ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
WEEK 1-2: Our Island Our Earth - Weeks 1 and 2
Explain the focus of environmental science
Describe the recent trends in human population and resource consumption
Explain what science is
Describe the process of science
Describe the major roles of the scientific community in the process of science
Explain the study of environmental science
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Fixing a hole in the sky: OZONE Page 3
2. Reading: Easter Island: Tragedy of Commons page 28-29
3. Textbook:
Page 32: 20, 22, 24, 25
Page 33: 31
4. Vocabulary: environment, environmental science, environmentalism, natural
resource, renewable natural resource, non-renewable natural resource, sustainable,
fossil fuel, ecological footprint
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
WEEK 2-3: Economics and Environmental policy - Weeks 2 and 3
Describe two basics concepts of economics
Explain the relationship between economics and the environment
Describe ways that economies are working toward sustainability
Explain the purpose of environmental policy
Describe the history of U.S, environmental policy
Describe the direction of U.S. environmental policy.
Identify major international institutions involved in environmental policy
Discuss different approaches to environmental policy
List the steps involved in the environmental policy process
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Cleaning the Tides of Tijuana: Ocean Pollution Page 35
2. Reading: Fighting for clean water: Ocean Pollution page 56-57
3. Textbook:
Page 60: 16-21
Page 61: 28-29
4. Vocabulary: economics, supply, demand, cost benefit analysis, ecological
economics. Non-market value, market failure, eco-labeling
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
WEEK 4: Earth’s Environmental Systems –
Differentiate among an atom, element, molecule and a compound
Discuss how various macromolecules are essential to life
Identify some unusual properties of water
Describe two major ways that earth’s systems interact
Define Earth’s geosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, asthenosphere and atmosphere
Explain how the law of conservation of matter applies to the behavior of nutrients in the
environment
Describe the carbon cycle
Describe the events of the phosphorus cycle
Explain the importance of bacteria to the nitrogen cycle
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone: Hypoxia Page 63
2. Reading: Nutrients: Deeper Research on one page 90-91
3. Textbook:
Page 94: 19-26
Page 95: 32-33
4. Vocabulary: feedback loop, erosion, geosphere, lithosphere, biosphere,
atmosphere, hydrosphere, evaporation, transpiration, precipitation, condensation,
aquifer, groundwater, law of conservation of matter, nutrient, biogeochemical
cycle, primary producer, photosynthesis, consumer, decomposer, cellular
respiration, eutrophication, nitrogen fixation
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
WEEK 5-6: Ecology - Weeks 5 and 6
Describe the different levels of organization studied by ecologists
Explain the difference between biotic and abiotic factors
Discuss how an organism’s habitat relates to its survival
Describe the factors that influence a population’s growth rate
Explain exponential growth and logistic growth
Explain how limiting factors and biotic potential affect population growth
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Costa Rican Cloud Forest: Environmental conditions Page 99
2. Reading: Cloudless forest: Extinction of Golden Toad page 118-119
3. Textbook:
Page 122: 17-21, 23, 25, 26
Page 123: 28-30
4. Vocabulary: ecology, species, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere,
biotic factor, abiotic factor, habitat, resource, population size, population density,
population distribution, age structure, age structure diagram, sex ratio,
survivorship curve, immigration, emigration, migration, exponential growth
curve, limiting factor, carrying capacity, logistic growth, density-dependent
factor, density independent factor, biotic potential
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
WEEK 7-9: Evolution and Community Ecology Weeks 7, 8 and 9
Describe the four primary mechanisms of biological evolution
Describe how speciation and extinction affect the diversity of life on Earth
Discuss the factors that influence an organism’s niche
Compare and contrast predation, parasitism and herbivory
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
Describe mutualism and commensalism
Explain the difference between consumer and producer
Explain the effect of inefficient energy transfer on community structure
Describe how feeding relationships can have both direct and indirect effects on
community members
Describe what happens to a community after a disturbance
Explain the conditions necessary for a species to become invasive
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Zebra Mussels: Invasive Species Page 125
2. Reading: Dodo and Tambalacoque seeds: Mutualism page 156-157
3. Textbook:
Page 160: 17-22, 23, 25, 26
Page 161: 29-32
4. Vocabulary: evolution, tolerance, resource partitioning, predation, coevolution,
parasitism, symbiosis, herbivory, mutualism, commensalism, primary producer,
photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, consumer, cellular respiration, herbivore,
carnivore, omnivore, detritivore, decomposer, trophic level, biomass, food chain,
food web, keystone species
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
Biomes and Aquatic systems Mid-term Project:
PowerPoint presentation of biome: see web page
http://www.simsscience.com/biomesproject.html
WEEK 10: Biomes and Aquatic Ecosystems Week 10
Explain how biomes are characterized
Describe how net primary production varies among biomes
Explain how organisms are adapted to the conditions of their biomes
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
Describe the criteria ecologist use to classify aquatic systems
List the major categories of freshwater ecosystems
Explain the ecological importance of estuaries
List the three major zones of the ocean
ASSIGNMENTS:
8. Reading: Too much of a good thing: Biomes and Ecosystems Page 163
9. Reading: Elephant Culling: Poaching Ivory page 192-193
10. Textbook:
Page 196: 17-22, 26
Page 197: 28-29
11. Vocabulary: Biome, Climate, weather, climatograph, net primary production,
salinity, photic zone, upwelling, estuary, floodplain
12. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
13. Activity:
14. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
WEEK 11: Biodiversity and Conservation – Week 11
Differentiate the components of biodiversity
Explain two ways in which biodiversity varies across groups or geography
Describe the economic benefit of biodiversity
Describe how biodiversity is monitored and explain current biodiversity trends
List the major causes of biodiversity loss
Explain legal actions nations can take to protect biodiversity
Explain the goal of species survival plans
Describe three strategies for managing whole ecosystems and habitats
ASSIGNMENTS:
15. Reading: Saving the Siberian tiger: Biodiversity Page 199
16. Reading: California Condors: Species Comebacks page 218-219
17. Textbook:
Page 222: 17-20
Page 223: 21-26, 30
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
18. Vocabulary: biodiversity, species diversity, genetic diversity, ecosystem
diversity, extirpation, endangered species, threatened species, habitat
fragmentation, poaching, endangered species act, captive breeding, species
survival plan, biodiversity hotspot, endemic
1. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
2. Activity:
3. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
WEEK 12: Human Population - Week 12
Describe how technological advances have contributed to human population growth
Explain recent trends in population growth
Identify characteristics of human population that are studied by demographers
Describe the fertility rates and replacement fertility
Explain how the age structure and sex ratio of a population define its potential for growth
Describe the demographic transition
Discuss social factors that affect population growth
Describe how human impact their environments
Discuss the negative and positive impacts of technology
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Chinas one child policy: population Page 227
2. Reading: United states Census: Accurate population data page 248-249
3. Textbook:
Page 252: 18-25
Page 263: 33-34
4. Vocabulary: Industrial Revolution, infant mortality rate, life expectancy, growth
rate, demography, total fertility rate, replacement fertility rate, demographic
transition
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
WEEK 13: Water Resources - Week 13
Discuss how freshwater can be both renewable and limited
Explain the significance of a watershed
Explain how most groundwater is accessed
List the three primary categories of freshwater use
Relate the causes of surface water depletion to their effects
Explain the major causes and effects of groundwater depletion
Describe strategies for addressing water depletion
Discuss the main categories of water pollution
Explain why groundwater pollution is difficult to clean up
Discuss the sources and effects of major pollutants found in the ocean
Describe how water is regulated and treated
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Looking for water in the desert: Running out of water Page 419
2. Reading: Wastewater treatment: Arcata Marsh and Sanctuary page 444-445
3. Textbook:
Page 448: 18-25, 26, 27
Page 449: 30-33
4. Vocabulary: fresh water, surface water, runoff, river system, watershed,
groundwater, permeable, impermeable, aquifer, water table, recharge zone, well,
water diversion, dam, reservoir, salinization, desalinization, xeriscaping, pointsource pollution, non-point source pollution, cultural eutrophication, wastewater,
algal bloom, pathogen, red tide, septic system
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
WEEK 14: The Atmosphere - Week 14
Describe the properties of the atmosphere
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
Identify the four main layers of the atmosphere
Explain heat transfer and the interaction of air masses in the troposphere
Explain how both natural processes and human activities can cause air pollution
Describe how air pollutants affect human health
Explain what causes smog and how temperature inversions affect it and other forms of
pollution
Explain how acid deposition occurs and describe its effects
Explain how the provisions of the Clean Air Act have reduced air pollution in the United
states
Describe the international efforts to reduce the ozone hole
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Charging for Clean air in London: Pollution Charge Page 451
2. Reading: Clean air act: Acid Rain page 474-475
3. Textbook:
Page 478: 17-24, 25, 27, 28
Page 479: 32-36
4. Vocabulary: atmosphere, relative humidity, air pressure, troposphere,
stratosphere, ozone layer, mesosphere, thermosphere, radiation, conduction,
convection, convection current, air mass, front, air pollution, emission, fossil fuel,
primary air pollution, secondary air pollution, smog, temperature inversion, acid
deposition
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
Chapter 16: Global Climate Change Week 15
Describe the factors that affect how the sun warms the earth
Discuss the role of wind patterns in determining climate
Explain how the oceans affect climate
Describe how climate is affected by topography, volcanos, regional vegetation and
periodic changes in the Earth’s orbit
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
Identify evidence of global warming
Explain three methods used to study climate change
State the probable cause of global climate change
State the ways in which the warming atmosphere affects ecosystems and organisms
Explain how climate change is affecting people now
Predict future effects of climate change on people
List ways to reduce greenhouse gases related to the use and generation of electricity
Describe some of the ways of reducing greenhouse gases related to transportation
Describe other strategies for reducing greenhouse gases
Explain how nations are working together to try to address climate change
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Maldives islands: Sea Level rise Page 483
2. Reading: Climate Clues in Ice: EPICA Ice core page 508-509
3. Textbook:
Page 511: 17-24
Page 512: 33-36
4. Vocabulary: greenhouse effect, greenhouse gas, thermohaline circulation, El
Nino, topography, global climate change, global warming, proxy indicator,
climate model, fossil fuel, coral bleaching, carbon footprint, carbon tax, carbon
offset, carbon sequestration, Kyoto Protocol
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
Chapter 17: Non-Renewable Energy Week 16
Define energy and differentiate between kinetic and potential energy
Identify different forms of energy
Describe how human society uses energy resources
Explain how fossil fuels formed
Describe the uses of coal and how it is removed from the ground
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
Describe the uses of oil and how it is extracted
Explain the characteristics and uses of natural gas
Predict the future of fossil fuels
Explain how pollutants released by fossil fuels damage health and the environment
Describe the environmental and health effects of mining and drilling
Explain the implications of dependence on foreign nations for fossil fuels
Explain why energy conservation is important
Relate nuclear fission to the production of energy
Describe how a nuclear power plant generates electricity
Identify the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power
Contrast nuclear fusion with nuclear fission and explain the issues related to nuclear
fusion
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Oil or Wilderness: Energy Solutions environmental sacrifice Page 515
2. Reading: Using Coal to generate Electricity: Clean coal technology page 542-543
3. Textbook:
Page 546: 19-26, 29, 30, 31
Page 547: 33-36
4. Vocabulary: energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, combustion, energy
efficiency, renewable energy, nonrenewable energy, electricity, strip mining,
subsurface mining, petroleum, petrochemical, oil sands, methane hydrate, acid
drainage, energy conservation, nuclear energy, nuclear fusion, nuclear fission,
nuclear reactor, meltdown, nuclear waste
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
Chapter 18: Renewable Energy Week 17
Explain the benefits and current status of renewable energy resources
Define biomass energy and explain how it is used
Describe how geothermal energy is harnessed and used
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Semester Lesson Plan goals and Objectives
ALL Chapter Resources available on the website: www.simsscience.com
Explain how river water can be used to generate electricity
Identify benefits and costs of hydropower
Describe how energy from the ocean can generate electricity
Describe techniques for using solar energy to heat buildings and generate electricity
Analyze the benefits and costs of solar energy
Explain how wind energy can be used to produce electricity
Analyze the costs and benefits of wind energy
Describe how hydrogen fuel can be produced
Explain the way fuel cells work and how they are used
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading: Germany’s big Bet on Renewable energy: Page 549
2. Reading: Biofuels page 574-575
3. Textbook:
Page 578: 17-25
Page 579: 31-34
4. Vocabulary: biomass energy, biofuel, biopower, geothermal energy, ground
source heat pump, hydropower, tidal energy, ocean thermal energy conservation,
passive solar heating, active solar heating, flat plate solar heating, photovoltaic
cell (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), wind turbine, wind farm, electrolysis,
fuel cell
5. Exit Quizzes: Goals and objectives questions
6. Activity:
7. Weekly Reading Assignment: Science Article from website
http://www.simsscience.com/Weekly%20Reading%20Assignment.html
Renewable Energy Project: Final Project:
PowerPoint presentation of biome: see web page
http://www.simsscience.com/renewable%20energy%20project.htm
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