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Date
First half of
Septem
ber
Unit
1. Introduction
to
Environmental
Science
Foundational Concepts
a. Process of
Science/Scientific Inquiry
b. Themes of Environmental
Science
c. Importance of
Environmental Literacy
Learning Targets (I Can…)
1. Design and implement a scientific investigation
2. Identify and manipulate variables in an
experiment
3. Analyze and draw conclusions from data
4. Demonstrate appropriate lab safety techniques
1. List the themes of Environmental Science
2. Connect themes to course content (ongoing)
1. Explain why protecting the environment is
important (ongoing)
2. Analyze how my actions could impact the
environment and other living organisms
Second
half of
Sept.
2. Earth
Systems and
Resources
a. Earth Science Concepts
(I.A)
b. The Atmosphere (I.B)
1. List identifying characteristics about each
major geologic time period
2. Describe the mechanics of plate tectonics.
3. Identify the types of borders between tectonic
plates and the formations/events that happen at
those borders
4. Connect plate tectonic activities to events in
the geologic time scale.
5. Explain the processes that result in seasons
6. Describe the relationship between solar
intensity and latitude
1. Describe the composition and structure of the
atmosphere
2. Differentiate between weather and climate
3. Explain environmental impacts of the Coriolis
Effect.
c. Natural Biogeochemical
Cycles (II.E)
4. Write about the interactions between the
atmosphere and ocean.1. Describe the cycles of
carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and water2.
Explain how humans impact each
biogeochemical cycle3. Illustrate how
biogeochemical cycles demonstrate the Law of
Conservation of Matter
October
into first
hald of
Nov.
3. The Living
World
a. Ecosystem Structure
(II.A)
b. Energy Flow (II.B)
c. Ecosystem Diversity (II.C)
d. Natural Ecosystem
1. Distinguish between organism, population,
species, community, ecosystem, biome, and
biosphere
2. Provide examples of different ecological
niches that populations can have in an
ecosystem
3. Act out different types of interactions among
species
4. Contrast major terrestrial and aquatic biomes
1. Describe how energy from the sun is captured
and transformed on earth
2. Diagram the flow of energy
1. Differentiate between the different types of
biodiversity
2. Classify biomes from high-low biodiversity
3. Discuss survival of the fittest and evolution by
natural selection
4. Present an explanation of different ecosystem
services
1. Predict how climate shifts may impact an
Change (II.D)e. Loss of
Biodiversity (VII.C)
ecosystem2. Describe possible effects of species
moving into or out of an ecosystem3. Explain the
process of ecological succession and the
different communities that result1. Describe
different ways biodiversity is reducedm2. Provide
examples of how to maintain biodiversity through
conservation3. Paraphrase major laws and
treaties designed to protect biodiversity
Second
hald of
Nov.
4. Population
a. Population Biology
Concepts (III.A)
b. Human Population (III.B)
1. Interpret effects of the dynamics of species
populations
2. Provide examples of different reproductive and
survival strategies that organisms have evolved
over time
1. Describe the changes in human population
growth throughout history
2. Interpret population statistics using
demographic vocabulary
3. Use case studies to examine different
methods of sustainable population sizes
4. Evaluate impacts of population growth
Dec.
January
5. Land and
Water
Resources
a. Global Water Resources
and Use (I.C)
1. Differentiate between organisms in saltwater
and freshwater ecosystems2. Track global
circulations of ocean currents3. Describe effects
of ocean circulation4. Provide examples and
relative amounts of water used for agricultural,
industrial, and domestic purposes
b. Soil and Soil Dynamics
(I.D)
5. Analyze causes and effects of global water
problems
6. Outline a list of water conservation strategies
1. Follow the path of a particle through the rock
cycle
2. Describe process that form and break down
rocks
3. Compare compositions of different soil types
4. Experiment with different physical and
chemical properties of soil
5. Examine erosion and other soil problems.
6. Describe methods of soil conservation and
their impact on ecosystems and agriculture
Midterm
January
February-
6. Land and
Water Use
a. Agriculture (IV.A)b.
Forestry (IV.B)
1. Break down human nutritional requirements2.
Analyze costs and benefits of agricultural
strategies developed to feed a growing human
population3. Evaluate causes and effects of
deforestation4. Compare and contrast different
irrigation strategies5. Construct a model farm
using sustainable agriculture strategies6.
Compare and contrast pest management
strategies7. Summarize relevant laws regarding
the use of pesticides1. Discuss the pros and
cons of tree plantations2. Explain the benefits of
old growth forests3. Analyze the benefits of
forest fires
c. Rangelands (IV.C)d.
Mining (IV.E)e. Fishing
(IV.F)
4. Describe different forest management
practices5. Create a travel flyer to a national
forest1. Discuss the value of rangelands2.
Analyze problems that face rangelands3.
Describe rangeland management4. Summarize
laws and regulations directing rangeland
management1. Describe how minerals form2.
Compare different mineral extraction processes3.
Identify major global reserves of minerals4.
Summarize relevant laws and treaties regarding
mineral extraction1. Compare different fishing
techniques2. Analyze potential problems of
overfishing3. Describe the mechanism, pros, and
cons of aquaculture4. Summarize relevant laws
and treaties regarding fishing
March-
7. Land
Development
a. Other Land Use (IV.D)
b. Global Economics (IV.G)
March
8. Energy
Resources and
Consumption
a. Energy Concepts (V.A)
b. Energy Consumption
(V.B)
c. Fossil Fuel Resources
and Use (V.C)
1. Support the land site choice for a new
structure
2. Describe environmental impacts of suburban
sprawl and urbanization
3. Analyze the ecosystem impact of different
transportation infrastructures-federal highway
systems, canals and channels, roadless areas,
etc;
4. Discuss how public and federal lands are
managed
5. Describe types of federal and public landswilderness areas, national parks, wildlife refuges,
forests, wetlands, etc;6. Analyze use of land
conservation options- preservation, remediation,
mitigation, restoration1. Analyze environmental
impacts ofglobalization2. Provide examples of
Tragedy of the Commons3. Describe the role of
the World Bank in international affairs and its
impact on local ecosystems4. Summarize
relevant laws and treaties regarding global
economics
1. List different forms of energy
2. Describe the relationship between work,
energy, and power
3. Use appropriate units when describing energy
4. Describe the Laws of Thermodynamics
1. Diagram the history of energy consumption
2. Analyze current global energy use
3. Outline future energy needs
1. Describe the process of coal, oil, and natural
gas formation
2. Compare extraction/purification methods for
fossil fuels
3. Identify locations of major reserves and global
demand
4. Analyze advantages/disadvantages of
d. Nuclear Energy (V.D)e.
Hydroelectric Power (V.E)f.
Energy Conservation
(V.F)g. Renewable Energy
(V.G)
April -
9. Pollution
a. Pollution Types (VI.A)
sources1. Explain the processes of nuclear
fission and nuclear fusion2. Describe how
nuclear energy is use to produce electricity3.
Compare types of nuclear reactors4. Examine
environmental advantages/disadvantages5.
Interpret safety issues with nuclear powerreactor safety, radiation and human health,
radioactive wastes, etc;1. Discuss the
mechanism of dams2. Analyze impact of dams
on ecosystems- silting, flooding, thermal
changes, salmon, recreational use, etc;3. List
flood control strategies1. Provide examples of
efforts to increase energy efficiency2.
Summarize regulations and standards related to
fuel economy of motor vehicles3. Defend various
energy conservation efforts- hybrid electric
vehicles, mass transit, etc;1. Compare
environmental advantages/disadvantages of
different types of renewable energy sourcessolar energy, solar electricity, hydrogen fuel cells,
biomass, wind energy, small-scale hydroelectric,
ocean waves and tidal energy, and geothermal
energy
April
April
10. Impacts of
Pollution
i. Air Pollutionii. Noise
Pollutioniii. Water
Pollutioniv. Solid Waste
1. Identify sources-primary and secondary2.
Identify major air pollutants3. Use appropriate
measurement units4. Differentiate between
different types of smog and how they are
formed5. Identify causes and effects of acid
deposition6. Provide examples of heat islands
and temperature inversions and describe their
effects7. Describe remediation and reduction
strategies8. Summarize the Clean Air Act and
other relevant laws1. Identify sources of noise
pollution2. Describe effects of noise pollution3.
Identify measures put in place to control noise
pollution1. Identify types of water pollution2.
Identify sources of water pollution3. Describe
causes and effects of water pollution4. Outline
measures used to maintain water quality-water
purification, sewage treatment/septic systems,
etc;5. Summarize the Clean Water Act and other
relevant laws1. Identify types of solid waste2.
Describe disposal of solid waste3. Explain efforts
to reduce solid waste
a. Impacts on the
Environment and Human
Health (VI.B)b. Economic
Impacts (VI.C)
1. Describe the components of environmental
risk analyses2. Differentiate between acute and
chronic health effects3. Explain dose-response
relationships4. Create a PSA on the impacts of
pollution on human health5. Identify types of
hazardous waste6. Describe the
treatment/disposal/cleanup of hazardous waste7.
Explain biomagnification and give examples8.
Summarize laws relevant to hazardous
chemicals in the environment1. Examine a costbenefit analysis example2. Provide examples of
when a cost-benefit analysis would be useful3.
Identify externalities of pollution4. Identify
examples of marginal social cost of pollution5.
Predict the economic impact of a more
sustainable society6. Execute a project to make
the school more sustainable (ongoing)
11. Global
Change
a. Stratospheric Ozone
(VII.A)
b. Global Warming (VII.B)
1. Describe how stratospheric ozone forms
2. Explain the function of stratospheric ozone
3. Describe the causes and effects of ozone
depletion
4. Compare strategies for reducing ozone
depletion
5. Summarize relevant laws and treaties
1. Identify greenhouse gases
2. Paraphrase the greenhouse effect3. Explain
the impacts and consequences of global
warming4. Evaluate methods to reduce climate
change5. Summarize relevant laws and treaties