Page 160 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Science, 2008 (revised)

Grade 11, University/College Preparation
d1. evaluate the impact of agricultural and forestry practices on human health, the economy, and the environment;
d2. investigate conditions necessary for plant growth, including the soil components most suitable for various species, and various environmentally sustainable methods that can be used to promote growth;
d3. demonstrate an understanding of conditions required for plant growth and of a variety of environmentally sustainable practices that can be used to promote growth.
D1. Relating Science to Technology, Society, and the Environment
d. SuStAinABle Agriculture And foreStry
OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:
THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12 | science
SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:
d1.1 evaluate, on the basis of research, a variety of agricultural and forestry practices (e.g., com- panion planting, biological pest control, the use of genetically modified seed, forest fire control) with respect to their impact on the economy and the environment (e.g., the use of nematodes eliminates crop damage from grubs, thus contributing to better harvests, while reducing the use of toxic chemical pesticides; under some circumstances, forest thinning can help prevent or reduce the seriousness of forest fire, and its economic and environmental consequences) [IP, PR, AI, C]
Sample issue: The recycling of animal waste as fertilizer is economical and is generally consid- ered an environmentally sustainable practice. However, care must be taken that the manure does not run off into water sources, as it can con- taminate them with E. coli and other bacteria.
Sample questions: What are the economic and environmental pros and cons of growing crops that are genetically modified to be herbicide resistant? Why is organic produce more expen- sive than conventionally grown produce? What
are the economic advantages of monoculture, both on farms and in forestry operations? How can monocultural practices lead to environmental degradation? What types of forestry practices can be implemented to maintain features of old-growth ecosystems while harvesting trees?
d1.2 evaluate, on the basis of research, the impact, including the long-term impact, of agricultural and forestry practices on human health (e.g., the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides; the use of growth hormones and antibiotics in livestock; the use of feed containing animal by-products; the clear-cutting of forests) [IP, PR, AI, C]
Sample issue: The toxins in pesticides can accumulate in the human body over the years. Although the immediate effects of exposure to pesticide may be unnoticeable, the chemicals build up in body fat and organs and can lead to a variety of cancers.
Sample questions: What was the source of con- tamination of well water in Walkerton, Ontario, in 2000? What are the immediate and long-term health effects of exposure to E. coli? What is known about the long-term effects of consuming genetically modified food? What impact could the spraying of forest canopies to prevent gypsy moth infestations have on human health?
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