Environmental Science Self Paced (Grades 8-12)

Environmental Science

Full Year Self Paced Course

Grades 8-12

Instructor: Collins

Prerequisites: Biology  (recommended, but not required).

Description of Class: 

This course discusses the basic concepts of nature, species interactions, human impact, energy usage, and pollution. The course will integrate different components of biology, chemistry, and physical science to fully understand and conceptualize the different aspects of environmental science.

Class Approach: This class will not meet for live instruction but will work in Google Classroom using a self-paced format. Students will work in Google Classroom on 5-7 weekly assignments. Along the way, students will add assignments, notes, and diagrams to their science spiral notebook. 

Goals:

1. Understanding that science is a process.  Science is a method of learning more about the world. Science constantly changes the way we understand the world.

2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes. Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere. As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable.

3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system. Natural systems change over time and space. Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.

4. Humans alter natural systems. Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years. Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale of their impact on the environment.

5. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context. Understanding the role of cultural, social and economic factors are vital to the development of solutions.

6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems. A suitable combination of conservation and development is required. Management of common resources are essential

Textbook: Various resources will be used in the class, but all chapters will be provided via pdf from Cengage, CK-12, Holt and Glencoe resources. 

Main Supplies/Resources Needed:

• Webcam, microphone, printer, and computer

• Spiral notebook for note-taking (90 pages or more)

• Notebook (journal), pens, pencils, scissors, tape, glue, computer paper, construction paper, coloring pencils, markers, general craft supplies

• Play-doh or clay

• Cardboard box for diorama (small homemade or store bought themed pieces)

• Notecards, highlighter, and something to hold notecards for each week (ziploc bags)

• Newspaper, cardboard, and one poster board

• Dry erase mini board, dry erase markers for diagrams

• Various size plastic water bottles for mini biosphere project.

An additional lab supply list will be supplied to all registered families.

Requirements: The student will need access to a computer and WIFI. Students will need to be able to upload images of work, upload video responses using Flipgrid, and complete assignments.

Weekly Homework: Students will have 5-6 min assignments each week. In addition to weekly assignments, labs and online interactives are part of the curriculum. This course provides lots of hands-on activities and labs. 

Anticipated Weekly Course Topics:

Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems-You’ll begin to explore a view of planet Earth as one system made up of regional ecosystems composed of interdependent environmental features, processes, and relationships between species.

Unit 2: The Living World: Biodiversity-You’ll learn about the importance of biodiversity within ecosystems and the impact of outside factors on the evolution of organisms.

Unit 3: Populations-.You’ll examine how populations within ecosystems change over time, and the factors that affect population growth.

Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources-You’ll study the natural components that make up the environment, from geologic features to the atmosphere and climate.

Unit 5: Land and Water Use-You’ll examine how humans use and consume natural resources, and the ways in which we disrupt ecosystems, both positively and negatively.

Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption-You’ll learn about renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy, where they’re used, and their impact on the environment.

Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution-You’ll learn more about air pollution, including how human actions can cause it, and you’ll analyze legislation intended to regulate emissions and improve air quality.

Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution-You’ll examine the impact of pollution on ecosystems and learn how to determine its source.

Unit 9: Global Change-You’ll come to understand the global impact of local and regional human activities and evaluate and propose solutions.

Energy Resource Brochure Activity, Conservation Project, Review, Final Exam

This course will feature a full year of curriculum. The course is broken up into two 17 week sessions. Each week will have a lesson and 5-7 assignments. Each semester has around 75 assignments to complete.