2.2 Ripple Effects

A. Ripple Effects

Have you ever seen one of the Jurassic Park movies? You know, the one where scientists bring dinosaurs back to life and then things get out of hand? That’s an example of when people could do something – bring back dinosaurs- but realize maybe they shouldn’t have. Making dinosaurs first was an action. That led to many negative actions. That’s also an example of a ripple effect.
Think About It:
  • Have you ever heard of the term ripple effect?
  • What does it mean?
If you aren’t sure, watch the video and then see if you can come up with a definition for the phrase ripple effect.

Ripple Effects

A ripple effect is when one small action causes more changes to happen—like when you throw a rock into a pond and it makes waves that spread out.
For example, if you help someone pick up their books, they might feel happier and help someone else later. Your one kind choice can spread and make a big difference.

Click here to check your answer

B. Little Actions, Big Ripples

Ripple effects can be positive or negative. Oftentimes, we don’t know what “ripples will happen.” We take one action and as a result something else happens. We call these unintended consequences. Intended means things we meant to happen. Unintended means things we didn’t mean to happen.

 

Directions: 

  • Check out some of these unintended consequences or ripple effects from history. 
  • Pick 2. Decide if it was a positive ripple or negative ripple.

Deadly 

Rabbits

Deadly Rabbits

Rabbits were brought to Australia in the 1800s because people wanted to hunt them for sport. But with no natural predators and lots of open land, they multiplied super quickly—within 50 years, there were over 100 million rabbits! They ate so many plants that they damaged the land and made it hard for native animals to find food or survive.

Super DNA 2.2 Deadly  Rabbits

A Cough 

on a Plane

A Cough on a Plan

One person boards a plane with a cold. Within days, lots of passengers are sick—and then people they know get sick too. That one cough caused a chain reaction!

Super DNA 2.2 A Cough on a Plane

A Wolf in Yellowstone

A Wolf in Yellowstone

Wolves were reintroduced or brought back to Yellowstone National Park to help control deer. After a while, plants started growing back, rivers flowed differently, and animals like beavers returned. All of that happened because one predator came back!

Super DNA 2.2 A Wolf in Yellowstone

One
Plastic Straw

One Plastic Straw

Someone tosses a plastic straw on the ground. It washes into the ocean, where a turtle mistakes it for food and gets hurt. That one choice can harm sea life and pollute entire ecosystems.

Super DNA 2.2 A Straw in Water

C. Ripple Report

Pick one of these examples – and in your Mission Log, write down 3 positive ripples and 3 negative ripples you think could come from one of these examples:

 

  • Plastic-Eating Bugs: Scientists create a new bug that can eat plastic and help clean up pollution. 
  • Animal Translators: A tech company creates a collar that lets animals speak human languages. 
  • Memory Erase App: A new app lets you delete bad memories from your brain. 
  • Weather Control Machines: Engineers invent machines that can control weather—stopping hurricanes or ending droughts.
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