Page 283 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12 | Canadian and World Studies

Overall Expectations and Related Concepts of Geographic Thinking
Big Ideas*
Framing Questions*
D. Ecosystems and Human Activity
D1. Protecting the Natural Environment: assess the role of various strategies, organizations, and agreements in reducing the impact of human activity on the environment (FOCUS ON: Interrelationships; Geographic Perspective)
Individuals, groups, and countries have developed strategies to lessen the impact of humans on the environment .
Do all organizations and countries agree on how to protect the environment?
Why might there be conflicting strategies for reducing the human impact on the environment?
Why might an individual, a company, or a country introduce a non-native species or a pollutant into a local environment?
How does life on Earth rely on the earth’s physical processes?
D2. Impacts of Human Activities: analyse impacts of human activities on ecological processes and on plant and animal species (FOCUS ON: Spatial Significance; Interrelationships)
Human activity can alter and harm natural spaces and species .
D3. Ecological Processes: explain how various ecological and biological processes sustain life on Earth (FOCUS ON: Patterns and Trends; Interrelationships)
The earth sustains life .
E. Community Action
E1. Working Together: assess the contribution of various individual, workplace, and community initiatives to reducing the human impact on the natural environment (FOCUS ON: Interrelationships; Geographic Perspective)
People need to work together to lessen the impact of humans on the environment .
What are some local strategies and policies that have been proposed or adopted to protect the environment? Why might people not agree about the purpose or value of these strategies or policies?
How might you reduce your ecological footprint?
How is infrastructure in your community being changed to lessen its impact on the natural environment? What support is there for these changes?
E2. Ecological Footprints: assess impacts of human behaviour on the natural environment (FOCUS ON: Patterns and Trends; Interrelationships)
The behaviour and choices of individuals can have a significant impact on the environment .
E3. Community Infrastructure: assess environmental impacts of various types of infrastructure, systems, and services at the community and regional levels, and assess ways of reducing these impacts (FOCUS ON: Spatial Significance; Interrelationships)
Local practices can have important impacts on the natural environment .
OVERVIEW
281
Living in a Sustainable World
CGR4E