Teen Health Course 3

Chapter 21: Environmental Health

Student Web Activities - Teacher Content

Lesson 1

Answers
  1. Air pollution comes from many different sources: factories, power plants, dry cleaners, cars, buses, trucks, and even windblown dust and wildfires.


  2. The EPA regulates all waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). When hazardous waste is not handled properly, EPA cleans it up under the Superfund Act.


  3. People need clean water to drink and wash with, and to swim in. We also need clean water if we want to continue to eat fish. In addition, clean water is critical for ecosystem health.


  4. A nother term for protecting and managing natural resources is "environmental stewardship."


  5. An ecosystem is defined as a place that has unique physical features, and includes air, water, and land, and habitats supporting plant and animal life.
Additional Resources for Teachers

Below are some additional Web sites that offer information on environmental protection and the issues surrounding it.

  1. Earth Force:
    http://www.earthforce.org/

  2. Greenpeace:
    http://www.greenpeace.org/international/

  3. Defenders of Wildlife:
    http://www.defenders.org/

  4. Rainforest Action Network:
    http://www.ran.org/

  5. National Wildlife Federation:
    http://www.nwf.org/

  6. Enviro Link:
    http://www.envirolink.org/

  7. Ecology Fund:
    http://www.ecologyfund.com/ecology/_ecology.html

  8. World Wildlife:
    http://www.worldwildlife.org/forests/results/tesso.cfm

Lesson 2

Answers
  1. The four Rs are Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rebuy.


  2. Some ways to apply the four Rs include:

  3. a. Reduce packaging by buying bulk or concentrated products.
    b. Reduce toxicity by recycling batteries.
    c. Use reusable products.
    d. Use durable products that last.
    e. Reuse products like boxes, newspaper, and bubble wrap.
    f. Recycle automotive products like batteries, oil, and antifreeze.
    g. Buy products made from recycled material.
    h. Learn how to compost.

  4. The EPA's "Your Life, Your World, Your Choices" campaign is a program that tries to educate teens about and get them involved in resource conservation and environmental protection.


  5. Four ways to e-cycle used electronics are:

  6. a. Refurbish, fix, or upgrade your equipment so you can continue to use it.
    b. Use some of the parts of an old system to build a new system.
    c. Donate your old electronics to a local charity or school for reuse or refurbishing.
    d. Drop off your old electronics to a local recycling program, such as a municipal or community program or a retail collection program.

  7. Six things to consider before choosing a volunteer program are:

  8. a. Think about the types of activities you are good at and like to do.
    b. Ask yourself what you would most like to learn by volunteering.
    c. Decide if you want an ongoing, regularly scheduled assignment, a short-term assignment, or a one-time assignment.
    d. Decide if you want to work alone, with a group, or with a friend or family members.
    e. Ask yourself what kind of people you want to work with.
    f. Decide if you are willing to participate in a training course or want to start your volunteer work immediately.

Additional Resources for Teachers

Below are some additional Web sites that offer information on waste management and recycling. You might try calling the city refuse management office to see if someone can come talk to the class about the kinds of things that are thrown away and what they can do to help conserve. Likewise, the students could contact the EPA and ask a representative to come out and give a talk on waste management programs.

  1. Aluminum Can:
    http://www.aluminium-cans.com.au/
  2. Environmental Kids Club:
    http://www.epa.gov/kids/garbage.htm
  3. Solid Waste and Recycling:
    http://www.metrokc.gov/dnr/kidsweb/solid_waste_main.htm
  4. Talking Trash:
    http://whyfiles.org/063recycle/
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