Exploring the Environment™ is about our planet. While it may seem that your world does not change, keep in mind that Earth is estimated to be some five billion years old and is constantly changing. Global change has the potential of affecting not only our way of life, but life itself. For example, scientists are still wrestling with what caused the dinosaurs' extinction some 65 millions years ago. Was it the result of an asteroid impact with the Earth or the result of some other natural event? Could these events repeat themselves?

Today's global change is even more complex because of humankind's impact on the environment. Are we causing global warming? Should we be concerned with species extinction? Does losing 42 million acres of forests in a year contribute to global change? Unfortunately, many questions like these have no simple yes or no answer. Scientists struggle with these questions on a daily basis. Exploring the Environment™ will allow you to wrestle with these issues and form your own opinions.

Skills necessary in facing life's challenges include the ability to think critically, solve problems, and write and speak clearly. We have designed the problems so that your group will encounter real situations and will require you to use problem solving skills. Your group's task is to recognize the problem, state and define it, gather and analyze data, place findings in a written document or other product, and support and defend your solution. The problems we have chosen for you are located under the button entitled "Modules and Activities." You may choose a particular module to investigate, or your teacher may help you in choosing your line of inquiry. We have included information to aid your research under the "Problem Solving" button. Feel free to use the problem solving tips. This information is especially helpful when you first begin this type of classroom problem solving.

Happy Exploring!

HTML code by Dave McGlumphy
Maintained by ETE Team
Last updated January 11, 1999