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Honors Environmental Science Lusher Charter School 2014-2015 Instructor: Jeff Belmont, [email protected] Office Hours=Tuesday and Thursday 3:45-4:45pm The Course: The Honors Environmental Science course is designed to be an introduction to environmental science and prepare students to learn more about science and environmental science in the future. The two main goals of this course are to help students develop a conceptual framework of modern Environmental Science and to gain an appreciation of the Scientific Method. Additionally, students will gain relevant knowledge that will allow them to take part in discussions and make more informed decisions regarding environmental issues in society. Environmental Science is a highly interdisciplinary field and, as such, will require building upon knowledge and skills gained in other introductory science courses, including biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics. This course will give the students opportunities to integrate their understandings of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, through the lens of topics such as ecology, sustainability, and human health. Students will gain a better understanding of current research methods and methods for collecting, analyzing, and applying scientific knowledge through a variety of classroom, lab, and field experiences. The course will focus on seven major topics, similar in scope to those focused on in AP Environmental Sciences. The following topics will be covered in roughly the following distribution, though not necessarily in this order: Earth Systems and Resources 10-15% The Living World 10-15% Population Demographics 10-15% Land and Water Use 10-15% Energy Resources and Consumption 10-15% Pollution and Health 25-30% Issues of Global Environmental Change 10-15%. Course Objectives: The objectives of the course are that each student shall: • use various types of instrumentation and scientific methodologies to collect and analyze data • find and use patterns in collected data to solve problems • master the major principles of environmental science • research and present information and topics relevant to environmental science • apply knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social issues Overview: Text: Textbooks will not be assigned for this class. A class set of “Environment: The science behind the Stories,” by Withgott and Brennan, 3rd Ed, will be available for students to use during and after class, but must remain in the classroom. An additional copy is available in the library. -Replacement cost for lost or damaged books=$77.00 Supplemental Materials: An Ocean of Air by Gabrielle Walker Additional assigned readings and texts will be determined over the course of the semester Class Schedule: This class is on an “A” Day schedule. Students meet for 100 minutes per class every other day. Student Evaluation: Assessments for this course will generally include: (Percentages are cumulative for the course) Homework, quizzes, and other daily assessments (15% of grade) Group assignments and projects (10%) Arts Integration Project (5%) Lab work, lab assignments, including notebooks, field activities, special activities (20%) Unit and Quarterly exams (25%) Semester exams (25%) More detailed assessment information will be provided at the beginning of each quarter, so that students can keep track of their progress. Grading and assignments may change over the course of the year to reflect changes in course schedule and learning progress. Student Responsibility As this is an Honors and upper-level science course, students are expected to perform at a level that will prepare them for similar college-level work. No work should be turned in that is incomplete or not done to the best of a student’s ability. The success of each student depends on his or her willingness to complete assigned readings and out of class work and assessments to work toward mastery of the material. All students have the potential to do well in this course, however, their level of success and what they get out of the course depends directly on the effort they are willing to put into it. Course Website Assignments and course information will be found on a Weebly site. Students and Parents will have access to this site through the Lusher school website. Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 3:45-4:45 pm Please take advantage of this extra time to get help from your teacher and to have additional space and supplies for working on homework and projects. All students are welcome to come for help either day or both. Students consistently struggling with the materials or pace of the course should seek help from teacher as soon as possible. Late Work/Makeup Policy In order to reflect that this is a college prep course, a full letter grade will be taken off of any assignments that are turned in late. Minor assignments will not be accepted past the due date and students will receive a grade of zero (0) for that assignment, unless specified by the instructor. Work missed for acceptable reasons (excused absence, teacher pre-approval), including labs, should be made up within one week of the missed class. Please communicate with the instructor any of these situations as soon as possible. Because emphasis will be placed by the instructor on giving ample notice for all exams and major assignments in this course, no test re-takes will be available unless granted under extreme circumstances. Computer Use Laptop computers, phones, ipads, and other electronic devices are to be used only with permission. Students found using them without permission will be asked to turn them in to the teacher at the beginning of each class, where they will remain until the end of the school day. A full set of laptop computers is available for students to use when needed, for example during lab exercises, research based assignments, and for preparing for presentations. Lusher policy is that personal electronic equipment is not to be used during the school day. Honor Code Students are expected to adhere to Lusher School’s Project Pride and Core Values, as expressed above. Honesty, integrity, and mutual respect are necessary for true learning. Lusher’s mission is to foster a community of trust that will enhance student achievement. Students who accept responsibility for creating a climate of academic integrity reap lifelong benefits. Those who are in violation of the honor code can be subject to various disciplinary actions. Lusher Charter School’s Honor Code is as follows: 1. On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment/assessment. 2. I will not lie, cheat, plagiarize, or steal in my academic endeavors, nor will I accept the actions of those who do. 3. I will conduct myself responsibly and honorably in all my activities as a member for the Lusher Charter School community. Schedule (Tentative) The following page provides an outline of schedule units and topics of study. As the goal of the course is to gain mastery of the environmental science subject materials, the course schedule is subject to change based on the progress of learning and contingencies that may arise. Quarter Unit Lecture and Discussion Topics 1st Introduction to Environmental Science Interdisciplinary nature of Env. Science Economic approaches to the environment Process of creating Environmental Policy 1st Climate Change and Atmospheric Science Earth’s Systems and Resources Weather and climate, atmospheric circulation Stratospheric ozone and global warming Sources of air pollution Relevant legislation Geologic time Plate tectonics Soil and weathering systems 2nd Energy Resources and Consumption 2nd The Human Population 3rd Community Ecology 3rd Biodiversity and Population Ecology 3rd Sustainable Land and Water Use 4th Waste and Toxicity 4th Aquatic Systems and Pollution 4th Sustainable Solutions to Climate Change Review energy conversions and how electricity is created from energy sources Historic, current, and future energy use Compare fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, and renewable energy sources Human population history Distribution, fertility rates, growth rates, and the demographic transition Population pyramids National policies and strategies for sustainability Energy flow through an ecosystem Ecosystem structure and species interactions Community structure and ecological succession Biogeochemical cycles Natural selection and evolution Biodiversity and ecosystem services Soil conservation and sustainable agriculture Integrated pest management Llocal issues of conservation Comparing urbanization and sprawl Analyzing current methods of management for public and protected areas Preservation, remediation, mitigation, and restoration Treatment of waste and hazardous materials Cost-benefit analyses of econ. and health impacts Relevant legislation Water circulation and use Surface and groundwater issues Eutrophication and the dead zone Sources of water pollution Relevant legislation Maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services in the face of global change Strategies for sustainable development 1st-2nd Labs & Activities Intro to site analysis, Eco- footprint assessment Coriolis effect simulation, Greenhouse models Topography, Plate tectonics, Soil analysis Text Ch Solar absorption and technologies, Biofuels extraction Cemetery demography, Monarch tagging and data analysis 19-21 Plant growth lab, Compost study 4-7 Quadrat sampling and species identification, Ag. Fieldtrip Site analysis, Local issues in land use, City planning project Bioassay 9-11 Water quality testing-city water and in field 15-16 Sustainable school project 23 1-3, 23 17-18 7, and supp. materials 8, and supp. materials 12-13 14, 22