Download E.S. Syllabus - environmental Science

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Mrs. Alamzai
SYLLABUS
Teacher: Yesim Alamzai
Room: 349
Phone: 510-618-4600 Ext: 2349
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: mrsalamzai.weebly.com
Office Hours: T-W After school 3:10pm - 3:45pm
T-W Before school 7:40am - 8:00am or by appointment.
Textbook: Holt’s Environmental Science by Karen Arms
Course Description:
The goal of the Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific
principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the
natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made,
to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative
solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.
Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from
different areas of study. Yet there are several major unifying constructs, or themes,
that cut across the many topics included in the study of environmental science. This
course covers the following.
Course Outline: (Note: This is tentative and may be changed at any time)
Earth Systems and Resources
1. Earth Science Concepts (Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes,
volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and latitude)
2. The Atmosphere (Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric
circulation and the Coriolis effect; atmosphere-ocean interactions; ENSO)
3. Global Water Resources and Use (Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation;
agricultural, industrial, and domestic use; surface and groundwater issues; global
problems; conservation)
4. Soil and Soil Dynamics (Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical
properties; main soil types; erosion and other soil problems; soil conservation)
The Living World
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1. Ecosystem Structure (Biological populations and communities; ecological niches;
interactions among species; keystone species; species diversity and edge effects;
major terrestrial and aquatic biomes)
2. Energy Flow (Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels;
ecological pyramids)
3. Ecosystem Diversity (Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services)
4. Natural Ecosystem Change (Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession)
5. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles (Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water,
conservation of matter)
Population
1. Population Biology Concepts (Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive
strategies; survivorship)
2. Human Population
Land and Water Use
1. Agriculture
2. Forestry (Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management;
national forests)
3. Rangelands(Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management;
federal rangelands)
4. Other Land Use
5. Mining (Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties)
6. Fishing (Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties)
7. Global Economics (Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws
and treaties)
Energy Resources and Consumption
1. Energy Concepts (Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of
Thermodynamics)
2. Energy Consumption
3. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use (Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas;
extraction/purification methods; world reserves and global demand; synfuels;
environmental advantages/disadvantages of sources)
4. Nuclear Energy (Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production;
nuclear reactor types; environmental advantages/disadvantages; safety issues;
radiation and human health; radioactive wastes; nuclear fusion)
5. Hydroelectric Power (Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts)
6. Energy Conservation (Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles;
mass transit)
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7. Renewable Energy (Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind
energy; small-scale hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal;
environmental advantages/disadvantages)
Pollution
1. Pollution Types
2. Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
3. Economic Impacts (Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability)
Global Change
1. Stratospheric Ozone (Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes
of ozone depletion; effects of ozone depletion; strategies for reducing ozone
depletion; relevant laws and treaties)
2. Global Warming (Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and
consequences of global warming; reducing climate change; relevant laws and
treaties)
3. Loss of Biodiversity
Supplies:
❏ NoteBook(required)
❏ Colored Pencils (required)/Crayons(suggested)
❏ One highlighter (required)
❏ Blue or Black pen (required)
❏ Engineering Notebook (will remain in class of all time unless otherwise specified
which I will provide)
❏ Pencils and an eraser (required)
❏ 3 Ring (small) binder required.
Classwork/Homework:
❏ All assigned homework are due at the beginning of the period.
❏ In class assignments are to be finished and stamped during class time.
❏ Google Classroom assignment are due at the indicated time. DO NOT SHARE
ASSIGNMENTS with me without my CONSENT.
❏ Please keep all your work throughout the year in your binder.
Absences
❏ Students who have been absent, regardless the reason, must complete all missed
assignments.
❏ Make-up exams, homework and assignments due to legal absence must be done
within 2 DAYS.
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❏ Students who are tardy will NOT be able to make-up the opening work and any
homework assignment or assignments due day will be considered late! Three or
more tardies in a week result in detention served at lunch or after school.
Detention will involve certain tasks helping clean and organize dry lab...
Tardies
❏ Any student who is not in his/her seat when the bell rings will be marked tardy.
❏ Any student who is not in his/her assigned seat during class or refuse to be in
their assigned seat will be marked absent.
Grading Policy:
The grading scale for this class is as follows:
90-100%
A
80-89%
B
70-79%
C
60-69%
D
0-59%
F
Your grade in this class will be based upon the following five categories:
Assignments: - The “ Assignments “ category includes:
●
Homework , Media Monday & Participation (10%)
●
Classwork: Notes, Labs, activities, Lab write-ups, summaries, data analysis & essays,
minor projects, Engineering notebook. (30%)
Assessment:
-
The “Assessments” category includes:
●
Tests (30%)
●
Quizzes (20%)
Final Exam or Project: (10%) There will be a final exam or a final project for both Fall and Spring semesters.
Student Responsibility:
1.
No CHEATING! This is for ALL assignment not just for tests and quizzes. Cheating
includes plagiarizing work from a published source and using it as your own without
appropriately citing the work. Cheating is also copying work from another student.
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If you are caught cheating OR sharing your work with another student it will result
in a ZERO on the assignment for BOTH students when copying is involved.
2. Be on time and bring required materials.
3. Upon entering go directly to your seat.
4. Raise your hand to be called on or to ask to leave your seat.
5. All assignments are due at the BEGINNING of the class on due date. If you are late
so is your assignment.
6. No writing on or destroying desks, tables, or any SLHS property.
7. Everyone is expected to participate in all lab work, class work, and discussions.
8. Respect the rights of other to learn, my right to teach and work by using
appropriate language.
9. Use all equipment safely, correctly, and a directed and CLEAN your workspace and
common areas BEFORE you leave.
Class Hand Signals
Student
● Cross middle finger over index finger = restroom signal
● pink up = permission to use cell phone for educational purposes/emergency
Teacher
● Fist nod = yes
● High five = wait five minutes and ask again
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