contents
- intro: what is ecology
- learning outcomes for Oiko game-play
- learning background for each domain / Oiko-gadget
- Ecology is the study of the relationships between living things and between them and the environment. Although ecology is not primarily about solving environmental problems, its goal is to deepen our understanding between living things and between them and the physical world. The effects of human activities are endless and varied, but they all have one thing in common. Their long term consequences cannot be predicted without a thorogh understanding of the complex ways in which the biosphere and thus ecology works.
- learning outcomes for an early grader ( age 5+) after playing Oiko
- do i have an understanding of the complex ways in which the biosphere works : no living thing or group of things lives in isolation.
- how do my actions as a human being, affect the biospere : by using resources such as energy, water and trees
- what are those actions within a household : switching on/off the lights, washing hands, throwing away disposables.
- what can i do to be part of a sustainable ecology : restore energy, water and trees by saving resources & recycling
- do i have an understanding of the fact that: if many people perform one small action such as switching of a light, that can have a big impact on the environment.
3. investigating the learning outcomes for each domain separately (in relation to : energy, water, trees/soil)
3a. energy
short introduction about carbon :
All life on earth is based on the element carbon. It is constantly passed between different parts of the biosphere in various chemical forms. It is found in the bodies of all living things, in the oceans in the air and in Earth itself. In the atmosphere when combined with oxygen it forms CO2. In plants it becomes carbohydrate, the source of energy for plants and for the animals that eat them. Plants are the main point of exchange, converting carbon dioxide in carbohydrate through photosynthesis. Decomposition eventually returns all the carbon to the atmosphere.
- problem: Coal-burning power plants that produce electricity are a primary source of carbon dioxide pollution that rises global temperature, what is broadly known as global warming. Below are shortly presented some of the impacts that energy consumption has on the planet:
- Melting glaciers, early snowmelt and severe droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages in the American West.
- Rising sea levels will lead to coastal flooding on the Eastern seaboard, in Florida, and in other areas, such as the Gulf of Mexico.
- Warmer sea surface temperatures will fuel more intense hurricanes in the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
- Forests, farms and cities will face troublesome new pests and more mosquito-borne diseases.
- Disruption of habitats such as coral reefs and alpine meadows could drive many plant and animal species to extinction.
- solution: use renewable energy sources such as wind and sun.
3b.water
Short introduction about water :
97% of the water on earth is salty water- consequently it only leaves 3 percent that is freshwater. Everything that is living on Earth needs water to survive-humans are 75 %water. 66% of the earth’s surface is covered by water.
- problem: Water is a valuable resource that is… For example, in some parts of the world, people have only one bucket of water to live for a whole day, which equals the amount of water one uses if one leaves the faucet running while brushing one’s teeth. Moreover, running out of fresh water resources would mean extinction for various aquatic populations, birds and animals that live in rivers and lakes.
- solution: conserving water
3c.soil (perhaps this category turns into trees)
Short introduction about recycling :
All living things die eventually. In ecological terms, the chemicals of which living things are made are borrowed from the Earth and at death they returned. All the material from the smallest fly to the largest elephant, takes in as food-also returns to the Earth as waste matter. Decomposers- a range of bacteria, fungi and small animals break nature’s pieces into even smaller pieces until all chemicals are released into the air.
problem: any complex manufactured chemicals, including plastics and some metals can not be broken down by decomposers.
solution: recycling
