Environmental Science Pacing Guide 2015-16 (Block)
Week
Standards
(SEV)
1
1a, 1b
2
1d, 1e
3
2a, 2b
4
2c, 2d
5
3a, 3b, 3c
6
3d, 3e
7
4a, 4b
Topics Covered
1a. Matter is recycled - biogeochemical cycles (H, N, P, O, C), Energy is not
recycled Quiz 1
1b. Energy loss in food chains/webs through trophic levels due to entropy (10% rule)
Quiz 2
(Week 2 should build on concepts from week 1)
1d. Relate cycling of matter and flow of energy to laws of conservation of mass
and energy. Emphasize role of decomposers. Loop food webs. Quiz 3
1e. Distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem, and describe
how energy and matter move between these.
Test 1
2a. Describe how abiotic components affect the biosphere.
2b. Describe levels of organization within the biosphere (organism, population,
community, ecosystem, and biosphere). Include which contain biotic and abiotic
factors. Practice identification and distinguishing between biotic and abiotic
factors. Quiz 4
2c. Characterize the factors that define a biome
 Abiotic Factors – to include precipitation, temperature, and soils.
 Biotic Factors – plant and animal adaptations that create success in that
biome. Quiz 5
2d. 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.
Test 2
3a. Describe interconnections between abiotic and biotic factors. (Loop concepts
in weeks 2-4), climate change (include current events) Current Article Analysis as
Quiz 6
3b. Primary & Secondary Succession, describing changes in biomass, diversity, and
complexity/stability
3c. Traumatic events and succession: fires, floods, storms, earthquakes, etc…
Refresh that early stages of primary succession are most sensitive. Quiz 7
3d. Explain how biotic and abiotic factors influence populations: density
dependent/independent limiting factors, niche restriction, human activity, and…
3e. Interactions between individuals both interspecific and intraspecific: mutualism,
commensalisms, parasitism, predation, and competition. Quiz 8
Test 3
4a. Differences between renewable and nonrenewable resources (especially
energy): production, rates of use, renewal rates, limitations of resources (pollution,
availability, damage to ecosystems)
4b. Describe how technology is increasing the efficiency and utilization of these
resources. (Jevon’s paradox, hydraulic fracturing) Quiz 9 or Article Current Article
Analysis as Quiz 9
Environmental Science Pacing Guide 2015-16 (Block)
8-9
10
4e, 4f
4c, 4d, 1c
11
12
4a, 4b,
4e, 4f, 5e
13
5a, 5b
14
5c, 5d
15
5f
4e. Describe the required technology, availability, and pollution/implementation
problems of nonrenewable energy resources (fossil fuels, nuclear power) and
renewable/alternative fuels (wind, solar, ethanol, etc…). Find new articles.
Renewable energy has progressed well beyond what’s in the book.
4f. Describe the need for informed decision making for resource use (energy and
water usage, allocation, conservation Quiz 10 or Article Current Article Analysis as
Quiz 10 (Must be inverse of Quiz 9 assignment)
Paper as Test 4 (based on resource consumption in Richland Reservoir project)
4d. Relationship of energy consumption and living standards
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worldbalance/material.html)
1c.Relate food production and quality of nutrition to population growth and the
trophic levels
4c. Impact of energy use and waste production on environment, focusing on
positive steps that individuals and businesses can engage in to diminish these
effects. Students should connect cause and effects when describing these actions.
Quiz 11 (Given problems, students provide solutions)
Water pollution – point-source vs nonpoint-source pollution, causes of these
pollutants, and the effects on both natural ecosystems and human health Quiz 12
Air Pollution – primary vs secondary pollution (smog, ground level ozone, & acid
rain), ozone depletion, indoor air pollutants, noise, and light pollution, causes of
these pollutants, and the effects on both natural ecosystems and human health
Quiz 13
Test 5
5a. Describe factors of exponential and logistic population growth on all organisms,
including humans. Relate these to growth rates, carrying capacity, and population
crashes. Article Analysis as Quiz 14
5b. Describe the effects of population growth, demographic transitions, cultural
differences, emergent diseases, etc. on societal stability. Quiz 15
5c. Describe how human activities affect global and local sustainability through the
lens of topics covered throughout standards 4 and 5, focusing on…
5d. The actual and potential effects of habitat destruction (loss of biodiversity,
extinction), erosion/depletion of soil (loss of arable land exacerbated by urban
sprawl and deforestation) Quiz 16
Test 6
5f. Describe how political, legal, social, and economic decisions may affect global
and local ecosystems. (Since this standard is so broad, it serves as an excellent
opportunity to revisit a topic of interest or one that you felt did not receive
adequate attention
Revisit Reservoir Papers to examine the influence of these elements on the progress
of the Richland Creek Reservoir Project (Presentation as Test 7)
Summary
22 Formative Grades
 16 Quiz Grades
o 13 quizzes,
o 3 article analyses
 6 Notebook Grades
7 Summative Grades
 5 Tests
 1 research paper
 1 project