Grade 11-12 Environmental Science Curriculum Topics, Programs, and Strategies Unit Topics Key Learning Ecosystems Water and Watersheds Energy Natural Resources Species Interaction The abiotic characteristics of an ecosystem determine the type of life that can be found there. Clean water is essential to the survival of living organisms. Dependence on nonrenewable energy sources is not sustainable. The earth provides the raw materials for our everyday needs. All living organisms are interdependent. Unit EQ: Why is a rainforest different than a desert? (Chapter 5: Biomes of the World; Workbook 27-34) Programs/ Resources Concept: Components of Ecosystems—pp. 8284; Workbook 15; Unitedstreaming video: Elements of Biology: Biomes: The Adaptation of Organisms Concept: Major Biomes—Chapter 5; Unitedstreaming video: Biomes: Our Earth’s Major Life Zones Concept: Succession—pp. 112-115 Unit EQ: Why are watersheds important? Unit EQ: What energy source is best? (Chapter 8: Water Resources and Water Pollution; Workbook 47-51); Unitedstreaming video: Sources of Life: Water in Our Environment (Chapter 7: Energy; Workbook 4046); Unitedstreaming video: Power Up; Energy in Our Environment Concept: Fossil Fuels—pp. 255260 Concept: Alternative Renewable Energy pp.267-276 Concept: Alternative Nonrenewable Energy—pp. 261265 Concept: Energy Management—pp. 281-284 Concept: Wetlands pp. 206-207; Unitedstreaming video: Freshwater Wetlands: Water, A User’s Guide Concept: Watersheds—pp. 294-298 Concept: Aquatic Biology—pp. 308312 Concept: Aquatic Chemistry— Investigation 8 pp. 306-307 Concept: Water Resource Management—pp. Unit EQ: How did the earth’s resources provide the “stuff” I buy at the mall? Concept: Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources—pp. 227231 Concept: Solid Waste Management—Chapter 10; Workbook 57-61) Concept: Sustainability—Chapter 13; Workbook 74-78) Unit EQ: What would happen if all the insects died? (Chapter 4: the Diversity of Life; Workbook 21-26) Concept: Food Webs—pp. 91-100; Workbook 16-17 Concept: Adaptations—pp. 104-108 Concept: Habitat Essentials— Concept: Symbiosis pp. 143-147 300-305; 316-325; Unitedstreaming video: Stuff Happens with Bill Nye: Bathroom Concept: Groundwater—pp. 308-315 Text: Environmental Science, Student Workbook and Lab Manual (Pearson/AGS Globe Publishers); Unitedstreaming Videos Unit Topics Key Learning Biodiversity Agriculture and IPM Human Impact on the Environment Biodiversity benefits humans and all organisms. Today’s food and fiber system is a highly technical global industry. Humans have caused many environmental problems in the past. What we do today will determine whether these problems continue in the future. Unit EQ: How do my actions threaten wildlife? (Chapter 12: Protecting Biodiversity; Workbook 68-73) Programs/ Resources Concept: Threats to Biodiversity—pp. 431-458; Unitedstreaming video: Threats to Biodiversity: Why We Should Care Concept: Benefits of Biodiversity—pp. 149-154 Concept: Preserving Biodiversity—pp. 459-466 Unit EQ: What is necessary to feed the more than 6 billion people on our planet? (Chapter 11: Feeding the World) Concept: Land Use Concept: Pest Management—p.117 Concept: Soil—pp. 399-402; Workbook 63 Concept: Food and Fiber System-- Unitedstreaming Series: EnviroTacklebox Unit EQ: What is the greatest environmental problem caused by humans? Unitedstreaming Video: TLC Elementary School: People and the Environment Concept: Air Pollution--Chapter 9;Workbook 52-56) Concept: Water Pollution—Chapter 8 Concept: Human Population Growth— pp. 216-226; Workbook 36-39 Text: Environmental Science, Student Workbook and Lab Manual (Pearson/AGS Globe Publishers); Unitedstreaming Videos