ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE II HONORS COURSE SYLLABUS Teacher: Paul Allen

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1 Teacher: Paul Allen ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE II HONORS COURSE SYLLABUS Contact Information: E mail allenp@dcpsmd.org Telephone (410) Ext Class Location: Room D-1 Meeting times Section 1: A day Period 4 11:02-12:01 C day Period 1 7:45-8:49 Section 2: B day Period 4 11:02-12:01 C day Period 4 11:02-12:01 Section 3: A day Period 5 12:41-1:40 B day Period 5 12:41-1:40 Teacher Planning Period / Office Hours: A day Period 3 9:58-10:57 B day Period 2 8:54-9:53 C day - Period 2 8:54-9:53 Course Description Environmental science is the study of the effects of natural and unnatural processes, and of interactions of the physical components of the planet on the environment. The goal of the Environmental Science II 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 or preventing them. The course is topical if something happens in the news that concerns environmental issues it will be discussed in class. 1

2 Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study: ecology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, international law, sociology, economics, physics, genetics, and many others. Prerequisites The Environmental Science II course is a course for any interested student who has completed two years of high school laboratory science one year of life science and one year of physical science (for example, a year of Environmental Science and a year of chemistry). Due to the quantitative analysis that is required in the course, students should also have taken at least one year of algebra. Because of the prerequisites, Environmental Science II will usually be taken in either the junior or senior year. UNITS I. WATER AQUATIC RESOURCES AND AQUACULTURE: the farming of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic plants, algae, and other aquatic organisms for human consumption or other use. Water chemistry what makes for safe and clean water? Methods of water management Different sorts of water systems and their requirements Ecological, economic and societal pros and cons of various methods of aquaculture will be the focus. Fishing (Fishing techniques; overfishing; relevant laws and treaties) will also be covered. II. ECOSYSTEM MONITORING POLLUTION SOLUTIONS: Types: Air pollution (Sources primary and secondary; major air pollutants; measurement units; smog; acid deposition causes and effects; heat islands and temperature inversions; indoor air pollution; remediation and reduction strategies; Clean Air Act and other relevant laws) Noise pollution (Sources; effects; control measures) Students will analyze the status of water sources in the community and in the world at large. Water pollution (Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; groundwater Pollution mitigation; maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage treatment/septic systems; Clean Water Act and other relevant laws) Solid waste (Types; disposal; reduction) Impacts on the Environment and Human Health: o Hazards to human health (Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships; air pollutants; smoking and other risks) o Hazardous chemicals in the environment (Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous waste; cleanup of contaminated sites; biomagnification; relevant laws) o Economic Impacts (Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability) 2

3 III. ENERGY RESOURCES AND CONSUMPTION: History (Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis), present global energy use, and future energy needs 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). Nuclear Energy (Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor types; environmental advantages/disadvantages; safety issues; radiation and human health; radioactive wastes) Hydroelectric Power (Dams; flood control; salmon and other migratory fish; silting; other impacts) Energy Conservation (Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit) Renewable Energy (Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal; environmental advantages/disadvantages) IV. WEATHER AND CLIMATE: Students will learn to observe and record weather patterns and weather predictions, make predictions based on weather patterns. Students will gather, display and analyze statistics regarding man s effect on the climate. Local and global weather topics, such as El Nino, La Nina and current weather events will be discussed. V. GLOBAL CHANGE 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) Global Warming (Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global warming; reducing climate change; relevant laws and treaties) Loss of Biodiversity 1. Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and extinct species 2. Maintenance through conservation 3. Relevant laws and treaties VI. PEOPLE IN A GLOBAL ECOSYSTEM Ecological Equity Land Use 1. Urban land development (Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization) 2. Transportation infrastructure (Federal highway system; canals and channels; roadless areas; ecosystem impacts) 3. Public and federal lands (Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests; wetlands) 4. Silviculture (the growth and cultivation of tress) and forestry techniques and their impact on the world economy and environment. 5. Land conservation options (Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration) 6. Sustainable land-use strategies Mining (Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties) Global Economics (Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and 3

4 treaties) GRADING POLICY Categories Summative Assessments (Tests, quizzes, other work that demonstrates mastery) Percent of Total Term Grade 60% Formative Assessments (Other Criteria: classwork, homework, cooperative activities) 40% Please refer to the county calendar for a complete explanation of this year s grading policy. Components of Course Grade Calculations Q1 Q2 Midterm Exam Q3 Q4 Final Exam Course Grade Percentage 45% 45% 10% 45% 45% 10% Semester 1 (S1) Semester 2 (S2) Y1 50% 50% 100% MAKE-UP WORK Make-up work can be completed only as outlined in the student handbook. It is only available to students with excused absences. No make-up work will be provided to students who make no effort complete classwork during class time. Make-up work is available upon request from the instructor. Your work will be due within the time allowed in the student handbook. Checking grades in Powergrade is the responsibility of the student, and any appeals to published grades must be accompanied by the work in question. It is advisable that you retain papers for the duration of the year to assist in studying for quizzes and exams. Any student scoring below 80% on a summative assessment shall be permitted to take a retest within 5 school days of receiving the graded assessment unless otherwise approved by the teacher. Retesting will be available to all students if initiated by the student. 4

5 Retesting will be conducted at a time designated by the teacher. No retests will be given for Benchmarks or final/end-of year examinations. If the student scores 80% or above on the retest, then an 80% will be the highest score recorded for the assessment. CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES You will be allowed to use their cell phone only at designated times during class for educational uses only. A sign will indicate when it will be appropriate to use cell phones for educational purposes. If you re using your cell phone in an inappropriate manner (i.e.: texting, calls, social media, gaming), I will request your phone and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. Confiscated devices will be turned into Mrs. Hurley in the main office. I am not responsible if your phone becomes misplaced during school hours. Individuals assume full responsibility for their person electronic devices as well as their Board-assigned devices. DCPS is not responsible for the loss of, or damage to, student or staff-own personal electronic devices (per DCPS calendar). SOME ADVICE This class is challenging. To do well you must focus, use your higher order thinking skills, take good notes, use your innate curiosity and STUDY! Barring meetings or other prior engagements I am also available most days after school for help sessions. Please check with me for available times. You may also visit me during my planning with written permission from your instructor for that period. Vocabulary and other memorization can be best handled with the use of your text, handouts, notes, graded quizzes and by drilling with flash cards. Draw and redraw diagrams to clarify and practice processes or concepts. If you have questions or difficulty understanding anything, please ask me to explain. First and foremost, I am here to help my students. It is my hope that you will learn many interesting things and to come away from this course enriched, informed and prepared to appreciate nature and humankind s place in it. This course satisfies one of the three science credits required for high school graduation. Truth is the drive at the center of science: it must have the habit of truth, not as a dogma but as a process. ~J. Bronowski 5