Human Impacts on Ecosystems
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Khan Academy
What it is
- This resource from Khan Academy discusses different ways that human activities impact the environment and can disrupt entire ecosystems.
- Students will be introduced to five dimensions, including habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, over-exploitation, and climate change.
- It includes a video, transcript, key terms and concepts, and an interactive quiz.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The video is easy to understand and is recommended for introducing any of the key concepts.
- The video clearly connects human activities that change the environment to changes in ecosystems that affect many species.
Prerequisites
- Students can access the video and related resources without an account, but setting up a class with a free Khan Academy account will provide the teacher with more options to track student progress.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This video can be used in a Biology class to discuss different ways various species might need to adapt to their disrupted ecosystems.
- Biology and science classes can use the acronym HIPPOC or CHIPPO to remember the different reasons species go extinct: habitat loss, invasive species, population pressures, pollution, overhunting/overfishing/overexploitation, and climate change.
- The transcript can be printed for students who need support following along.
- Other resources related to this topic are Human Impacts on Earth Systems and Biodiversity and Humans.
From the scientist review
This 6-minute video presents a simple and brief overview of human impacts on ecosystems, including deforestation, pollution, overfishing, and anthropogenic climate change. This resource does not go into great detail but is a good introductory overview for beginners. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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