Unit
Topic

Theme

Region
Length

Goals

Empowering Global Citizens

8.4

Human—Environmental Interactions and Comparisons
across Species

Global risk: environment; geography; and demography
The Arctic

One week

and Objectives

Learn about how two specieswhumans and polar bears—interact

with their environment.

2. Inspire students to reflect on the impacts that human migration,
reproduction, and consumption are having on the environment.
3. Act by becoming well—informed stewards of the environment.
Skills and Knowledge
1. Students will apply demographic concepts to humans as a species
and to polar bears as a species.
2. Students will learn about polar bears and threats to their existence.
3. Students will learn to evaluate humans as a species relatively
dispassionately.
4. Students will practice their comparative skills.
Overview

The students are introduced to the basic ideas behind human—environmen-

tal interaction by watching the film Ice Age 2: The Meltdown.

287