Environmental Science Unit 1: Learning Targets
STANDARDS FOR UNIT 1
SEV2. Students will demonstrate an understanding that the Earth is one interconnected system.
a. Describe how the abiotic components (water, air, and energy) affect the biosphere.
b. Recognize and give examples of the hierarchy of the biological entities of the biosphere (organisms,
populations, communities, ecosystems, and biosphere).
c. Characterize the components that define a biome.
Abiotic Factors – to include precipitation, temperature and soils.
Biotic Factors – plant and animal adaptations that create success in that biome.
d. Characterize the components that define fresh-water and marine systems.
Abiotic Factors – to include light, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen, pH and substrate.
Biotic Factors – plant and animal adaptations characteristic to that system.
As you progress through the unit, rate yourself on the following learning targets. In the Mastery Key below, write
the date of your self-check along with the symbol you use to note your level of mastery on that date (for example, a
different colored  or ). If you find yourself struggling with certain concepts, be sure to ask your teacher for help.
Before you take the CDA, use these “I can” statements as a checklist to make sure you are prepared. A final selfrating of either 3 or 4 means that you have mastered the standard and you are ready for the test.
Mastery Key
Date
Symbol
Date
Symbol
I can …
explain the difference between abiotic &
biotic
classify factors in an ecosystem as either
abiotic or biotic
explain why major abiotic factors (water, air,
sunlight) are important in ecosystems
explain the difference between habitat and
niche
list the levels of ecological organization in
order of increasing complexity
explain the difference between and give
examples of each of the following levels of
organization: organism, population,
community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere
(e.g., a school of tiger sharks is classified as a
_________)
recognize the locations of the major
terrestrial biomes (tropical rainforest,
grassland, desert, temperate deciduous
forest, taiga, tundra) on a map
explain the relationship between altitude,
latitude, and the location of major
terrestrial biomes
Date
0
No idea
Symbol
1
Beginning
Date
Symbol
2
Progressing
Date
3
Proficient
Symbol
4
Advanced
Environmental Science Unit 1: Learning Targets
I can …
characterize each of the major terrestrial
biomes according to major abiotic factors
(precipitation, temperature, sunlight, & soil)
characterize each of the major terrestrial
biomes according to major biotic factors
(animal and plant adaptations)
characterize aquatic ecosystems (fresh
water, marine, estuary) according to major
abiotic factors (sunlight, salinity, water
flow, water depth, dissolved oxygen)
characterize aquatic ecosystems (fresh
water, marine, estuary) according to major
biotic factors (animal and plant
adaptations)
explain abiotic and biotic factors that
contribute to the stability of an ecosystem
0
No idea
1
Beginning
2
Progressing
3
Proficient
4
Advanced