Materials

• Video, slides, or photographs that illustrate the impact of technological advances in agriculture, energy usage, transportation, automobiles, and airplanes on the environment

Instructional Activities

1. Remind students that they have already studied the impact of weather phenomena, physical and ecological processes, and human activity on the Earth’s surface. Explain that other factors also affect the Earth’s surface. Ask students if they can think of what these other factors may be.
   
   
2. Explain that technological advances have had an impact on the Earth’s surface. Have students suggest how.
   
   
3. Display the following information on the board or overhead and discuss each influence as it is displayed. Provide visual examples, if they are available.
   • Influence of technology on the environment:
   • Agriculture (e.g., fertilizers, mechanization)
   • Energy usage (e.g., fossil fuels, nuclear)
   • Transportation (e.g., road building, railways)
   • Automobiles (e.g., parking lots, suburbs)
   • Airplanes (e.g., airport expansion, noise pollution)
   
   
4. Ask students to identify any possible impacts of the environment on humans. Guide discussion to include the following:
   • Settlement patterns
   • Housing materials
   • Agricultural activity
   • Types of recreation
   • Transportation patterns
   
   
5. Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity, using available teacher resources.