Download Environmental Science 621

2011
Environmental
Science 621
Curriculum Outcomes Checklist
As teachers in the Eastern School District continue their growth in
outcomes-based instruction and assessment, it is necessary to emphasize
the curriculum outcomes in the sciences for the purposes of backwards
planning, differentiation, criterion-referenced assessment and curriculum
mapping. This document will assist teachers in this curriculum focus.
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Introduction to Environmental Science
Ecological Principles
Human Population and Carrying Capacity
Natural Resources
Environmental Challenges and Successes
Project-Based Learning
Eastern School District
1/1/2011
Environmental Science 621 Outcomes by Unit
Introduction to Environmental Science
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
3.10
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
5.10
5.11
5.12
5.13
5.14
5.15
5.16
5.17
5.18
5.19
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
6.10
6.11
6.12
6.13
6.14
6.15
1.1
1.1.1
1.1.2
1.1.3
1.1.4
Demonstrate an understanding of environmental science, its history, applications, and common misconceptions.
Explain the environmental, social, and economic factors of sustainable development.
Define stewardship in relation to sustainability.
Demonstrate an understanding of the many different interpretations of environmental science.
Define the precautionary principle.
Demonstrate critical thinking skills through research and analysis of environmental science issues.
Ecological Principles
Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts, characteristics, and scale of systems.
Illustrate the cycling of matter through biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem.
Explain the relationship between abiotic factors and biotic factors of an ecosystem.
Define the components of the Earth's life support system: atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.
Explain how balance is maintained in ecosystems.
Conduct an experiment to measure abiotic factors of an ecosystem.
Demonstrate an understanding that humans can have a great impact on systems of living and nonliving things.
Define the different types of biodiversity: genetic diversity, species diversity, ecological diversity, and structural diversity.
Explain how factors that lead to loss of diversity affect the sustainability of an ecosystem.
Analyse the role and activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in preserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity.
Human Population and Carrying Capacity
Evaluate how the resource limits of an ecosystem affect its natural population.
Identify the relationship between human population growth, demand for resources, and increased consumerism.
Identify individual impacts on the environment using the concept of ecological footprint.
Analyse resource and land use on PEI over time.
Identify local land owners’ responsibilities and rights regarding land use.
Explain how the term ‘natural resource’ has evolved into the term natural capital.
Demonstrate an understanding of Earth's carrying capacity, considering human population growth and its demands on natural capital.
Natural Resources
Identify factors involved in responsibly developing the Earth's resources.
Food
Describe the processes used for the four major types of agriculture.
Food
Demonstrate an understanding of strategies that affect the state of global food production.
Food
Describe the present level of agriculture in PEI: levels of employment; impact on the economy; number of active farms; primary products
Food
Distinguish between organic and traditional farming practices.
Food
Demonstrate an understanding of soil conservation, erosion, and degradation.
Soil
Describe the environmental impacts from agriculture:
water contamination; pesticide and herbicide use; erosion; diversity loss
Soil
Demonstrate an understanding of sustainable water use at local, national, and global levels.
Water
Evaluate the significance of water resources for international relations.
Water
Evaluate global fishery management from a sustainability viewpoint.
Ocean
Describe the environmental impacts of various fishing techniques: mobile bottom fishing gear; bycatch; ghost fishing.
Ocean
Identify the importance of ocean resources to PEI over time.
Ocean
Identify the major forest regions in Canada.
Forest
Identify the role forests have as natural capital, as well as their economic, ecological, and social value: biodiversity, animal habitat, water cycle, domestic and commercial
Forest
harvesting, employment, recreation, soil stabilizers, reducing air pollution.
Examine the history of old growth forests, second-growth forests, and tree farms on PEI.
Forest
Explain how to manage forests more sustainably: role of forest certification; harvesting; deforestation; natural capital degradation; national parks and reserves.
Forest
Evaluate renewable and non-renewable energy sources from a variety of perspectives.
Energy
Describe factors that might affect future energy use on PEI.
Energy
Create a plan to improve energy efficiency in the home.
Energy
Environmental Challenges and Successes
Describe the characteristics of the troposphere and stratosphere layers of the atmosphere.
Demonstrate an understanding of how Earth's climate has changed over time.
Demonstrate an understanding of the greenhouse gases found in the troposphere and stratosphere: natural sources of greenhouse gases; anthropogenic sources of greenhouse
gases
Distinguish between the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Identify that climate change can have a catastrophic effect on Earth.
Identify the effects that climate change can have on PEI: sea level rise; increased erosion; economic effects; social effects; species movement/loss.
Compare different schools of thought about global warming and its future projections.
Demonstrate an understanding of challenges and successes made to address climate change: individual; industries; provincial governments; federal governments; international
agreements.
Summarize the main types, sources, and effects of air pollution.
Summarize the main types, sources, and effects of water pollution.
Explain strategies that reduce air and water pollution: improved energy efficiency; cleanup of groundwater; cultural eutrophication prevention.
Conduct an experiment to determine water pollutants: presence and concentration
Identify the types of solid domestic waste.
Evaluate pollution management strategies for solid domestic (municipal) waste on PEI.
Propose a course of action on a social issue related to waste management, taking into account human, economic, and environmental needs.
Project-Based Learning
Investigate a selected environmental science issue using a guided inquiry process.
Initiating and Planning: develop a plan to investigate questions, ideas, problems, and issues.
Performing and Recording: conduct investigations into relationships between and among variables, using a broad range of tools and techniques.
Analysing and Interpreting: analyse data to develop and assess possible explanations.
Communication and Teamwork: communicate information, ideas, and results.
DELIVERY MODEL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Introduction to Environmental Science
8 Classes
Ecological Principles
12 Classes
Human Population and Carrying Capacity
10 Classes
Natural Resources
20 Classes
Environmental Challenges and Successes
10 Classes
Project-Based Learning
14 Classes (Integrated)