Essential Question State Learning Assessments & Labs & Topics Obj. Targets

Transcription

1 Curriculum map for: Environmental Science School Year: Essential Question State Learning Assessments & Labs & Topics Obj. Targets What is Environmental Science? Risk Assessment & World View Ecological Footprint Commons Human Transition Conservation/Preservation Ecological Services I can explain how people are influenced in the way they view risk. I can explain how risk perception and environmental awareness are connected. I can discuss some of the environmental issues specific to our state and our country. Risk Assessment Survey and Data Analysis Project Lorax & Truax story readings with analysis Human Transition Timeline Research Posters Tragedy of the Commons Experiment with Data Analysis Per Capita Ecological Footprint Survey and Analysis Chapter and Unit Tests August I can explain the principles of sustainability. I can explain the difference between conservation and preservation. I can explain how natural resources provide ecological services to humans. I can list examples of renewable and nonrenewable resources.

2 I can explain the negative effects of poverty and affluence on the environment. I can identify ways people in affluent societies can reduce their ecological footprint. Sept. /Oct. What is an ecosystem? How do scientists measure biodiversity? How does human use impact ecosystems and their biodiversity? Biosphere Trophic Levels Net Primary Production Nutrient Cycles (Carbon,Phosphorous, Nitrogen, Water Cycle) Succession Species Interactions Causes of Biodiversity Causes of Loss of Biodiversity Loss of Biodiversity Impact Biomes Endangered Species Act I can identify the physical and chemical processes that support life on the planet. I can explain how high quality energy from the sun losses quality as it moves through an ecosystem. I can identify the trophic levels in an ecosystem and calculate the energy available at each level. I can compare and contrast Gross Primary Production and Net Primary Production. I can explain how Net Primary Production is essential in determining the biodiversity of an ecosystem. Field Study: Plot Biodiversity with Data Analysis Case Study: Alabama / Mobile Tensaw Delta Biogeographic Island Experiment with Data Analysis Nutrient Cycle Research Posters Food Calorie Experiment with Data Analysis Net Primary Productivity Experiment with Data Analysis Environmental Article Reading on Biodiversity with Written Analysis Food Web Activity with Trophic Level Energy Calculations Chapter and Unit Tests

3 I can use the Net Primary Production formula to calculate: Net Primary Production, Gross Primary Production, and Respiration rate of plants. I can model the flow of energy through an ecosystem using the 10% rule and hierarchy of trophic levels in a food chain I can explain the flow of nutrients through the biosphere for: Nitrogen, CO2, Water, I can identify and describe ways human interfere with Earth s nutrient cycles. I can explain and give examples for primary and secondary succession. I can give example of pioneer species. I can explain how pioneer species provide the foundation for an ecosystem in primary succession.

4 Nov. / Dec. How do populations change? How do interactions of species in the population affect the distribution? How do interactions between humans and the environment affect rate of disease in human populations? Logistic & Exponential Growth Density & Distribution Population Rate of Change Human Population Control Human Health Hazards (Infectious Disease, Environmental Toxins, Diseases Caused by Societal Norms) Bioaccumulation/Biomagnification I can identify and describe factors that affect population size in a given area. I can calculate the population in a given area knowing the # births, deaths, immigrants, and emigrants. I can explain how life spans and birth rates of different types of species (I, II, & III) can affect population growth. I can identify limiting factors and describe how they will affect population size. I can define carrying capacity. I can explain how limiting factors establish carrying capacity in a population. Exponential/Logistic Growth Experiment with Data Analysis Density Distribution Models with Analysis Field Study: Population Change with Data Analysis Age Structure Diagrams/Models with Economic Analysis Antibacterial Resistance Research with Analysis Pollution Health Hazards (Case Study Birmingham and State of Alabama) with Analysis Environmental Article Reading on Health with written analysis Research; Man Made Human Disasters(Love Canal, Tenn. Coal Ash Spill, BP Disaster, Picher OK Lead Contamination) with presentation Chapter and Unit Tests I can define lag phase. I can contrast populations that exhibit a logistic growth curve and ones that exhibit an exponential growth curve. I can give examples and reasoning why some

5 populations overshoot their carrying capacity and then crash below it. I can give examples of limiting factors that are dependent on and independent of population density. I can give examples of situations in which density independent factors have a direct impact on density dependent factors. I can explain how resources and limiting factors shape population distributions. I can analyze an age structure graph and determine if a population is growing rapidly, growing slowly, stable, or declining. I can give reasoning why the human population continues to grow exponentially. I can give reasoning why the human population needs to become more stable.

6 I can explain how declining populations with large groups of elderly, as well as rapidly growing populations with large groups of young children, can have a detrimental effect on the resource distribution and wealth of a population. I can give examples and reasoning to slowing population growth through the empowerment of women. I can explain how the density of a population is related to the spread of infectious diseases. I can identify the source of transmission for major diseases such as AIDS, TB, Cholera, Malaria, Plague, and Lyme disease I can explain how environmental pollutants, pesticides, and toxins, etc. can bioaccumulate in the food chain and cause human health issues. I can identify and describe at least two ways bacteria form resistance to antibiotics.

7 Jan. /Feb. Why is freshwater our most valuable resource? How is human activity affecting the biodiversity of freshwater and marine ecosystems? Freshwater pollution due to human energy needs and urbanization Climate change changing availability of surface freshwater Wetland ecological services and changes due to human impact Depletion of species due to human impact Marine ecosystem degradation due to excess atmospheric CO2, fishery depletion, and trash pollution Clean Water ACT CITES Treaty I can identify and describe the importance of water for humans, citing evidence for economic and ecological services. I can explain and give examples of the role water has on biodiversity and nutrient cycling. I can identify the different surface water sources used by humans for drinking water. I can identify 1 specific example of source water for the Birmingham metro area. Florida Everglades ecosystem, ecological services, and biodiversity research project Dilution Pollution experiment with analysis Cahaba River water quality testing Birmingham Metro Drinking Water Map Project Ocean Acidification Experiment with Data Analysis SELC videos with written analysis questions Research: Slave Trade & the Shrimping Industry Chapter and Unit Tests I can give 2 reasons for water shortages. I can explain the benefits of a state or region having a water management plan. I can define porosity, permeability, recharge zone, and well.

8 I can explain how aquifers form and get recharged I can identify the pros and cons of groundwater withdrawal to help supplement water shortages. I can explain at least 3 advantages and disadvantages of damming rivers. Feb. March Where does energy come from? Pros and Cons of conventional energy sources Pros and Cons of renewable energy sources Waste disposal and pollution associated with energy sources Revisit Ecological Footprints Carbon Footprints Full Cost Pricing I can explain how dams lead to the destruction of coastal wetlands I can explain the different types of mining techniques (strip mining, open pit mining, mountain top removal, & subsurface mining) I can explain the process of how minerals are extracted from ore. I can explain how mining produces noise and air pollution. Nuclear Waste Disposal Experiment SELC Videos with written analysis Research: Coal Ash Pollution and Storage Pollution Shifting & Economics: Electric Cars Nutrient Cycles: Acid Rain Chapter and Unit Tests I can explain how mining pollutes watersheds.

9 I can explain how mining causes soil erosion & degredation, habitat destruction, and sedimentation of rivers. I can explain the extraction process of conventional oil, shale oil, and tar sand oil. I can identify environmental destruction associated with each oil extraction process. I can identify economic advantages of conventional, shale, and tar sand oil. I can explain how crude oil is refined. I can identify consumer products made from petroleum fractions. I can explain what OPEC is, which three countries lead the group, and why it has been losing its power in the world marketplace. I can identify the main components of natural gas.

10 I can identify where the largest deposits of conventional & unconventional natural gas are located. I can identify where conventional & unconventional natural gas is formed/found. I can identify advantes & disadvantages of both conventional and unconventional natural gas. I can explain why conventional natural gas is considered better than coal and oil for energy use. I can explain how the fracking process works. I can describe the human health and environmental impacts of fracking. I can identify advantages and disadvantages of using coal for energy. I can identify where the largest coal reserves are located.

11 I can explain how a coal fired power plant works. I can explain how the coal industry is connected with air quality issues started with the industrial revoution and leading up to the present day. I can explain how a nuclear power plant works. I can identify the element used in the majority of nuclear power reactors. I can explain why nuclear is a net negative energy. I can describe the three major nuclear power accidents in history and their effects on humans and the environment. I can define a subsiby and explain why mining and extracting natural resources for energy is heavily subsidized. I can explain the difference between primary & secondary air pollutants citing examples of each.

12 I can describe how each of the major renewable sources of energy works: solar, wind, tidal, hydroelectric, geothermal, & biomass. I can explain the advantages and disadvantages of the major rnewable sources of energy: solar, wind, tidal, hydroelectric, geothermal, & biomass. I can idenitfy the gases that make ground level ozone and identify their sources. I can explain the effects of ground level ozone on humans and plants. I can explain the health effects carbon monoxide has on humans. I can identify the gases that make acid rain and identify their sources. I can explain how a temperature inversion forms and its impact on ground level air quality.

13 I can explain the difference between industrial and photochemical smog. I can identify sources of indoor air pollution and explain their effects on human health. April What is Climate? Solar Energy and Biomes Calculating Climate Climate Altering Pollution Weather Pattern Shifts El Nino/ La Nina Global Warming? I can explain how the sun s uneven heating of the earth creates weather patterns. (Hadley Cells, Coriolis Effect, Westerlies & Easterlies) I can explain how ocean currents are formed and how they affect nutrient circulation, climate moderation, and major weather patterns. (Thermohaline circulation, El Nino, La Nina) I can describe each of three types of biomes. I can explain why each of the three types of biomes are found in the temperate, tropical, and polar regions. I can describe the major environmental challenges effecting each major biome type. I can explain how forests, oceans, and earth s crust act to store and recycle carbon. Solar Energy Experiment with Analysis Biomes Research Project with Presentation Data Detectives: Experiments in Collecting and Analyzing Climate Data Politics and Global Warming

14 April/ May How efficiently do we use land? What do we do with waste? Why is it so difficult to provide adequate food to the people of the World? Recyclable Waste vs. Landfills vs. Municipal Solid Waste Soil Composition Layers/ Geology Agriculture and soil Soil Salinization and Nutrient Loss Green Revolution. Herbicides, Pesticides. Genetically modified crops. No Till farming crop rotation. Corporate vs. local farming. Sustaining Society Agricultural Revolution Over consumption I can explain how anthropgenic addition of CO2 in the atmosphere causes climate change and can effect weather patterns. I can explain how climate change affects sea level and ocean currents. I can discuss how climate changes can impact human migration and conflict over resources. Recycle City Activity with Analysis Life Cycle of a Product Research with Presentations Soil Properties and Erosion Experiment with Analysis Video with analysis (Food Inc. or Fresh, Dirt the Movie, & The Human Footprint) Local food costs vs. regional food costs. Fast Food costs vs, healthy food costs. Students plant food crop Chapter and Unit Tests