In this unit, students will learn about Earth’s systems and natural resources, ways that humans use natural resources, human impacts on Earth systems, and how humans can change behaviors to reduce impacts on the environment. This unit prominently features the Crosscutting Concepts of System and System Models and Scale, Proportion, and Quantity.

First, students will explore the four Earth systems (hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere) and learn how these systems interact. Part of this exploration will include examining how the water cycle involves all four Earth systems.
Next, students will learn about natural resources and how humans use them for things like energy, food, and shelter. They will investigate some of the impacts of using natural resources, including the effects of fossil fuel consumption and the production of agricultural waste on air quality. Students will also examine the hydrosphere in detail, including the distribution of water on Earth. They will learn that water is a limited resource, and the amount and quality of available water can be affected by human activities.
 Finally, they will learn about strategies humans can implement to decrease our impact on the environment. They will examine a case study of an island in Denmark that changed from using non-renewable to renewable energies and then engage in a design challenge to design, build, test, and refine a wind turbine to perform a specific task. Students will also consider how farms can repurpose animal waste to generate energy using biodigesters.