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Exploring how humans change the physical environment to meet their needs through building and construction.
Imagine you are a giant with a magic toolbox. If a massive mountain was blocking your path to school, would you climb over it, or would you use your tools to dig a tunnel right through the middle?
The world around us is full of amazing natural things like rivers and mountains. However, humans often need to change the land to meet their needs. We build human-made structures to help us move and live comfortably. For example, if a deep river is in the way, we build a bridge to drive across. If we need to get to the other side of a hill quickly, we dig a tunnel. To catch water for drinking or to make electricity, we build a dam to hold back a river. These changes make it easier for us to get what we need every day.
Imagine there are towns separated by a wide, rushing river. 1. The people in Town A want to visit Town B. 2. They cannot swim across because the water is too fast. 3. They build a bridge made of steel and concrete. 4. Now, the towns are connected, and people can drive across safely.
Quick Check
Which human-made structure is used to go through a mountain instead of over it?
Answer
A tunnel.
Sometimes, the land is covered in thick forests or rocky soil. To build things like shopping centers or highways, humans must first clear the land. This means using big machines to remove trees, bushes, and large rocks. We do this because we need flat, open spaces for large buildings where many people can shop, or for long roads that connect different cities. Without clearing the land, we wouldn't have enough room for the neighborhoods and stores we use every day.
A company wants to build a new grocery store on a plot of land with trees. 1. First, workers use bulldozers to remove the trees. 2. Next, they level the dirt to make it flat. 3. Then, they pour large layer of asphalt for a parking lot. 4. Finally, they build the store so people can buy food nearby.
Quick Check
Why do humans clear land before building a shopping center?
Answer
To create a flat, open space for the building and parking lot.
Changing the land is a trade-off, which means it has both good and bad parts. A positive effect is that we get safe homes, schools, and hospitals. We also get roads that help us travel to see our friends. However, there is often a negative effect on nature. When we clear a forest, animals lose their habitat, which is their natural home. We have to be very careful to only change the land we really need so we can protect the plants and animals that live there too.
A town has a small forest. They have to decide what to do with it. 1. Option A: Leave it alone so different types of birds can keep their homes (Positive for nature). 2. Option B: Clear the land to build a playground for children (Positive for people). 3. The Challenge: The town decides to clear only of the land. This way, they get a smaller playground, but some of the birds get to keep their homes. This is called finding a balance!
Which structure is built to hold back water in a river?
What is a common negative effect of clearing land for a new road?
Humans only change the land when they want to play games.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, look out the window while driving. Can you spot one bridge, one road, and one place where trees were cleared?
Practice Activity
Draw a picture of a 'Balanced Town.' Include one human-made structure (like a bridge) and one area of protected nature (like a forest) side-by-side.