Enjoy this exclusive freebie!

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1 Enjoy this exclusive freebie! This is a portion of my Environmental Issues product which can be found by clicking on this image: This product is also available in a Google Drive format as part of a larger product. You can find the Google Drive product by clicking on this image: 2015 Brainy Apples

2 for your purchase I appreciate your patronage at my TpT shop! If you have any questions, concerns, or product requests, please me at hleblanc@brainyapples.com Stay Connected! What Am I Allowed To Do With This Product? Brainy Apples (Heather LeBlanc, LLC) Terms of Use (TOU): By purchasing this product, the purchaser receives an individual license to reproduce the product for individual single classroom use only. This license is not intended for use by organizations or multiple users including, but not limited to, multiple teachers, grade levels, schools, or districts. This resource is not to be shared with colleagues, used by an entire grade level, school, or district without purchasing the proper number of licenses. Please contact me if you wish to purchase a large number of licenses: hleblanc@brainyapples.com No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without the written permission of the author. This includes posting this product on the internet, in any form, including classroom, personal websites, or network drives. Violations are subject to penalties of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING MY WORK. You May You May Not * Use this item for personal use. * Print and use this product for usage in your own classroom and/ or with our own students. * Review, pin, and/or share your experience with this product online provided you include a link back to my shop or the product in my shop. * Purchase additional licenses or share my shop link with others if they wish to acquire and use this product. * Make copies for, , or share this product with others. * Post this item or any portion of this item online including a personal, classroom, school, or district website. * Share it, sell it, or claim it as your own. * Use any part of this product to create your own products or resources for sharing or selling Brainy Apples/Heather LeBlanc, LLC

3 Name An Environmental Issue Millions of people visit Germany each year to marvel at its beautiful landscapes and historic buildings. They flock to the Black Forest in southwestern Germany, where centuries-old trees grow, to hike its mountain peaks or spend time in a German village untouched by the modern world. The majestic Rhine river carries cruise ship passengers past medieval castles and churches. Unfortunately, these alluring landscapes and buildings are deteriorating with each passing year. Acid rain has been damaging these landmarks over the past thirty years. Acid Rain in Germany What is Acid Rain? Acid rain is rain mixed with pollutants in the air. It s rain that has been polluted by gases released into the air by the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, or natural gas. The main sources of acid rain are smoke from factories and power plants. These facilities burn fossil fuels, thus releasing pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, into the air. Germany is one of the world s leading exporters of cars, steel, and chemical products, and the facilities that produce these goods burn fossil fuels. Germany s economy relies on this manufacturing, so it is not realistic to close the factories and plants. Another source of acid rain is the emission given off by automobiles that burn gasoline. Germans own more cars than people of most other countries do. These auto emissions contribute to Germany s problem of acid rain. Not only is Germany contributing to its own acid rain problem, but so are other countries. Toxic smoke that originates in other countries is carried by air currents to other places before it falls to earth as acid rain. This means that toxic smoke produced by factories in France and the Thoughts While Reading/Key Details

4 page 2 United Kingdom is carried by air currents to Germany where it then falls as acid rain. This also means that Germany is contributing to other countries acid rain problems! Toxic smoke produced in Germany is carried to other countries where it falls as acid rain. Widespread Damage Every time it rains, Germany s landmarks are harmed. Almost half of the Black Forest in southwestern Germany has been ruined. The acid rain alters the ph level (amount of acid) of the soil, and, as a result, many plants can t get the nutrients they need. Acid rain also damages the leaves of the plants and trees it touches. Subsequently, many plants and trees are dying. Acid rain doesn t just harm vegetation. As acid rain falls into rivers and lakes, the water becomes more acidic. Fish and other organisms that live in these waters are dying as well as the animals that drink from these waters. People are also facing health hazards from acid rain as it contaminates drinking water by falling into fresh water reservoirs. The damage from acid rain goes beyond the living. Germany s buildings and artwork are being corroded and deteriorated. Sulfur and nitrogen found in acid rain are eating holes in these landmarks. Metals, marble, limestone, and concrete are all susceptible to acid rain. Large amounts of money has been spent repairing buildings. Cultural objects, such as statues, monuments, and tombstones that are hundreds of years old, are slowly disintegrating. A National Commitment Since the damage from acid rain is great, Germany has began attempting to remedy this issue. However, it is much more difficult when some of the toxic smoke responsible for the acid rain originates in other countries. Nonetheless, Germany has passed laws to cut down on emissions from factories and automobiles within its own borders. The facilities that burn fossil fuels are beginning to use water power instead, or they are beginning to use fuels that burn cleaner thereby releasing less

5 page 3 pollutants into the air. Factory owners are fined if they don t reduce the amount of pollutants they emit into the air. Another change that is being made to the facilities that burn fuels is the smokestacks are being built taller. These taller smokestacks help scrub the smoke before it enters the air which results in fewer pollutants entering the air. Automobile owners must have their cars fitted with a special converter that attaches to the exhaust system that reduces the pollutants emitted from the car. World Leader Germany took a huge step in 2007 to reduce the amount of pollutants being introduced into the air by agreeing to increase its use of cleaner, renewable energy by 20 percent. Germany has began developing new types of energy that are environmentally safe to replace its dependence on fossil fuels. The country is the leading producer of wind turbines and solar power technology in the world. It s also home to the largest wind farm and solar energy plant in the world. Germany is committed to reducing harmful emissions, and, because of these changes, the amount of acid rain that is falling is being reduced. Write About It Determine the central idea & provide an accurate summary What is the central idea of this passage? Write a summary of the information presented in this passage.

6 Name How Acid Rain Is Formed Acid Rain in Germany Acid rain has been affecting Germany and many other countries for several decades. How is acid rain formed? Highlight the details in the passage yellow that describe this process. Think About It Complete the diagram below to show how acid rain is formed. Use the word bank to help you Word Bank pollutants like sulfur dioxide fossil fuel burning factory automobiles acid rain Write About It Identify key steps in a process (RH.6.3); Integrate visual information Use the diagram above and the passage to describe the process of how acid rain is formed.

7 Name Acid Rain in Germany Acid rain has various sources and many harmful effects. What sources cause acid rain? What are the harmful effects of acid rain? Highlight the details in the passage that describe the sources of acid rain green and the effects of acid rain pink. Think About It Fill out the organizer below that describes the sources of acid rain and its harmful effects. Sources Acid Rain Sources and Effects Effects acid rain Write About It Identify key steps in a process Use the organizer above and the passage to describe the sources of acid rain and its harmful effects.

8 Name Acid Rain in Germany Germany has acknowledged that acid rain is an environmental issue that needs to be addressed. How has Germany attempted to resolve this issue? Highlight the details in the passage blue that describe how Germany has attempted to reduce the amount of pollutants entering the air. Think About It Fill out the chart below that lists the solution Germany has implemented for each source of acid rain. Describe how each solution will help reduce the pollutants. Solving the Acid Rain Issue Source of Acid Rain Solution How This Reduces Acid Rain factories and power plants automobiles burning of fossil fuels Write About It Identify key steps in a process; Integrate visual information Use the chart above and the passage to describe the solutions Germany has implemented to reduce acid rain, and explain how these solutions will help reduce the pollutants.

9 Credits Brittney Murphy Fonts and Design Creative Clips KG Fonts Kelly Benefield Ta-Doodles Illustrations EduClips Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs 3AM Teacher Ashley Hughes Graphics From the Pond Kari Bolt The Library Fox Paula Kim Studios Heather LeBlanc 2 Brainy Apples