Dependencies: Connecting Science and Sustainability

Dependencies: Connecting Science and Sustainability

Understanding how everything in nature is connected Year 7 Science 15 minutes

What Does 'Dependency' Mean to You?

Think about your daily life What do you depend on? Share your ideas with a partner

What is a Dependency?

A dependency is when one thing relies on another to survive or function In science, we see dependencies everywhere Examples: Plants depend on sunlight, Animals depend on food

Food Web Dependencies

Ecosystem Dependency Game

Each student gets an organism card Stand in a circle and hold yarn Pass yarn to what your organism depends on See the web of dependencies form!

Human Dependencies on Nature

{"left":"Fresh water for drinking and agriculture\nOxygen from plants for breathing\nFood from plants and animals\nMaterials like wood and cotton","right":"Clean air from forests\nMedicines from plants\nClimate regulation from oceans\nPollination from bees for crops"}

What Happens When Dependencies Break?

Bee populations declining affects crop pollination Deforestation reduces oxygen production Pollution harms water supplies Climate change disrupts weather patterns

Everything is Connected

"In nature, nothing exists alone" - Rachel Carson Environmental scientist and author

Sustainability and Dependencies

Sustainability means meeting our needs without harming future generations We must protect the dependencies we rely on Examples: Renewable energy, recycling, conservation

Your Sustainability Action Plan

Choose one dependency humans have on nature Think of one threat to this dependency Suggest one action we could take to protect it Share your ideas with the class