area. Then you will identify the problem, • Understand the
the people affected by the problem, and the various positions taken complexity of
on the issue. Then you will take one side of the issue and debate it. issues involving
land degradation
PROCEDURE by humans.
Use the approved online sources to find an article that
MATERIALS
discusses an issue involving land use in your local community.
As a group, decide on one article that your group will work on. For each group
Obtain your teacher’s approval of your choice. • online news articles
related to local land
Choose one or two members to read the article and then discuss issues
it. Choose another group member to write a summary that can
be presented as your argument in the debate.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Who are the people affected by the problem? Think of everyone affected,
not just the people mentioned in the article.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
According to the article, are there two or more groups of people (called
stakeholders) who have opposing views on the problem? As a group, talk
about the stakeholders to identify them and to explain each of their positions
on the problem.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

ScienceFusion 142 Unit 4, Lesson 2

Module D Lab Manual Human Impact on Land
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Alterations to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Name _________________________________ Class __________________ Date _________________________

Quick Lab continued

Within your own group, divide into smaller groups to debate the various
positions you identified in Step 4.
What position did you support in the debate?
_________________________________________________________________________
Why did you support that position?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Was your position initially supported by the majority?
_________________________________________________________________________
Did your group persuade the opposing group of your position?
_________________________________________________________________________
Was your position finally supported by the majority?
_________________________________________________________________________
What conclusions do you draw about how easily issues involving land use
can be resolved?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

ScienceFusion 143 Unit 4, Lesson 2

Module D Lab Manual Human Impact on Land
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Alterations to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Name _________________________________ Class __________________ Date _________________________ Edit File

QUICK LAB

Roots and Erosion

In this activity, you will investigate how plants affect soil erosion. Soil
erosion can lead to the loss of topsoil and to desertification. The Dust OBJECTIVES
Bowl in the United States was caused by soil erosion in the Great • Describe how plant
Plains. Soil erosion continues to be a problem in many places in the roots affect soil
world. erosion.
MATERIALS
For each group
• bowl, plastic (2)
PROCEDURE • cup, clear plastic
Gently remove the plant from its pot. The soil and roots should • plants, potted,
come out with the plant. Observe the roots and the soil. What do various
you notice? • soil, potting
____________________________________________________ • spoon, plastic
____________________________________________________ • water
For each student
____________________________________________________
• gloves
____________________________________________________ • lab apron
____________________________________________________ • safety goggles
____________________________________________________
Put the plant in a bowl. Using the cup, slowly pour about one-half cup of
water over the roots and soil. Describe the water in the bowl and the soil
around the roots.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Use the spoon to pack the plant pot with potting soil. Turn the pot upside
down into the second bowl. Gently squeeze out the block of soil into the
bowl.

ScienceFusion 144 Unit 4, Lesson 2

Module D Lab Manual Human Impact on Land
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Alterations to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Name _________________________________ Class __________________ Date _________________________

Quick Lab continued

Slowly pour about one-half cup of water over the soil block. Describe
the soil block and the water in the bowl.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Based on your observations, how do plants affect erosion?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Deforestation can lead to soil erosion. Explain why this happens.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

ScienceFusion 145 Unit 4, Lesson 2

Module D Lab Manual Human Impact on Land
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Alterations to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.