Download Unit Plan

Introduction to Environmental Science
Unit Plan
Suggested Academic Level: 11-12th grade or 100-level college course
Anticipated Time Required: 7 class periods, including chapter test
Previous Unit: None
Next Unit: Nature of Science
Objectives:
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7.
Explain the interdisciplinary nature of the environmental science field of study.
Apply an environmental ethic a historical environmental policy decision.
Argue the merits and consequences of a decision proposed for a given issue or controversy.
Contrast the moral and economic pressures in a given issue or controversy.
Explain the “Tragedy of the Commons” essay and its relation to environmental issues.
Understand the basic causes of the major environmental problems.
Compare the populations, lifestyle, and resources of developed and developing countries.
Lesson Title
Description
Time
Resources
Students are given 5-10
minutes to take the test.
Course Introduction and
Icebreaker
What is Environmental
Science?
Environmental Ethics
As an icebreaker activity,
students take turns
introducing themselves and
giving the answer to one of
the questions in order.
San Francisco and the Hetch
Hetchy debate is discussed
as an introduction to the
topics and issues found in
environmental science.
The different historical
stages of environmental
ethics are defined.
Students are given a journal
writing topic: what decision
would they make with Hetch
Hetchy, and how does this
reflect their personal
environmental ethic?
45-60 minutes
Semester Course
Syllabus
Pretest
Lecture Powerpoint
30 minutes
Student Notes Outline
15 minutes
Environmental Science Teaching Resources by James Dauray
Hetch Hetchy Journal
Writing Prompt
http://www.aurumscience.com
Lesson Title
Economics and the
Environment:
Bhopal and Dow
Chemical
Tragedy of the Commons
and Environmental
Problems
Description
Time
Resources
Students are shown the
Bhopal / Dow Chemical
segment from the movie Yes
Men Fix the World and write 45 minutes
a journal entry on the
relationship between
morality and economy.
Explain the tragedy of the
commons essay and its
relation to the three main
categories of environmental
problems.
45 minutes
Bhopal and Dow
Chemical Journal
Writing Prompt
Lorax Journal Writing
Prompt
Show the Lorax. List and
discuss any examples of the
misuse of commons.
Demographic and
sociological differences
between developed and
developing countries are
defined with examples.
Developed and
Developing Countries
Chapter Review
Complete the “Blood Sweat
45 minutes
and T-Shirts” journal writing
prompt together. Have
students write the country
where their shirt was
produced on the board, then
collectively research the
GDP of each.
Students work on and review
for the upcoming exam using 30 minutes
the study guide.
Environmental Science Teaching Resources by James Dauray
Study Guide
http://www.aurumscience.com
Optional Activities:
Affluenza PBS Documentary
Highlights the social and environmental
consequences of a resource-intensive lifestyle.
Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price
Documentary
Connects the consumption of the wealthy
developed countries with the production of the
developing countries.
Environmental Science Teaching Resources by James Dauray
http://www.aurumscience.com