Benchmark 4C The Physical Setting: Processes that Shape the Earth

Benchmark 4C
The Physical Setting: Processes that Shape the Earth
Grades 6-8, page 73

Human activities, such as reducing the amount of forest cover, increasing the amount and variety of chemicals released into the atmosphere, and intensive farming, have changed the earth's land, oceans, and atmosphere. Some of these changes have decreased the capacity of the environment to support some life forms.

NSES Content Standard C
Life Science: Organisms and their environments
Grades K-4, page 129
Humans depend on their natural and constructed environment. Humans change environments in ways that can either be beneficial or detrimental for themselves and other organisms.

NSES Content Standard F
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Changes in environments
Grades K-4, page 140
Changes in environments can be natural or influenced by humans. Some changes are good, some are bad, and some are neither good nor bad. Pollution is a change in the environment that can influence the health, survival, or activities of organisms, including humans.

NSES Content Standard D
Earth and Space Science: Structure of the Earth system
Grades 5-8, page 160
Living organisms have played many roles in the earth system, including affecting the composition of the atmosphere, producing some types of rocks, and contributing to the weathering of rocks.

NSES Content Standard F
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Natural hazards
Grades 5-8, page 168
Human activities also can induce hazards through resource acquisition, urban growth, land-use decisions, and waste disposal. Such activities can accelerate many natural changes.

NSES Content Standard F
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Natural and human-induced hazards
Grades 9-12, page 199
Human activities can enhance potential for hazards. Acquisition of resources, urban growth, and waste disposal can accelerate rates of natural change.