Unit The Environment
Enduring Understanding: The scientific theory of the evolution of Earth states that changes in our planet are driven by the flow of energy and
the cycling of matter through dynamic interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.
1. How does matter move through the
biosphere? (1/2 day)
2. How does water cycle through the
biosphere? (1/2 day)
SC.912.E.7.1
Analyze the movement of matter and energy through the different biogeochemical cycles,
including water and carbon.



Describe how matter cycles among the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Explain how water cycles through the biosphere
3. How does carbon cycle through the
List the processes that add and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
biosphere? (1/2 day)
Enduring Understanding: The distribution and abundance of organisms is determined by the interactions between organisms, and between
organisms and the non-living environment. Human activities and natural events can have profound effects on populations, biodiversity and
ecosystem processes.
1. What factors affect population growth? (1
day)
SC.912.L.17.5
Analyze how population size is determined by births, deaths, immigration, emigration, and
limiting factors (biotic and abiotic) that determine carrying capacity.
2. What happens during exponential growth?
(1/2 day)

Identify factors that affect population growth
3. What is logistic growth? (1/2 day)

Describe and graph exponential growth

Describe and graph logistic growth

Analyze data and information about population dynamics and biotic and abiotic
4. What factors determine carrying capacity?
(1/2 day)
5. What limiting factors depend on population
density? (1/2 day)
6. What limiting factors do not typically
depend on population density? (1/2 day)
factors to explain a change in carrying capacity

Identify the limiting factors that depend on population density

Identify the limiting factors that do not depend on population density
Enduring Understanding: Energy and nutrients move within and between biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems via physical, chemical
and biological processes.
1. What are primary producers? (1/2 day)
2. How do consumers obtain energy and
nutrients? (1/2 day)
SC.912.L.17.9
Use a food web to identify and distinguish producers, consumers, and decomposers. Explain
the pathway of energy transfer through trophic levels and the reduction of available energy at
successive trophic levels.
3. How does energy flow through ecosystems?
(1/2 day)

Define primary producers

Describe how consumers obtain energy and nutrients
4. What does an energy pyramid illustrate?
(1/2 day)

Trace the flow of energy through living systems

Explain how the amount of energy available at each trophic level limits the number or
organisms that each level can support
Enduring Understanding: The distribution and abundance of organisms is determined by the interactions between organisms, and between
organisms and the non-living environment.
1. What factors affect life in aquatic
ecosystems? (1/2 day)
2. How do ecologists usually classify marine
ecosystems? (1/2 day)
3. How are freshwater ecosystems classified?
(1/2 day)
SC.912.L.17.2
Explain the general distribution of life in aquatic systems as a function of chemistry,
geography, light, depth, salinity, and temperature.

Discuss the factors that affect aquatic ecosystems

Describe and compare the distinct ocean zones that make up marine ecosystems

Identify the major categories of freshwater ecosystems
Enduring Understanding: The distribution and abundance of organisms is determined by the interactions between organisms, and between
organisms and the non-living environment. Human activities and natural events can have profound effects on populations, biodiversity and
ecosystem processes.
1. What factors determine global climate? (1
day)
2. Do ecosystems return to “normal” following
a disturbance? (1 day)
SC.912.L.17.4
Describe changes in ecosystems resulting from seasonal variations, climate change and
succession.

Identify the factors that influence climate

Describe how ecosystems recover from a disturbance

Compare succession after a natural disturbance with succession after a humancaused disturbance
Enduring Understanding: Human activities and natural events can have profound effects on populations, biodiversity and ecosystem processes.
1. What is the relationship between resource
use and sustainable development? (1/2 day)
2. What are examples of renewable and
nonrenewable resources? (1/2 day)
3. What are the pros and cons of various
renewable and nonrenewable resources? (1
day)
3. What are the possible environmental
impacts resulting from the use of renewable
and nonrenewable resources? (1/2 day)
SC.912.L.17.11
Evaluate the costs and benefits of renewable and nonrenewable resources, such as water,
energy, fossil fuels, wildlife, and forests.

Describe the relationship between resource use and sustainable development

Identify examples of renewable resources and the costs and benefits of their use

Identify examples of nonrenewable resources and the costs and benefits of their use

Evaluate the possible environmental impacts resulting from the use of renewable
and/or nonrenewable resources
Enduring Understanding: Human activities and natural events can have profound effects on populations, biodiversity and ecosystem processes.
1. Why is biodiversity important? (1/2 day)
2. What are the most significant threats to
biodiversity? (1day)
SC.912.L.17.8
Recognize the consequences of the losses of biodiversity due to catastrophic events, climate
changes, human activity, and the introduction of invasive, non-native species.

Define biodiversity and explain its value

Identify the current threats to biodiversity

Identify the positive and/or negative consequences that result from a reduction in
biodiversity
Enduring Understanding: Human activities and natural events can have profound effects on populations, biodiversity and
ecosystem processes.
1. How do our daily activities affect the
environment? (2 days)
2. What is the relationship between resource
use and sustainable development? (1 day)
SC.912.L.17.20
Predict the impact of individuals on environmental systems and examine how human lifestyles
affect sustainability.

Describe how human activities can impact environmental systems including soil,
water, and the atmosphere

Define sustainable development and its relationship to resource usage
Enduring Understanding: Manipulation of DNA in organisms has led to commercial production of biological molecules on a large scale and
genetically modified organisms.
1. What are the possible impacts of
biotechnology on the environment? (1 day)
SC.912.L.16.10
Evaluate the impact of biotechnology on the individual, society and the environment, including
medical and ethical issues.

Identify ways that biotechnology has impacted the environment, such as farming
techniques and release of GMOs