Environmental Sciencev. 2015 - 2016
Environmental Science
This course will focus on society’s impact on the environment, natural resources and energy use. Environmental science takes concepts from Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, Geology, and the Social sciences including economics, politics and ethics. The course topics include Environmental Problems; Energy Flow, Matter & Cycling in Ecosystems; Population Dynamics; Endangered Species; Water Resources and Water Quality; Waste Management; Climate Change; Renewable and Non Renewable Energy; Pesticides and Pollution; and Agriculture and Food Management.
Class structure includes case studies and current events, environmental journals, group and individual projects, labs that simulate various environmental conditions, outside field sampling, and field trips.
Course Information:
Frequency & Duration: Daily for 42 minutes; 5 periods per week
Text: Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Environment. Thirteenth ed. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole-Thomas Learning, 2004. Print.
Content: Environmental Problems / Duration: August/ September (3 weeks)Essential Question: / How does the quality of the environment affect the health of all living things within it?
How are the needs and wants of all living things (including humans) directly connected to successful management of natural resources?
How do humans influence the environment?
Skills: / · Evaluate the impact of using renewable and nonrenewable energy resources on the Earth’s system.
· Analyze current solid waste regulations.
· Research the impact of new and emerging technologies in the use, reuse, recycling and disposal of materials.
· Evaluate ways that waste could be reduced during the production of specific product.
Assessment: / · Given a set of data students will be able to evaluate the impact of using renewable and nonrenewable energy resources on the Earth’s system.
· Students will analyze current solid waste regulations.
· Students will research the impact of new and emerging technologies in the use, reuse, recycling and disposal of materials.
· Students will evaluate ways that waste could be reduced during the production of specific product.
Resources / Activities: / Ch 16 Living in the Environment Pgs. 381-414
Carbon Footprint Lab
Sustainability Research Project
Standards: / 3.3.12.A2. Evaluate the impact of using renewable and nonrenewable energy resources on the Earth’s system.
4.5.12.D Analyze current solid waste regulations. Research the impact of new and emerging technologies in the use, reuse, recycling and disposal of materials. Evaluate ways that waste could be reduced during the production of specific product.
Vocabulary: / Non Renewable Resources- any natural resource from the Earth that exists in limited supply and cannot be replaced if it is used up; also, any natural resource that cannot be replenished by natural means at the same rates that it is consumed; Recycling- to treat or process (used or waste materials) so as to make suitable for reuse; Renewable Resources- any natural resource that can replenish itself naturally over time, as wood or solar energy; Sustainability- the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance
Comments:
Content: Energy Flow, Matter & Cycling / Duration: Sept./ Oct. (3 weeks)
Essential Question: / How are the needs and wants of all living things (including humans) directly connected to successful management of natural resources?
How do humans influence the environment?
When investigating different systems (e.g., agriculture, terrestrial, aquatic), how does a habitat meet the needs of a species?
Skills: / · Explain how species adapt to limiting factors in an ecosystem.
· Explain the consequences of interrupting natural cycles.
· Research solutions to problems caused by interrupting natural cycles.
· Explain how public policy encourages or discourages the sustainable use of natural resources.
· Evaluate how organisms must derive energy from their environment or their food in order to survive.
· Describe and interpret dynamic changes in stable systems.
Assessment: / · Students will be able to explain how species adapt to limiting factors in an ecosystem.
· Students will be able to explain the consequences of interrupting natural cycles.
· Students will research solutions to problems caused by interrupting natural cycles.
· Students will explain how public policy encourages or discourages the sustainable use of natural resources.
· Students will evaluate how organisms must derive energy from their environment or their food in order to survive.
· Students will describe and interpret dynamic changes in stable systems.
Resources / Activities: / Ch. 4 Living in the Environment Pgs. 64-93
Energy Flow Lab
Standards: / 4.1.12.a Explain how species adapt to limiting factors in an ecosystem.
4.1.10.B Explain the consequences of interrupting natural cycles.
4.1.12.B Research solutions to problems caused by interrupting natural cycles
4.5.10.A. Explain how public policy encourages or discourages the sustainable use of natural resources.
4.5.12.A. Research how technology influences the sustainable use of natural resources; Analyze how consumer demands drive the development of technology enabling the sustainable use of natural resources
3.1.12.A2.Evaluate how organisms must derive energy from their environment or their food in order to survive.
3.1.12.A8.Describe and interpret dynamic changes in stable systems.
3.3.10.A3. Explain how the evolution of Earth has been driven by interactions between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
Vocabulary: / Biosphere- the part of the earth's crust, waters, and atmosphere that supports life; Ecosystem- a system, or a group of interconnected elements, formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment.; Limiting Factors- an environmental factor that tends to limit population size
Comments:
Content: Population Dynamics / Duration: Oct./ Nov. (3 weeks)
Essential Question: / How do humans influence the environment?
How do changes within living and non-living components of terrestrial and human systems affect the balance within and between them?
Skills: / · Research practices that impact biodiversity in specific ecosystems
· Analyze the effects of new and emerging technologies on biodiversity in specific ecosystems.
· Research how humans affect energy flow within an ecosystem.
· Describe the impact of industrial, agricultural, and commercial enterprises on an ecosystem
· Research solutions addressing human impacts on ecosystems over time.
Assessment: / · Students will Research practices that impact biodiversity in specific ecosystems
· Students will analyze the effects of new and emerging technologies on biodiversity in specific ecosystems.
· Students will research how humans affect energy flow within an ecosystem.
· Students will be able to describe the impact of industrial, agricultural, and commercial enterprises on an ecosystem.
Resources / Activities: / Ch. 9 Living in the Environment Pgs. 191-201
Impact on Ecosystem Lab
Standards: / 4.5.10.D. Research practices that impact biodiversity in specific ecosystems
4.5.12.D. Analyze the effects of new and emerging technologies on biodiversity in specific ecosystems.
4.1.12.C. Research how humans affect energy flow within an ecosystem.
Describe the impact of industrial, agricultural, and commercial enterprises on an ecosystem
4.1.12.E. Research solutions addressing human impacts on ecosystems over time.
3.3.10.A3.
Vocabulary: / Biodiversity- diversity among and within plant and animal species in an environment; Population- the assemblage of a specific type of organism living in a given area; all the individuals of one species in a given area
Comments:
Content: Endangered Species / Duration: Nov./ Dec. ( 6 weeks)
Essential Question: / What are the positive and negative effects of environmental laws and regulations on humans, the environment, and the economy?
How do humans influence the environment?
How is the survival of species and their ability to adapt affected by natural and human induced environmental changes?
Skills: / · Analyze the significance of biological diversity in an ecosystem
· Analyze the differences between natural causes and human causes of extinction.
· Research wildlife management laws and their effects on biodiversity.
· Analyze the relationship between habitat changes to plant and animal population fluctuations.
· Evaluate the impact of laws and regulations on reducing the number of threatened and endangered species.
Assessment: / · Students will be able to analyze the significance of biological diversity in an ecosystem
· Given a set of data, students will be able to analyze the differences between natural causes and human causes of extinction.
· Students will research wildlife management laws and their effects on biodiversity.
· Given a set of data students will Analyze the relationship between habitat changes to plant and animal population fluctuations
· Given a set of laws and regulations students will evaluate how those laws reduce the number of threatened and endangered species.
Resources / Activities: / Ch. 22 Living in the Environment Pgs. 568-594
Endangered Species Research Project
Suitcase for Survival
Standards: / 4.1.12.a Analyze the significance of biological diversity in an ecosystem; Analyze the differences between natural causes and human causes of extinction; Research wildlife management laws and their effects on biodiversity.
4.5.10.D Analyze the relationship between habitat changes to plant and animal population fluctuations.
4.5.12.D. Evaluate the impact of laws and regulations on reducing the number of threatened and endangered species.
Vocabulary: / Endangered Species- a species at risk of extinction because of human activity, changes in climate, changes in predator-prey ratios, etc., especially when officially designated as such by a governmental agency such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Extinction- the act or process of becoming extinct; a coming to an end or dying out; Habitat- the natural environment of an organism; place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism; Threatened- a species likely, in the near future, to become an endangered species within all or much of its range
Comments:
Content: Water Resources & Water Quality / Duration: Jan./ Feb. (4 weeks)
Essential Question: / What are the positive and negative effects of environmental laws and regulations on humans, the environment, and the economy?
How do humans influence the environment?
How do changes within living and non-living components of aquatic and human systems affect the balance within and between them?
When investigating different systems (e.g., agriculture, terrestrial, aquatic), how does a habitat meet the needs of a species?
Skills: / · Explain the processes of the hydrologic cycle and there is only one ocean.
· Explain the dynamics of oceanic currents and their relationship to global circulation within the marine environment.
· Examine environmental laws related to land use management and its impact on the water quality and flow within a watershed.
· Examine the interactions between abiotic and biotic factors within a watershed.
· Describe how topography influences the flow of water in a watershed.
· Investigate and analyze how vegetation affects water runoff and the quality of water in a watershed.
· Examine environmental laws related to land use management and its impact on the water quality and flow within a watershed.
· Examine how human interactions impact wetlands and their surrounding environments.
· Analyze the effects of policies and regulations at various governmental levels on wetlands and their surrounding environments.
· Analyze the effects of policies and regulations at various governmental levels on water quality.
· Assess the intended and unintended effects of public polices and regulations relating to water quality.
· Explain the consequences of interrupting natural cycles
· Research laws and policies that address the sustainable use of natural resources (e.g., solid and liquid waste management
· Explain how public policy encourages or discourages the sustainable use of natural resources.
Assessment: / · Students will be able to explain the processes of the hydrologic cycle and there is only one ocean.
· Given a set of data, students will be able to explain the dynamics of oceanic currents and their relationship to global circulation within the marine environment.
· Students will Examine environmental laws related to land use management and its impact on the water quality and flow within a watershed.
· Given a set of data Examine the interactions between abiotic and biotic factors within a watershed.
· Students will be able to describe how topography influences the flow of water in a watershed.
· Students will be able to investigate and analyze how vegetation affects water runoff and the quality of water in a watershed.
· Students will examine environmental laws related to land use management and its impact on the water quality and flow within a watershed.
· Given a scenario, students will be able to examine how human interactions impact wetlands and their surrounding environment.
· Students will Analyze the effects of policies and regulations at various governmental levels on wetlands and their surrounding environments.
· Students will Analyze the effects of policies and regulations at various governmental levels on water quality.
· Students will assess the intended and unintended effects of public polices and regulations relating to water quality.
· Students will be able to explain the consequences of interrupting natural cycles
· Students will research laws and policies that address the sustainable use of natural resources (e.g., solid and liquid waste management
· Students will explain how public policy encourages or discourages the sustainable use of natural resources.
Resources / Activities: / Ch4, 7, 14, 19, 21 Living in the Environment Pgs. 82-86, 147-155, 156, 313-336, 460-462, 486-495, 526-532
Water Quality Lab
Water Shed Lab
Standards: / 3.3.10.A5. Explain how there is only one ocean; Explain the processes of the hydrologic cycle;
Explain the dynamics of oceanic currents and their relationship to global circulation within the marine environment.
4.2.12.A. Examine environmental laws related to land use management and its impact on the water quality and flow within a watershed.
4.2.10.A. Examine the interactions between abiotic and biotic factors within a watershed.;
Describe how topography influences the flow of water in a watershed; Describe how vegetation affects water runoff; Investigate and analyze the effects of land use on the quality of water in a watershed.
4.2.10.B. Examine how human interactions impact wetlands and their surrounding environments; Describe how land use decisions affect wetlands
4.2.12.B. Analyze the effects of policies and regulations at various governmental levels on wetlands and their surrounding environments; Examine various public policies relating to wetlands; Investigate the intended and unintended effects of public policies and regulations relating to wetlands.