Standards of Learning
3.10 The student will investigate and understand that natural events and human influences can affect the survival of species. Key concepts include
a) the interdependency of plants and animals;
b) the effects of human activity on the quality of air, water, and habitat;
c) the effects of fire, flood, disease, and erosion on organisms; and
d) conservation and resource renewal.
3.11 The student will investigate and understand different sources of energy. Key concepts include
a) energy from the sun;
b) sources of renewable energy; and
c) sources of nonrenewable energy.
a) the interdependency of plants and animals;
b) the effects of human activity on the quality of air, water, and habitat;
c) the effects of fire, flood, disease, and erosion on organisms; and
d) conservation and resource renewal.
3.11 The student will investigate and understand different sources of energy. Key concepts include
a) energy from the sun;
b) sources of renewable energy; and
c) sources of nonrenewable energy.
Teacher Notes/Background Information
Understanding the Standard
3.10
3.11
3.10
- Every organism depends on other organisms to survive. This is called interdependency.
- Human actions, such as polluting, can affect the survival of plants and animals.
- Natural events, such as fires, floods, diseases, and erosion, can also affect the survival of plant and animal species.
- Conservation is the careful use and preservation of our natural resources.
- Resource renewal is a conservation practice in which species are protected. An example would be protecting endangered plants by saving their seeds, growing the seeds indoors, and later putting the new plants back in their natural habitats.The sun is the source of almost all energy on Earth.
3.11
- The sun is the direct source of light and thermal energy.
- Sunlight, water, and wind are sources of energy. The force of flowing water and moving air (wind) can also be used to generate electricity.
- Wood comes from trees. It has many important uses, including its use as a fuel.
- Some energy sources are renewable. That means that they can be replaced. Some energy sources are nonrenewable. That means that once they are used up, they are gone and cannot be replaced. Coal, oil, and natural gas are nonrenewable resources.
- Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are formed from decayed plants and animals. The formation of fossil fuels takes millions of years.