DEEPER LIFE HIGH SCHOOL

FIRST TERM: E-LEARNING NOTES

JSS 3 (BASIC 9)

WEEK TOPIC

SUB – THEME: LEARNING ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT:

1. Genetics: Family Traits: (a) Family traits (skin, colour, height, albinism etc.)
(b) Meaning of dominant and recessive traits.
(c) Importance of family traits: intelligence, diseases, resemblance family genealogy.

2. Environmental Hazards 1 soil erosion and flooding, causes, control benefits and prevention.

3. Environmental Hazards 2: (a) Bush burning:- practices that influence bush burning, effect of bush
burning including economic consequences, regulations against bush burning (b) Deforestation: reasons
for deforestation e.g. commercial and domestic firewood, effects on the environment and regulation on
deforestation

4. Environmental Hazard 3: (a) Desertification: Definition, geographical area, causes such as overgrazing,
bush burning and cutting trees for firewood etc.

5. Environmental Hazards 3: (b) Depletion of ozone layer and its effects:- description of ozone layer and
its location in the atmosphere, importance of ozone layer, effects of depletion of ozone layer e.g. global
warming, greenhouse effect, ice melting and flooding. (c) Control measure:- regulation on use of
chlorofluorocarbon (CFC); reduce bush burning and control burning in house hold activities.

6. Drug and substance Abuse: (a) Effects of drug abuse:- stomach upset; damaged nostril and lungs; skin
rashes; injection abscesses (b) Prevention of drug abuse:- inculcating coping skills; positive social
interaction; healthy life style. (b) Activities of drug control agencies: NAFDAC, NDLEA. (2) Misuse of
herbal medicine.

7. MIDTERM BREAK

8. Resources from living Things: (a) Resources from living things: examples of plant sources e.g cash and
food crops, dyes, drugs; examples of animal sources e.g hide and skin , dairy products etc. (b) Economic
importance of these resources to self and society.

9.Resources from Non-Living Things: soil and solid minerals like limestone; coal; gold; tin etc (b)
Location in Nigeria. (c) Economic Importance.

10. Revision.

11 -13 Examination.
 WEEK ONE

TOPIC: FAMILY TRAITS (GENETICS)

CONTENT: 1. Family Traits (Skin Colour, Height, Albinism, etc.)

2. Meaning of Dominant and Recessive Traits

3. Importance of Family Traits – Intelligence, Disease, Resemblance, Family Genealogy

Sub-Topic I: FAMILY TRAITS (SKIN COLOUR, HEIGHT, ALBINISM, ETC.)

Definition: Genetics is the scientific study of heredity and variation in living things. The
transfer of materials which lead to heredity and variation occurs during reproduction in
living things.

Heredity is a branch of genetics which studies how children or offspring take after their
parents.

FAMILY TRAITS can be defined as transmittable characteristics which are passed from
parents to offspring or children or progeny from one generation to another through reproduction.
You may have your hair color as your mother or your eye color as your father.

We all have inherited traits that we share in common with others. Families share many traits in
common because parents pass down inherited traits to their children. Yet, every person has a
combination of traits that is unique to them. However, the modern science of genetics which
seeks to understand the process of inheritance only began with the work of Gregor Mendel in the
mid-19th century. Although he did not know the physical basis for heredity, Mendel observed
that organisms inherit traits via discrete units of inheritance which are now genes. Gregor
Mendel is the father of Genetics because his work on genetics formed the foundation for
quantitative and scientific study of genetics.
EXAMPLES OF FAMILY TRAITS

1. Colour of skin ( Complexion )

2. Height ( Tallness or Shortness )
3. Colour of eyes

4. Colour of hair
5. Intelligence
6. Shape of nose
7. Blood group
8. Albinism

DNA Strands
Nucleic acids are complex molecules produced by living cells and are essential to all living organisms.
These acids govern the body’s development and specific characteristics by providing hereditary
information and triggering the production of proteins within the body. This computer-generated model
shows two strands of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the double-helical structure typical of this class of
nucleic acids.
It should be noted that the transmission of traits from parents to offspring or children (heredity)
only cannot determine the manifestation of the traits. The environment plays its own part as
heredity is the nature while the environment is the nurture.

Human Male Karyotype

This karyotype of a human male shows the 23 pairs of chromosomes that are typically present in human cells. The chromosome pairs labeled 1
through 22 are called autosomes, and have a similar appearance in males and females. The 23rd pair, shown on the bottom right, represents the
sex chromosomes. Females have two identical-looking sex chromosomes that are both labeled X, whereas males have a single X chromosome
and a smaller chromosome labeled Y.

MEANING OF DOMINANT AND RECESSIVE TRAITS

A dominant trait can be defined as a trait that is expressed in an offspring when two individuals
with contracting traits or characteristics are crossed. Dominant traits are controlled by dominant
genes.(RR, TT)

A recessive trait can be defined as the traits from parents which do not produce any effects in the
presence of dominant traits. Recessive traits are controlled by recessive genes.(rr, tt)

Both parents have to be carriers of a recessive trait in order for a child to express that trait. If
both parents are carriers, there is a 25% chance with each child to show the recessive trait.

The genes are the basic unit of heredity. They determine the nature of inherited characteristics or
traits.
IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY TRAITS

The importance of family traits cannot be over-emphasized. It is possible to predict traits to be

expected in the offspring before marriage is conducted between two individuals. Family traits
can be used to:

1. Determine the intelligence of individuals

2. Determine or detect certain diseases that run in the family. An example is sickle cell
anemia
3. Determine in particular who does a child resemble in the family
4. Determine the blood group of an individual which could be A, B, AB or O.
5. Trace the family genealogy

The family genealogy or family tree or pedigrees are lines of generation of parents and offspring
which trace the descendants of a man and his wife. A man with more than one wife will have one
family tree for each of his wife.

EVALUATION

1. State five importance of family traits

2. Explain family genealogy
3. Define the word family traits
4. List five family traits
 5. The scientific study of heredity and variation is called----------
6. Traits are also called ---------------
7. ------------ is also referred to as progeny
8. Who is the father of genetics?

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

Basic Science made easy for Nigerian Junior Secondary Schools Bk3 by F. I. Kehindepgs 19-21

1. Write out five noticeable traits or characteristics you inherited from your parents

WEEK TWO

TOPIC: ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

CONTENT: 1. Definition of Soil Erosion - Causes, Effects and Control of Soil Erosion

2. Definition of Flooding – Causes, Effects of Flooding on Communities and

Farmlands, Control of Flooding and Drainage Patterns

DEFINITION OF SOIL EROSION

Environmental hazard is a term used for any situation or state of events which poses a threat to
the surrounding environment and adversely affect plants and animals

SOIL EROSION is the washing away of the soil by heavy rain or wind resulting to the
formation of gully and landslides and leaving behind silt on which plants can no longer grow.

Soil erosion can also be defined as the removal of topsoil faster than the soil forming processes
can replace it, due to natural, animal, and human activity (overgrazing, over cultivation, forest
clearing, mechanized farming, etc.). Soil erosion results in land infertility, leads to desertification
and devastating flooding.
CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION

1. Excessive Rain fall: Due to excessive rain fall, top fertile soil is washed away.
2. Human activities: Human activities accelerate disappearance of protective cover of
natural vegetation and cause soil erosion.
3. Over grazing: Over grazing leads to the absence of ground-vegetation, causes gradual
depletion of soil organisms and soil erosion.
4. Land use: Humans play a major role in soil erosion through their use and abuse of natural
resources, for example deforestation, grazing, arable land use, faulty farming systems,
high crop intensity, construction, mining, etc.
5. Climate: The two most important climatic factors having a direct effect on erosion are
precipitation and wind velocity.
6. Landforms: Slope, gradient, slope length and shape of slope are the important variables
of landform that affect erosion processes for all types of soil erosion, e.g., splash, sheet,
rill, and gully erosion.
7. Bush burning

TYPES OF EROSION

1. WATER EROSION: Water erosion is the removal and carrying away of soil
particles by rain, running water, melting ice running rapidly over an exposed soil
surface.

2. WIND EROSION: This is the blowing away of the soil particles or topsoil by
wind. Wind erosion is common in arid or dry land where there is little or no
 rainfall.

Cross-Section of Soil
Soil forms over many thousands of years from weathered rock fragments and the decaying remains of
living organisms. As soil develops, it forms distinct layers, known as horizons. Each horizon has a
specific colour, texture, and mineral content, as seen in the vertical cross-section of soil above. The
number and type of horizons in a particular soil vary, but in general the uppermost horizon of soil forms
the nutrient-rich topsoil. Beneath the topsoil lies the subsoil, which contains minerals that have trickled
down from the topsoil. Rock fragments reside below the subsoil, and the horizon forming the foundation
of soil consists of unweathered parent rock.

EFFECTS OF SOIL EROSION

1. Reduction in soil quality which results from the loss of the nutrient-rich upper layers of
the soil
2. Reduces water-holding capacity of soil.
3. Displacement of people from their homes
4. Destruction of farmlands
5. Collapse of building
6. Damage of soil surface and roads

CONTROL OF SOIL EROSION

1. Planting of vegetative cover: Cover crops such as trees, grasses, shrubs can be planted to
cover the soil surface. This will reduce the effect of rainfall on the soil. The roots of the
vegetative plants help to bind the soil particles together.
 2. Avoidance of indiscriminate bush burning: Bush burning exposes the soil to erosion
because the vegetative covers are burnt.
3. Avoidance of overgrazing: Land should not be overgrazed to prevent water erosion
4. Mulching: This is the covering of ridges, beds and mounds in the farm with leaves, dry
grasses and straw. Mulching reduces the impact of raindrops on the soil and thereby
prevents erosion
5. Crop rotation: This is the growing of certain crops in an order and rotating them every
planting season in order to maintain soil fertility and also prevent water erosion
6. Ridging across slope: Ridges should be constructed across and not along slopes to reduce
the speed of run-off.
7. Application of organic manure: Organic matter prevents loss of water from the soil and
makes the soil moist at all time. This makes the particles of the soil heavy for wind to
blow away.
8. Irrigation: Artificial application of water to the soil will make the soil moist, thereby
binding the soil particles together and preventing the soil particles from being blown
away by wind.
9. Planting of leguminous crops
10. Education

FLOODING

DEFINITION OF FLOODING

Flooding can be defined as an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. It also occurs
when there is more water on the surface of the land than it can take. This may lead to river
overflowing its banks.

Erosion Endangers Shore Home

Natural forces such as wind, rain, and temperature cycles continually erode the land. This Chesapeake
Bay home was built on a cliff that has undergone severe erosion. Many people battle erosion by planting
grass and trees to form a strong root system or laying down netting to keep rock and soil from washing
away.
Causes of Floods
1.Deforestation: When large areas of forests near the rivers are cleared, the land may be used for
settlement, roads and farmland. Less vegetation protects the soil, the soil is quickly lost to rivers
and sea. This raises the river bed, so the river overflows its banks easily, and then flooding
occurs

2. Poor water management: when the dams are poorly constructed or maintained, they can
easily collapse and these results in flooding.
3. Population pressure: Because of large amounts of people, more food, wood, etc are needed
for consumption; thereby leading to over-cultivation of lands which le ad to erosion and
increases the risk of flooding.
Glacial Deposition
Glaciers, such as this icy formation in Switzerland, deposit materials as they grow and shrink. Glacial
deposition is a process that includes the deposits laid down by the glaciers and the landforms that these
deposits form. Glaciers transport till, materials such as rocks, sand, and clay. Till collects to form features
such as terminal and lateral moraines.
4. Amount of rainfall: The amount and intensity of rainfall determine the amount of run-off on
the land and this will determine the amount of water available for flooding to occur.

5. Closeness to sea or ocean: When the level of water rises above the bank of the sea or river,
flooding occurs in areas close to the sea or river

6. Social habit of the people: In areas where people tend to build structures to block drainage
system, there may be blockage of water channels and free flow water is hindered which may lead
to flooding.

7. Type and condition of the soil:

EFFECTS OR CONSEQUENCES OF FLOODING ON COMMUNITIES

1. Loss of human life

2. Damage to property
3. Deterioration of health conditions owing to waterborne diseases.
4. Communication links and infrastructure such as power plants, roads and bridges are
damaged and disrupted, some economic activities may come to a standstill
 5. People are forced to leave their homes and normal life is disrupted
6. Disruption of industry can lead to loss of livelihood.
7. Damage to infrastructure also causes long-term impacts, such as disruptions to supplies
of clean water, wastewater treatment, electricity, transport, communication, education
and health care.
8. Reduction in purchasing power and loss of land value in the floodplains can leave
communities economically vulnerable.
9. Floods can also traumatise victims and their families for long periods of time.

EFFECTS OF FLOODING ON FARMLAND

1. Widespread damage to crops and fencing

2. Loss of livestock
3. Waterlogged soils
4. Delay in harvesting are further intensified by transport problems due to flooded
roads and damaged infrastructure.
5. Food prices increase due to shortage in supply.
6. Poverty

PREVENTION OF FLOODING

1. Construction of dams to take excess water that may lead to flooding

2. Construction of reservoir that will hold excess water which can be used for other
purposes
3. Clearing of gutters of waste that can prevent free flow of water
4. Prevention of construction of structures along river and sea banks
5. Having adequate and proper town planning which will bring about construction of
adequate drainage system
6. Education
DRAINAGE PATTERNS

Drainage is the process by which water or liquid waste is emptied from an area.

TYPES OF DRAINAGE PATTERNS

1. SURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM: This type of drainage system is found in rural areas
and it is not designed by qualified engineers. The drainage is exposed and water can
easily overflow the drainage and flood the area.
2. SUB-SURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM: The sub-surface system is covered with
concrete while water flows underground, thereby preventing overflow of the boundaries.
It is designed by qualified engineers. This type of drainage is usually found in cities such
as Abuja, Lagos, e.t.c.

EVALUATION

1. Explain flooding
2. List five causes of flooding
3. Explain four effects of flooding
4. Mention and explain four activities of man that promote flooding
5. Explain how flooding can be prevented or controlled
6. Explain two types of drainage system
7. Define erosion
8. List four causes of soil erosion
9. State five ways of controlling soil erosion
10. Mention five effects of erosion

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT:

i. Define bush burning and deforestation

ii. State three causes of bush burning
iii. State three effects of deforestation
 WEEK FOUR

TOPIC: ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

SUB-TOPIC: BUSH BURNING AND DEFORESTATION

Sub-Topic 1: PRACTICES THAT INFLUENCE BUSH BURNING

Bush burning is the clearing of vegetation by setting it on fire. The reason for bush burning may
be for social, economic or agricultural purpose. Practices that can influence bush burning
include:

Forest Fire
In this picture a fire rages through Yellowstone National Park in the United
States. There are three kinds of forest fires: one that burns a layer of the forest
floor only, one that burns surface litter and forest undergrowth, and one that
advances through the tops of trees. All three fires can occur at the same time

1. Building and construction of houses, schools, hospitals, market places, roads, e.t.c.
2. Some culture see bush burning as a way of celebrating festivals
3. Hunting of animals in the bush for commercial purposes
4. The need to remove excessive vegetative cover on farmland before tillage
5. Some farmers set bush on fire because they see it as a way of disinfecting and destroying
pests, disease-causing organisms and weed seeds
 6. The act of setting bush on fire is to encourage fresh growth of green grass for livestock

Practice House Fire

Fire requires heat, oxygen, and fuel to ignite and spread. Here, firefighters
practice extinguishing a house fire. While fire is an essential part of our lives—
providing heat for warmth, cooking, and certain industrial processes—
uncontrolled fire can be a destructive force. In the United States, a structure fire
occurs every 55 seconds.

EFFECTS OF BUSH BURNING

1. Bush burning destroys and removes the soil protective and vegetative cover and thereby
encourages erosion
2. It exposes the soil to the heat of the soil
3. It leads to destruction of beneficial soil organisms that help to improve soil structure
4. It leads to destruction of wild animals
5. It leads to extinction of animals
6. It causes environmental pollution (Air pollution )
7. It encourages fresh growth of green grasses for livestock
 8. It helps in releasing some elements from the burnt plants to the soil, e.g. calcium,
potassium and phosphorus
9. It is a quick and cheap way of clearing land
10. It is used to get rid of pests, pathogens and weed seeds
11. It spreads rapidly and cause damage to crops

REGULATIONS AGAINST BUSH BURNING

Laws and regulations against bush burning are made by the government to protect plants and
animals. Some of the regulations are:

1. It is an offence to set the bush on fire

2. Hunting is prohibited in forest reserves

There are agencies, divisions and units in the Local Government and ministries in the state
responsible for enforcement of laws. These include the following:

1. The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA )

2. The State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA )
3. The National Forest Conservation Councils of Nigeria (NAFCON ) which is responsible
for matters relating to forests
4. The federal and state ministries of environment
5. Local government that make by-laws to control bush burning

DEFORESTATION

MEANING OF DEFORESTATION
Deforestation in Costa Rica
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-
forest use.

It can also be defined as the continuous removal of forest trees by indiscriminate felling or by
bush burning without replacing them. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland
to farms, ranches or urban use.

REASONS FOR DEFORESTATION

1. Trees are cut down to be used or sold as fuel (firewood) sometimes in the form of
charcoal or timber
2. Farming : Cleared land is used as pasture for livestock and planting of crops
3. War: Deforestation has also been used in war to deprive an enemy of cover for its
forces and also vital resources
4. Unfavourable climatic factors
5. Building of houses
6. Natural disaster
7. Industrialization
8. Government policies
Deforestation and Erosion
The lush vegetation bordering lakes and streams provides a shade cover that keeps water temperatures
cool. When the plants and trees are removed, sunlight shines directly on the water, raising the temperature
as much as 10° C (18° F). The ensuing erosion compounds the thermal pollution because silty muddy
waters absorb more energy from the sun than clear water does.

EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION

1. Deforestation leads to desert encroachment

 2. It leads to depletion of forest produce which serve as raw materials for industries such as
timber, paper industries, etc.
3. It encourages soil erosion as there are no vegetation covers on the soil
4. It leads to loss of organic matter resulting to loss of soil fertility
5. It also increases the rate of leaching of plant nutrient
6. It leads to reduction of wildlife
7. It causes climate change and thereby leads to global warming as well as pollution because
carbon (iv) oxide is allowed to accumulate in the cloud
8. It causes extinction of wildlife
9. It causes desertification

CONTROL OF DEFORESTATION

1. Forest Management
2. Improved and sustainable farming practices
3. Reforestation
4. Forest Plantation
5. Monitoring Deforestation

REGULATIONS ON DEFORESTATION

International organizations including the United Nations and the World Bank have begun to
develop programs aimed at curbing deforestation. The blanket term Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) describes these sorts of programs, which use
direct monetary or other incentives to encourage developing countries to limit and/or roll back
deforestation.

Some of the regulations made by the Nigeria government to prevent people from engaging in
activities leading to deforestation are:

1. Regulation banning indiscriminate cutting of timber trees

2. Regulation banning farming in forest reserve
3. Regulation prohibiting bush burning
4. Regulation encouraging people to plant trees
5. Regulation that people should obtain licence to secure permission to enable them cut
down trees for human needs
EVALUATION

1. State three regulations by the government to prevent deforestation

2. State five effects of deforestation on the environment
3. State two ways of controlling deforestation
4. Define deforestation
5. State five reasons for deforestation
6. What is bush burning
7. State three practices that influence bush burning
8. List five economical effects of bush burning
9. State three agencies responsible for the control of bush burning

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

Read and discuss ozone layer depletion and its effects

WEEK FIVE

TOPIC: ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS (3)

SUB-TOPIC: DESERTIFICATION AND DEPLETION OF THE OZONE LAYER

DESERTIFICATION

Definition of Desertification or Desert Encroachment

Desertification is the degradation of land in any dry land.It is caused by a variety of factors, such
as climate change and human activities. Desertification is a significant global ecological and
environmental problem.

It can also be defined as a process of land degradation which occur mainly in arid regions or
semi-arid regions where rainfall is unreliable which can be compounded by different human
activities that lead to mismanagement of the environment

GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS

Dry lands occupy approximately 40–41% of earth’s land area and are home to more than 2
billion people. It has been estimated that some 10–20% of dry lands are already degraded, the
total area affected by desertification being between 6 and 12 million square kilometres, about 1–
6% of the inhabitants of dry lands live in desertified areas, and that a billion people are under
threat from further desertification.
The Sahara is currently expanding at a rate of 48 kilometers per year.

Some geographical areas are more prone to becoming deserts than others. Geographical areas
where rainfall is not heavy and regular are prone to desertification. Northern states of Nigeria
such as Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Borno have low and irregular rainfall. These states
are threatened by desertification.

Borno State Sokoto State

CAUSES OF DESERTIFICATION

1. Over cultivation of desert land: The most common cause of desertification is the over
cultivation of desert lands. Over cultivation causes the nutrients in the soil to be depleted
faster than they are restored
2. Overgrazing of dry lands is one of the primary causes of desertification. Overgrazing
removes vegetation causing erosion and loss of topsoil.
3. Poverty;
At least 90% of the inhabitants of dry lands live in developing nations where they also
suffer from poor economic and social conditions. This situation resulted to land
degradation because of the reduction in productivity and the difficulty of access to
resources and opportunities
4. Deforestation;
Destruction of plants in dry regions is causing desertification to occur. People are cutting
down trees to use them as a source of fuel. Once all these trees are cut down there is
nothing to protect the soil. Therefore, it turns to dust and is blown away by the wind.
5. Incorrect Irrigation in Arid regions;
Incorrect irrigation is commonly used in poorer areas. Farmers are using canal irrigation
and other poor techniques because of the lack of water. This type of irrigation causes a
build-up of salt in the soil.
6. Bush burning
7. Erosion
8. Absence of rainfall for a long time
9. Climate change
EFFECTS OF DESERTIFICATION

1. Soil becomes less usable;

The soil can be blown away by wind or washed away by rain. Nutrients in the soil can be
removed by wind or water. Salt can build up in the soil which makes it harder for plant
growth
2. Vegetation is damaged;
Loosened soil may bury plants or leave their roots exposed. Also, when overgrazing
occurs, plant species may be lost.
3. Famine;
Places that have war and poverty are most likely to have famine. Drought and poor land
management contribute to famine.
4. Food Loss;
The soil is not suitable for growing food; therefore the amount of food being made will
decline. If the population is growing, this will cause economic problems and starvation.
5. Desertification can cause flooding, poor water quality, dust storms, and pollution. All of
these effects can hurt people living near an affected region. (The Facts of Desertification
and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, 2000)
6. Death;
People die of starvation and cattle die of starvation
7. Migration;
Desertification often causes rural lands to become unable to support the same sized
populations that previously lived there. This results in mass migrations out of rural areas
and into urban areas, particularly in Africa. These migrations into the cities, often cause
large numbers of unemployed people who end up living in slums
8. Desertification is recognized as a major threat to biodiversity
9. It leads to extreme poverty

Example of arid land

 More examples of arid land

CONTROL MEASURES OF DESERTIFICATION

1. Prevention of overgrazing
2. Afforestation and reforestation should be encouraged
3. Improved and sustainable agricultural practices
4. Desertification programs
5. Development of biodiversity action plans to counter its effects, particularly in
relation to the protection of endangered flora and fauna
6. Educating the local population about the dangers of deforestation and sometimes
employ them to grow seedlings, which they transfer to severely deforested areas
during the rainy season
7. To make unified plans, adapt measures to local conditions, implement the plans in
a step-by-step manner, and combine regional prevention and control with key area
prevention and control
8. To give priority to prevention, combine prevention with control and adopt
integrated approaches in rehabilitating desertified land
9. To combine protection and restoration of vegetation with rational use of natural
resources
10. To follow the law of ecology and rely on advancement of science and technology
11. To combine efforts to improve ecological environment with efforts to help
farmers and herdsmen to free themselves from poverty and become prosperous
12. To combine government support with local self-reliance, combine organization by
the government with participation by people from all walks of life, and encourage
units and individuals to contract for prevention and control of desertification
13. To protect the legitimate rights and interests of people engaged in prevention and
control of desertification.

DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER AND ITS EFFECTS

Description of the Ozone Layer and its Location in the Atmosphere

The earth’s atmosphere is divided into three layers namely: troposphere, stratosphere and
ionosphere. Ionosphere is further divided into mesosphere and thermosphere.
The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere. Ozone forms a layer of the upper atmosphere,
where it acts as a shield that prevents most of the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight from reaching
earth’s surface. In recent years, reports from atmosphere research satellites have shown that the
ozone layer is vanishing or depleting than it can be regenerated naturally. This has cause a lot of
concern among those who know the effects of what is happening to ozone layer.

IMPORTANCE OF THE OZONE LAYER

The ozone layer forms a protective shield against some kinds of radiation produced by the sun.

The radiation is the ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun. The rays pass through the layers of the
atmosphere and they are absorbed by the ozone layer, thereby protecting human beings and other
living organisms from harmful ultraviolet rays.

CAUSES OF OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

The major cause of ozone layer depletion is the accumulation of a chemical called
Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC ) which is a chemical used for refrigeration, as propellant in aerosol
and for other manufacturing processes. The ways in which CFC destroys the ozone layer are as
follows:

1. Chlorine from CFC reacts with ozone, chlorine monoxide and oxygen are formed
2. Two molecules of chlorine monoxide react to form chlorine peroxide
3. Sunlight causes chlorine peroxide to break it down into oxygen and free chlorine
atoms
4. The chlorine atoms can then bring the cycle again and again
 Smoke from industrial activity

EFFECTS OF DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER

1. It leads to appearance of various forms of cancer

2. Severe sun burns
3. It leads to the development of cataracts leading to clouding of eye lens and blurred vision
4. The skin ageing more rapidly
5. It causes lowered resistance to infectious diseases
6. Killing of useful micro-organisms
7. It affects photosynthesis resulting in lower crop yield
8. It causes global warming
9. It causes greenhouse effect
10. It makes polar ice melt in cold regions of the world leading to flooding
11. It increasessea level which results in flooding
 Flooded town

CONTROL MEASURES OF OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

1. There should be ban on chemicals that cause depletion of ozone layer

2. Production of chlorofluorocarbon should be stopped
3. Chemicals that are environmentally friendly should be produced to replace substances or
chemicals that cause ozone layer depletion
4. Indiscriminate burning of materials that can cause global warming and greenhouse effect
should be stopped.
5. Reduce bush burning
6. Control discharges of industrial effluents
7. Regulation on use of chlorofluorocarbon

EVALUATION

1. What is the full meaning of CFC

2. Where is the ozone layer located in the atmosphere
3. Explain the importance of the ozone layer
4. List three causes of the ozone layer
5. State five effects of the ozone layer depletion
 6. State five ways of reducing ozone layer depletion

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. Draw the layers in the atmosphere

2. Read about drug abuse III. Basic Science made easy for Nigerian Junior Secondary
Schools Bk3 by F. I. Kehindepgs 26-29.

WEEK SIX

TOPIC:DRUG ABUSE III

Content:1. Meaning of drug abuse

2. Effects of drug abuse

3. Prevention of drug abuse

4.Drug control Agencies

Sub-Topic1: Meaning of drug abuse and Effects of Drug Abuse

MEANING OF DRUG ABUSE

Drug abuse is the use of drugs not prescribed by a doctor or using it in a way that is not in
accordance with doctor’s prescription. In spite of the potential harm which all drugs pose to the
health of users and society, people still use drugs without caution.

Illegal drugs are drugs that have been banned by law in a country. It is illegal to use, possess or
supply such drugs. Some illegal drugs have been categorized as “ Prescription only”, meaning
that they may only be used legally if prescribed by a doctor, but are illegal to use, possess or
supply in any other circumstance.

SOME ILLEGAL DRUGS

Opium poppy (source of morphine, Marijuana plant

codeine and heroin)

Coca plant (source of cocaine)

EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE

i. Stomach upset or discomfort.
ii. Damage to vital organs such as nostrils, lungs, liver, kidney, brain and heart.
iii. Rise in body temperature and blood pressure (hypertension).
iv. Palpitation or irregular heartbeat.
v. Difficulty in breathing.
vi. Injection abscess.
vii. Increase in the rate of HIV/AIDS infection through the sharing of unsterilized
needles.
viii. Low immunity to diseases because disease agents become resistant to drugs.
ix. Skin rashes
x. Insomnia(sleeplessness)
xi. Depression
xii. Hallucination
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a set of birth defects caused by
heavy consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. Children with this condition typically have a
misproportioned head, facial deformities, mental retardation, and behavioral problems. FAS is
the leading known cause of mental retardation in the Western Hemisphere.

Socio-economic Consequences of Drug Abuse andPrevention of Drug Abuse

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE ON YOUTHS

i. Behavioural changes responsible for truancy and disloyalty to constituted authorities

in schools and the society at large.
ii. Acute memory loss leading to poor academic performance and eventual school
abandonment.
iii. Panic syndromes which make the victims to be increasingly agitated, restless and
confused.
iv. Violence and criminal tendencies e.g. rape, murder, suicide, armed robbery, battery
and assault.
v. Destitution and insanity
vi. Road accidents.
vii. Low self-esteem by losing one’s sense of motivation.
viii. Stigmatization of families of victims of drug abuse especially addicts of illegal (hard)
drugs that are also labeled with antisocial or criminal conducts.
ix. Economic loss from treatment and rehabilitation of destitute and the insane resulting
from drug addiction.
x. Damage to human life and infrastructure which hinders community development.
PREVENTION OF DRUG ABUSE

i. Formation of healthy life style: parents should help their children to develop healthy
life styles such as medical advice from qualified medical personnel when they are ill.
ii. Proper role modeling: adults in the society should endeavour to exhibit good and
transparent conducts for children to emulate.
iii. Inculcating coping skills: addicts who want go off drugs should be engaged in skill
acquisition programmes and sporting activities that will keep them busy.
iv. Regulating the sale of drugs: government should legislate against the distribution
and marketing of addictable drugs. The sale and use of alcoholic beverages should be
restricted to adults only.
v. Counseling: offering professional help to resolve personal and drug related problems.

Drug Control Agencies

In Nigeria, two drug control agencies have been established. These are;

a. National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA). They monitor the

transportation, trafficking and use of illegal or illicit drugs.
b. National agency for food and drug administration and control (NAFDAC).
They deal with the sale and use of fake drugs.

ACTIVITIES OF DRUG CONTROL AGENCIES

i. Regulating the importation, manufacture and distribution of foods and drugs.

ii. Enforcement of national drug laws by prosecuting defaulters of national drug laws
and destruction of illegal drugs.
iii. Controlling the importation and exportation of illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin,
marijuana, etc.
iv. Controlling the distribution and sales of drugs
v. Ensuring quality control of drugs by destroying fake and substandard drugs.
vi. Arresting drug pushers

OTHER DUTIES OF NAFDAC

i. Ensuring that consumers have appropriate and accurate information about drugs and
food they are using.
ii. Prosecuting defaulters of who manufacture and distribute substandard drugs and food
substances.
iii. Inspection and certification of the production premises and raw materials for food,
drugs and cosmetics.
iv. Registration of food and drug manufacturing companies.
 v. Collaborating with NDLEA to eradicate drug abuse in Nigeria.
vi. Advising government at all levels and private sector regarding quality, safety and
regulatory provisions on foods, drugs, cosmetics, etc.

EVALUATION

1.Define drug abuse.

2.Describe five adverse effects of drug use on youths and the family.
3.Mentions 3 duties of drug control agencies.
4.Which one of these is not an effect of drug abuse
(A) Social nuisance (B) frustration (C) financial waste (D) mental stability (E)
loss of sanity
5. which one of these is not an effect of uncontrolled use of drugs (A) one becoming
richer (B) cancer of the lungs (C) kidney failure (D) eye defect (E) mental instability.
6. Which of these is not a strategy for preventing drug abuse? (A) avoiding bad
company (B) interacting positively with peers (C) indulging in drinking and smoking
(D) keeping oneself busy (E) upholding moral teaching and standards
7. Mention two way by which youths can maintain a drug abuse-free life
8. Describe briefly the activities of drug control agencies.

WEEK EIGHT

TOPIC: RESOURCES FROM LIVING THINGS

CONTENT

1. Resources from plants

2. Resources from animals
3. Economic importance of resources to self and society.
RESOURCES FROM LIVING THINGS

Resources are useful things or materials we derive from living things or non-living things. These living
things are plants and animals.

RESOURCES FROM PLANTS

There are crops that we grow for their leaves, fruits, stems and roots. We can identify four major types of
plant resources. These are: food crops, crops for textiles, wood crops, and medicinal plants.

Food Crops

1. Leafy Vegetables: These are plants grown for their leaves. These are either cooked or eaten fresh
as salads. They provide us with minerals (calcium and iron) and vitamins (particularly vitamins A
and C) which our bodies need. Examples include lettuce, cabbage, bitter leaf, pumpkin leaf,
Talinum, and other plants used for ‘leafy soups.

2. Fruits: Examples are peppers, tomatoes, okra, mangoes, bananas, pawpaw, dates, oranges,
lemons, pineapples and guavas. They provide the body with mineral salts and vitamins.
3. Seeds: Examples of seeds include beans, maize, millet, sorghum, rice, barley, and wheat. We eat
many of them as cooked foods. They provide us with starch, fat, and protein. We use barley for
brewing beer, and wheat to make flour used in baking bread and cakes. We also use sorghum, and
maize to make some local drinks.

4. Underground Crops: These include stem tubers or swollen stems such as yam, cocoyam, and
Irish potato; root tubers such as cassava, sweet potato, carrot, radish; and bulbs like onions.
They are called underground crops because they grow under the ground. They provide us mainly
with starch.
Cassava Yam

5. Oil Plants: These are oil palm, groundnut, cotton, coconut, and olive. We produce cooking oils
from their seeds or fruits. The oil is also used for other things like margarine, soap and body
cream.

Oil palm Nuts (in bunches)

Coconut

Crops for Textiles

These are crops that we use to make cloth, ropes, baskets, and dyes.

1. Cloth: The fibre produced by cotton plants, found around the seeds is used for making cloth.
2. Ropes: Materials for sacks and nets are made from different kinds of plants like sisal, sorrel
plant, guinea-hemp and jute. We also obtain fibres from the Baobab, Bauhinia, and Greutvia.
3. Baskets: Palm leaves provide materials for making hats, bags, baskets, and other things.
4. Dyes: Weobtain dyes from many plants e.g. Indigo plant, logwood, weld, safflower, Brazil wood,
cola-nuts, etc.

COTTON

Wood Crops

Some trees provide hardwood which is used for buildings and furniture, e.g. Mahogany, Ebony,
Iroko, Obeche and Camphor. Some trees provide softwood which is used for wood pulp and paper, as
well as for buildings. Also leaves of some plants are used for roofs, fences, and for making furniture.
Palm leaves are used for roofing and fencing.

Plants provide us with firewood which is a source of energy.

Medicinal Plants

The bark, roots and leaves of some plants are used as medicines;

1. against many diseases like fever

2. to heal wounds
3. to stop frequent stools
4. to cure indigestion

Examples of such plants include; lemon grass, Neem, Aloe vera, bitter leaf, ginger, etc.

CASH CROPS

These are crops produced mainly for sale, particularly to people in other countries of the world. They
include fibre crops, oil crops, and some food crops.

Some very well-known cash crops are; fibre crops, such as cotton; oil crops such as groundnuts and oil
palm; wood crops such as mahogany and ebony.

Other cash crops are rubber, coffee, tea, cola, coconut, cocoa, sugar cane, tobacco, beni-seed, and shea-
butter.
 Cocoa Plant

RESOURCES FROM ANIMALS

Animals that commonly provide us with food are of three main types;

(i) Livestock Animals: This group consists of animals like cows, goats, sheep and pigs. They
provide us with meat, milk and butter. In addition, they provide hides and skins which we
use for leather goods (bags, shoes, purses, belts, drums, garments). The word ‘hide’ refers to
skin of large animals like cattle (also horses and camels); and ‘skin’ refers to the skin of
smaller animals like goats, sheep, rabbits, pigs. We use animal bones and horns for furniture,
glue, and some other things. Their faeces are used as manure to improve the growth of plants
(food crops).

Sheep Pig
Goat

(ii) Poultry Animals: This group consists of poultry birds – chicken, guinea fowl, duck, goose,
pigeon, turkey etc. They provide us with meat and eggs. We also use their feathers in pillows
and for decoration. Their droppings are used as manure on farms and garden.

DuckTurkey
Geese

(iii) Aquatic Animals: The third group consists of animals that live in water; fish, prawns,
crayfish and crabs (some crabs also live on land). We use them for food. They provide us
with proteins, minerals and vitamins.

Fish Prawn
Crab

Apart from providing us with food, animals also provide other useful things already listed, animals
provide glue (from their bones), wool and fur (from their coats) and ivory (from elephants’ tusks) used in
making some kinds of furniture and hide use in making shoes and belt.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF RESOURCES

Plants and animal resources are economically important to man and the society. They are sources of;

(i) Food for man and livestock e.g. vegetables, fruits, seeds, tubers, meat, eggs, butter, etc.
(ii) Raw materials for industries e.g. rubber, cocoa, ginger, groundnut, cotton, Mahogany, etc.
(iii) Family and national income, that is from the local sale or export of the resources.
(iv) Manure; which help to replenish soil fertility.
(v) Fuel e.g. firewood, charcoal, biogas, etc.
(vi) Medicine e.g. Penicillin
(vii) Herbicides etc.
Plant and animal resources can also have harmful/ negative implications on man and his environment.
This could arise from;

(i)Pollution e.g. stench from refuse dumps and sewage; gases from burning fuels; etc.
(ii)
Contamination of food or water thereby causing ill health in plants and animals.
(iii)
Their being used as biological weapons e.g. Anthrax dust.
(iv)
Over consumption of foodstuff which may cause health problems like obesity, bedwetting,
diabetes, heart and circulatory diseases.
EVALUATION

1. Enumerate three types of animals and mention the resources they provide for us.
2. Mention other ways by which resources from animals can be used.
3. List four groups of resources obtained from plants.
4. Give three examples from each group and state their uses.
5. Discuss four major cash crops grown in Nigeria.
 6. Discuss briefly the economic importance of resources from living things to your society.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

Mention 5 solid minerals and where they are found in Nigeria.

WEEK NINE

TOPIC: RESOURCES FROM NON-LIVING THINGS

CONTENT 1.Solid Minerals

Meaning of Solid mineral

Solid minerals are naturally occurring chemical elements or compounds which are found in rocks or in
the soil, examples are gold, salt, tin etc.Minerals can exist as solids or non-solids or a combination of
both. All rocks are made up of minerals. Rocks which contain a high concentration of the mineral of a
particular metal, from which it can be profitably mined is called the ore of that metal e.g. iron ore, copper
ore, etc.

Solid minerals have been found deposited in some parts of Nigeria in commercial quantities and they are
of valuable use to man. Due to their importance, the federal government established the Ministry of Solid
Minerals to handle all matters concerning solid minerals.

Man utilizes some of these minerals in their natural/crude form while some of them have been combined
with other materials i.e. processed to form products which are useful to man.

There are about 34 minerals resources found in Nigeria. They include columbite, gold, zinc, diamond,
gypsum, limestone, tin, copper, etc.

Scientific study of minerals is called mineralogy and the scientist who studies mineralogy is called a
mineralogist.

Below is a table showing some mineral resources found in Nigeria, their location and uses.
 Mineral Location Importance Uses
Limestone 2. Nkalagu in Found to be of great 7. Making of cement
[Calcium Ebonyi State. importance to man andconcrete used in
trioxcarbonate and the economy of building houses.
(iv), (CaCO3)] 3. Ewekoro near
the nation.
Abeokuta and 8. Used in the
Shagamuin manufacture of
Ogun State. sodium
trioxocarbaonate
4. Sokoto (iv) Na2CO3,this is
very important in
5. Jakura near the manufacture of
Lokoja in glass, production of
Kogi State soap, and softening
of hard water.
6. Ukpilla in
Edo State 9. Part of raw
materials in the
6. Ashaka in Bauchi State production of iron.

10. Used in the

manufacture of
quicklime
(CaO),this is used in
agriculture to
remove acidity.

Gold (Au) 1. Ilesha in Osun state. Found to be of great 11. Used for making
2. Gusau in Zamfara State. importance to man jewelry.
and to the economy
of the nation.
2. Used as a basis of international
monetary transactions.

Copper 1. Benin City in Edo State It is of great 1. Mixed with tin to produce bronze;
Importance to man which is used to produce tools and
2. Igbo-Ukure in Anambra and to the economy weapons.
State. of the nation.
2. Mixed with bronze to make coins.

3. Used in making ornaments, pots.

4. Used for making electrical wires

and cables.
5. For making water pipes and
cylinders.

1. Used in coating iron as a

Tin (Sn) 1. Jos in Plateau State. Generally of great protection against corrosion.
importance to man
2. Bauchi in Bauchi State. and the economy 2. Used in making tin cans for food
storage.
of a nation.

Salt 1. Abakaliki in Ebonyi State. Generally of great 1. Serves dietary purposes.

Table Showing Mineral Resources Found In Nigeria and Their Location/Uses

Sub-Topic 3: DISTRIBUTION OF SOLID MINERALS IN NIGERIA

The map below shows the distribution of some important solid minerals in Nigeria.

KEY TO SYMBOLS
Solid Mineral Symbol

Coal ▲

Gold

Limestone

Lead

Tin

Zinc

Iron ∆

Magnesium ■

EVALUATION

1. Nigeria is divided into six geo-political zones. Mention three solid minerals found in your
zoneand state their locations.
2. What is a solid mineral?
3. Name five solid minerals found in Nigeria and state two uses/importance of each.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. In which soil type would you expect a plant to grow best and why?
2. Draw a map of Nigeria and insert the locations of the minerals discussed in class.

10. Revision
11. – 13. Examination.