New Visions Environmental Science and Sustainability
Unit 1
Mrs. Ashley
2014-2015
Unit 1 Studying the State of the Earth, Introduction to Research in Environmental
Science, Environmental Systems
Learning Standards:
Key Idea 2: Beyond the use of reasoning and consensus, scientific inquiry involves the
testing of proposed explanations involving the use of conventional techniques and
procedures and usually requiring considerable ingenuity.
Performance Indicator S2.1 Devise ways of making observations to test proposed explanations. •
design and/or carry out experiments, using scientific methodology to test proposed calculations
Performance Indicator S2.3 Develop and present proposals including formal hypotheses to test
explanations, i.e.; they predict what should be observed under specific conditions if their
explanation is true. • develop research proposals in the form of "if X is true and a particular test
Y is done, then prediction Z will occur"
Performance Indicator S2.4 Carry out a research plan for testing explanations, including
selecting and developing techniques, acquiring and building apparatus, and recording
observations as necessary. • determine safety procedures to accompany a research plan
Living things are both similar to and different from each other and nonliving
things.
Plants and animals depend on each other and their physical environment
Human decisions and activities have had a profound impact on the physical and
living environment.
Many of the phenomena that we observe on Earth involve interactions among
components of air, water, and land.
Students Do the Following
Designs and uses dichotomous keys to identify specimens
Makes observations of biological processes
States an appropriate hypothesis
Collects, organizes, and analyzes data, using a computer and/or other laboratory
equipment
Organizes data through the use of data tables and graphs
Student Learning Objectives:
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Students diagnose some of the pressures on the global environment
Students will learn scientific inquiry by designing an experiment on
Macroinvertbrates
Students will learn general concepts of Environmental Science
including sustainability.
Students will gather data and apply stream quality formulas to
calculate stream quality.
Activities:
Safety in the classroom and in the field
Overview of the course
Sustainability and Tragedy of the Commons
Scientific Research and the processes of science
Power of 10
Types of diversity
Ecosystem services
Environmental indicators: diversity, food production, climate, human
population, resource depletion
Student Workbook Pages: 40; 102-110; 113-114
Labs and Projects for Unit 1
Tragedy of the Commons
Setting up a research study
Leaf Pack Lab and stream quality using macroinvertebrates/New York Botanical
Gardens
Biodiversity Lab
Biosphere experiment
Tree Identification, plant diseases and Leaf Herbarium
Invasive removal at Teatown (water and land plants)
Green Down study using globe protocols
Studying plant stress and ecological causes
Hawk watch migration field trip
Globe Program weather data collection begins
Field Trip to Taconic Outdoor Education Center
Begin remediation project
Visit to Wildflower Island
Out of Class Assignments and Due Dates:
1. Read Chapter 1 in Environmental Science for A.P. and take notes. Review the PowerPoint for
the chapter (found on Schoolwires under chapter 1 resources ) Notes on chapter Due Friday,
September 5 (A.P. Environmental Science Grade, APES)
2. After reading chapter 1, Do one of the following: (New Visions Environmental Science Grade,
NVES)
 Write a reflective essay on what your value system is in relation to the Environment.
What actions do you choose to take in relation to one of the following: water use,
maintenance of biodiversity, resource depletion (including fossil fuels and metals), or
food selection? Part two of the question is: How do you determine the consequence of
your actions? Due Monday, September.8
 Do the worksheet called " Homework Worksheet Unit 1 Assignment #3 Choice 2"
3. Do Workbook Ecozone pages: 40; 106-114; 117-118 and check your answers with the answer
key provided by Mrs. Ashley. Due Wednesday, September 10 (A.P. Environmental Science
Grade, APES). If you are using the Holt book, do the following pages in the Active Reading
Workbook: 1-10.
4. Do one of the following assignments to help in learning the concepts from Unit 1 and preparing
for Unit 1 test. This assignment is due Thursday, September 11. APES Grade
 Vocabulary from Chapter 1 (Get the definitions from the reading in the chapter and
finding the meaning in the assigned chapter, not the glossary from the end of the book or
dictionary)
 Watch one of the podcasts or videos listed on Schoolwires teacher webpage under
resources for chapter 1 F and R and write a one paragraph summary with an additional
paragraph reflection.
 Do Critical Thinking reading questions for chapter 1
 Describe a research project that you would do to investigate any of the concepts
discussed in chapter 1. Your description should be in outline form and include: Research
question, independent and dependent variables, procedures for collecting data and
possible methods for analyzing the data.
 Describe a local Tragedy of the Commons and your plan to remediate the Tragedy and
then how you would prevent the tragedy of that commons from being degraded further.
5. Study for test on Chapter 1- Test will be Friday, September,12 starting at 10:15. (APES grade)