1. PHYSICAL AND
HUMAN
ENVIRONMENT
Unit 3

2. THE BIG PICTURE

3. What are some differences you can see?
Physical environment Human environment
(people adapt to it) (people modify it)

4. DEFINITION OF PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Natural surroundings which
people, animals and plants live
in
Comprise of
Water
natural vegetation,
landforms and rocks,
weather and climate
Examples = Deserts, coastal
areas, mountainous regions
Text pg 13

5. DEFINITION OF HUMAN ENVIRONMENT
 A changed physical environment by
people, through activities:-
Farming
Mining
Factories
Roads and railways
Examples = Urban city (Singapore)
Text pg 14

6. LETS THINK FURTHER…
How did the physical
environment changed into
the human environment?
Doyou support the
changes?

7. Inter-relationship between people
and environment
(2a
People IM ) PO
I VE PA S
SIT CT ITIV
PO S
a) CT S E
(1 A
IMP
(1b
IMP ) NEG ATIVE
AC AT EG
) N TS
TS IVE (2b AC
IMP
Environment

8. Inter-relationship between people and
environment
1a. How does human activities have positive
impact on the environment?
 “Cloud seeding” = use rockets/planes to
disperse substance > brings rainfall into
areas that are semi arid/ facing drought
 Positive impacts = survival of vegetation,
prevent drought
 Sustainable development = meets the
needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs

9. (1b)How does human activities have negative
impact on the environment?
 Humans may over cultivate the soil,
which leads to soil erosion
 Soil erosion = detachment of soil
particles, causes soil to loosen
 Deforestation = removal of top layer of
soil (which contains the most nutrients
and minerals). Hence during heavy
rainfall, top soil will be washed off

10. 2a.How does the physical environment
affect people positively
It provides natural resources that
benefits people eg Sunlight, minerals
Note: Resources can be renewable
(Able to replenish itself eg air, wind) or
non-renewable (Unable to replenish
itself/takes a long time to replenish eg
coal, petroleum)

11. 2b. How does the physical
environment affect people
negatively?
Natural disasters that destroys
human settlements eg Flood, tsunami
Unfavourable weather conditions will
affect people’s activities eg rainy day

12. 3.Which has a greater influence?
Justify your answers.
(a) Environment has greater influence on
people as extreme weather changes or
natural disasters are beyond human control
eg Tsunami, flooding
(b) People has greater influence on
environment as changes made to the
environment causes irreversible damages.
Humans also depletes natural resources
that are limited in their supply.

13. OBJECTIVE
1. Learn about the different living
environment between a !Kung
bushmen and a Singaporean
2. Understand how a !Kung
bushmen ADAPT to his
environment and how a
Singaporean CHANGED his
environment

14. HOW (SAN)BUSHMEN ADAPT
TO THE PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT
Click here to watch the video!
Take note of the following in the video:
Bushman’s clothes, language and tools

15. “Contrast”, “State the differences”
Use the following words when comparing the
differences:
But, However, Although, even though,
despite in spite of, Nevertheless,
Nonetheless, While, Whereas, Unlike

16. CONTRASTING MR !KUNG AND MR SING
!Kung Bushmen Singaporeans
Climatic High temperature in Constant high
conditions
the day and low temperature
temperature in the throughout the
night year
Very low rainfall High rainfall
throughout the year throughout the
Unpredictable rainfall year

17. !Kung Bushmen Singaporeans
Water Water holes Taps
sources Fruits and berries Reservoirs/Rain
Imported water
Bottled/canned drinks
Food Hunting animals Buying cooked food
sources Gathering roots, or raw food from the
berries, fruits and nuts super-markets, wet
from the wild markets and food stalls

18. !Kung Bushmen Singaporeans
Material
for
Animal skins Cloth and wool
clothing Leaves and Animal skins
grasses (leather)
Artificial material
eg Plastics and
polyester

19. !Kung Singaporeans
Bushmen
Types of
shelter
Temporary Permanent
shelters shelters
Huts made of Houses made
leaves, from concrete
branches and and steel
shrubs

20. !Kung Bushmen Singaporeans
Types of Handmade tools High-technology
tools /
technology Ostrich egg shells to tools
store water Tools are made
Spears made from in factories
wood and animal Machines,
bones computers
Bows and arrows
made from animal
muscles, stems and
grass

21. !Kung Singaporeans
Bushmen
Modes of
transport Walk most of Motorcars/MRT
the time System of road
No modern networks
transport Airport enables
No network of international travel
roads

22. SUMMARY
!Kung Bushmen Singaporean
 Live in a largely  Live in a largely
physical human
environment environment
(Kalahari desert in 
South Africa) Modified much of
 Adapted to their the environment to
environment and meet their needs
made few changes  Transformed an
to it island (from forest
 The environment is to city)
able to meet their
needs