Human-Environment Interactions

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Geography is organized into five themes to make geographical concepts easier to understand and study.

• location
• place
• human-environment interactions
• movement
• regions

This lesson explores human-environment interactions.

Human-environment interactions describe how humans adapt to and modify the land. Some human-environment interactions have negative effects.

For example, humans construct factories that can be used to power the electricity in our homes and build cars and other modes of transportation. On the downside, factories often release chemicals and carbon that can contaminate water and make the air we breathe toxic.

• What are some other ways human interactions hurt the environment?

Not all human-environment interactions are bad. Some human-environment interactions have a positive impact on the environment.

For example, many organizations plant trees and flowers throughout communities. Plants help to purify the air and beautify the land.

Human groups also have created national parks and nature preserves where humans are prohibited from building and hunting. These areas help protect wildlife and endangered species.

• What are some other ways humans positively interact with the environment?

Look at the image below showing another part of New York City.

• What are some examples of positive and negative human environment interactions you see?

Check your answers by clicking on the hot spots.

When you are finished examining the picture, move to the Got It? section to take a look at more examples of positive and negative human-environment interactions.