Idaho Social Studies 6-9.WG.2.6

Social StudiesGrades 6–9Geography

The Standard

Analyze and give examples of the consequences of human impact on the physical environment, including the role of technology.

Idaho Content Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain how dams, paving, and irrigation pumps change land, water, or habitats. They trace each change to a result, such as faster runoff or less water downstream.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain that a dam generates power but can also block fish migration and trap sediment. They can give another example and show how the technology causes the change.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think technology means only phones and computers, missing dams, pumps, and paving equipment. They may confuse a cause, such as paving, with a result, such as faster runoff.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A town uses pumps to drain a wetland and paves it for parking. Explain one change to water flow, one effect on wildlife or flooding, and how the pumps or pavement caused it.

Lesson moves

Pour equal amounts of water over two sloped trays, one with soil and one covered in foil, then compare the runoff collected below.
Ask students to write three sentences explaining how a dam can provide electricity while changing fish habitat downstream.
Give pairs dam, irrigation pump, highway, and logging machine cards, plus change and consequence cards, to build cause-and-effect chains.
At the school parking lot, find a storm drain and sketch how pavement sends rainwater toward it.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 6-9.WG.2.6, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Keep exploring

Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.