AZ-Environmental Science Scope and Sequence
Formulating Scientific Questions
Demonstrate how scientific questions are developed.
Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigations.
Science Practice: Describe how scientific investigations lead to new scientific questions.
Hypotheses, Theories, and Laws
Examine the relationship between observations, hypotheses, theories, and laws.
Explain how hypotheses are formed and tested.
Explain how theories may change as new areas of science and technology develop.
Science Practice: Give examples of how hypotheses lead to new experimental methods.
Scientific Inquiry
Apply the scientific process to given scenarios.
Science Practice: Describe how the scientific inquiry process uses the scientific method.
Collecting and Organizing Data
Gather data through qualitative and quantitative observations.
Identify tools and technology that should be used to gather accurate measurements.
Construct charts, graphs, and tables to organize data in a systematic way.
Science Practice: Distinguish between and give examples of observation and inference.
Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions
Analyze data to determine validity.
Formulate a conclusion based on observations, data, and inferences.
Science Practice: Describe various ways evidence can be interpreted or explained.
Development of Scientific Knowledge
Examine how scientific knowledge has the ability to change based on new investigations.
Demonstrate how scientific knowledge is used to answer questions and solve problems.
Analyze the role scientific knowledge plays in society, technology, and potential career opportunities.
Science Practice: Assess the universal process of developing scientific knowledge.
Adaptation
Describe the development of the theory of evolution.
Explain the theory of evolution.
Relate adaptations of organisms to resource competition.
Skills used: create a timeline, making logical connections
Organismal Relationships
Describe three types of interactions between organisms in an ecosystem.
Compare and contrast mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism.
Explain the effects of competitive exclusion on an ecosystem.
Skills used: compare and contrast, understanding cause and effect
Biodiversity
Analyze the effects of local evolution or migration on an ecosystem.
Predict the impact of removing or adding organisms on a food chain.
Explain how changes in biodiversity impact an ecosystem.
Succession and Extinction
Identify and explain the stages of succession in an ecosystem.
Identify factors that may disturb ecosystem stability.
Assess the importance of biodiversity in an ecosystem.
Science Practice: Locate data on a table and relate that data to a corresponding graph.
Unit Test
Matter and Energy in Ecosystems
The Cycles of Matter
Describe various cycles of matter that take place on Earth.
Evaluate the role played by cycles in sustaining life.
Explain the change in energy that occurs between each cycle in an ecosystem.
The Water Cycle
Describe the steps of the water cycle.
Explain the relationship between living organisms and the water cycle.
Identify possible sources of water contamination.
Energy Transfer
Outline the flow of energy in an ecosystem.
Describe how the amount of available energy changes between trophic levels in a food chain.
Explain the relationship between entropy and usable energy in a food chain.
Skills used: making logical connections, creating a flow chart
Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Compare and contrast the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
Science Practice: Evaluate data to formulate a conclusion.
Trophic Levels and Food Webs
Explain how relationships between organisms in an ecosystem contribute to energy flow within a food chain.
Analyze the effects of changes in populations on food web dynamics.
Differentiate between three types of energy pyramids.
Analyze relationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem.
Skills used: compare and contrast, create a structure diagram, understanding cause and effect, interpreting observations
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Distinguish between producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Illustrate the flow of energy through an ecosystem.
Explain the energy flow in a food web.
Science Practice: Locate data on a table and relate that data to a corresponding graph.
Unit Test
Earth's Biomes
Factors That Affect Climate
Explain what causes seasons.
Explain how various factors affect weather and climate.
Characteristics of Biomes
Identify the characteristics used to define all biomes.
Summarize the history of biomes on Earth.
Describe the impact of humanity on Earth's biomes.
Compare and contrast artificial and natural changes within a biome.
Skills used: compare and contrast, understanding cause and effect, identifying trends
Desert and Desert-Scrub Biomes
Identify the characteristics of desert and desert-scrub biomes.
Evaluate ways organisms have adapted to desert and desert-scrub environments.
Skills used: making logical connections, compare and contrast
The Chaparral
Identify the characteristics of chaparral biomes.
Evaluate ways organisms have adapted to chaparral.
Skills used: making logical connections
Alpine and Taiga Biomes
Identify the characteristics of the alpine and taiga biomes.
Evaluate ways organisms have adapted to the alpine and taiga biomes.
Skills used: making logical connections, compare and contrast
The Tundra
Identify the characteristics of the tundra.
Evaluate ways organisms have adapted to the tundra.
Skills used: making logical connections
Savanna and Grassland Biomes
Evaluate ways organisms have adapted to the savanna and grasslands.
Skills used: making logical connections, compare and contrast
Deciduous Forests
Identify the characteristics of deciduous forests.
Evaluate ways organisms have adapted to deciduous forests.
Skills used: making logical connections
The Rainforest
Identify the characteristics of the rainforest.
Evaluate ways organisms have adapted to the rainforest.
Skills used: making logical connections
Freshwater and Marine Biomes
Identify characteristics that are unique to each of the aquatic biomes.
Compare and contrast the adaptations of organisms in the aquatic biomes to their respective environments.
Describe how humans utilize resources from each of the aquatic biomes.
Explain how human understanding of aquatic ecosystems has changed throughout history.
Skills used: compare and contrast, identifying trends
Unit Test
Understanding Populations
Population Size
Identify biotic and abiotic factors that limit population growth.
Evaluate the effect of various factors on population size.
Skills used: interpreting data, understanding cause and effect, making logical connections
Population Genetics
Describe the effect of genetics on the growth rate and carrying capacity of a population.
Evaluate the effects of events on gene flow.
Skills used: interpreting data, understanding cause and effect
Determining Population Size
Compare and contrast various methods of determining population size.
Discriminate between major population growth models.
Compute population density.
Skills used: interpreting data, compare and contrast, calculating data
Measuring Populations
Compare and contrast various types of population distribution.
Differentiate between stabilizing, disruptive, and directional selection utilizing a graph.
Illustrate the structure of a given population demographic.
Skills used: compare and contrast, create a structure diagram, interpreting data
Unit Test
Cumulative Exam
Cumulative Exam Review
Cumulative Exam
The Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate
Atmospheric Pollution
Identify various common atmospheric pollutants.
Differentiate between primary and secondary pollutants.
Examine the effects of pollution on health.
Skills used: evaluate the validity of an explanation
Ozone
Explain how the ozone layer is formed.
Analyze the importance of the ozone layer in sustaining life.
Compare and contrast various factors that cause ozone depletion.
Relate fluctuations in ozone to human health and the environment.
Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation
Describe humidity and how it is measured.
Explain how clouds form.
Distinguish the three main types of clouds.
Identify common types of precipitation.
Air Masses and Fronts
Identify the major types of air masses.
Explain how air masses move.
Differentiate the four main types of fronts.
Natural Events and the Environment
Explain how human activities impact the effects of natural disasters.
Describe the impact of natural disasters on local populations.
Skills used: understanding cause and effect, graphing projections, making logical connections, supporting claims
Air Quality
Identify various causes of air pollution.
Explain the impact of air pollution on the environment.
Assess the methods that can be utilized to improve air quality.
Propose alternative methods of improving air quality.
Skills used: compare and contrast support and opposition
Climate and Change in Ecosystems
Identify various effects of climate changes on an ecosystem.
Describe environmental factors that can cause changes in ecosystems.
Compare and contrast the benefits and disadvantages of natural change to ecosystems.
Global Change
Predict future changes in the global climate.
Assess current theories regarding global climate change.
Analyze environment changes and their connection to global warming.
Skills used: making predictions based on data
A History of Global Climate Change
Compare current and past global climate trends.
Explain how long-term global climate shifts impact Earth's ecosystems.
Describe the effects of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere.
Skills used: compare and contrast support and opposition
Unit Test
The Geosphere and Land Resources
Human Use of Land
Assess the effects of human land usage on ecosystems.
Compare and contrast ways humans are working to reduce the impact of land use on the environment.
Describe possible future consequences of land use to the environment.
Skills used: determine the cause and predict the effect
Soil Around the World
Explain the relationships between organisms and soil of different ecosystems.
Compare and contrast the soil composition of different ecosystems.
Describe ways in which humans impact soil.
Soil and Agriculture
Compare and contrast various agricultural practices around the world.
Evaluate various methods used in agriculture to minimize soil depletion and erosion.
Skills used: selecting valid resources
Minerals and Mining
Identify uses of minerals.
Compare and contrast various mineral extraction methods.
Explain the impact of mining on local populations.
Describe the long-term consequences of large scale mineral extraction to the Earth.
Urban Growth
Compare and contrast various urban and suburban migration patterns seen on the Earth.
Describe the effects of upward growth on local environments.
Describe the effects of urban sprawl on local environments.
Skills used: determine the cause and predict the effect
The Importance of Trees
Explain the impact of trees on air quality.
Identify methods in which trees are utilized by humans.
Describe the relationship between trees and other organisms.
Analyze the consequences of human use of trees.
Skills used: constructing valid criticism
Rainforest Loss
Identify the locations of the world's rainforests.
Explain how rainforest resources are utilized throughout the globe.
Evaluate the impact of rainforest loss over the last 100 years.
Compare and contrast the effectiveness of current rainforest conservation efforts.
Skills used: constructing valid criticism
Land Management and Planning
Describe differences in the use of public land and private land.
Describe large-scale land management methods implemented by governments and corporations.
Determine possible impacts of land management methods on the environment.
Unit Test
The Hydrosphere and Water Resources
The Water We Use
Identify sources of potable and non-potable water.
Describe the availability of water across the globe.
Assess the impact of water consumption and diminishing supplies on human activities.
Groundwater
Describe the location and importance of the water table.
Assess the consequences of overuse and contamination of groundwater.
Explain how human use of groundwater has changed over time.
Skills used: determining independent and dependent variables
Changing Waterways
Describe naturally occurring changes to waterways.
Evaluate ways humans impact waterways.
Propose alternative practices to reduce human impact on waterways.
Nonnative Species In Aquatic Ecosystems
Describe how invasive species impact an aquatic ecosystem.
Identify ways that invasive species are introduced into an aquatic ecosystem.
Examine various methods of addressing environmental problems that were traditionally solved by utilizing nonnative species.
Water Pollution
Identify sources of water pollution.
Describe the effects of water pollution on local populations.
Explain ways that humans can reduce water pollution.
Water Policy
Identify laws and regulations in the United States that address water use and management.
Propose possible consequences of failing to conserve water.
Compare and contrast the processes of water reclamation, greywater use, and desalination.
Unit Test
Earth's Energy Resources
Limiting Factors and Humans
Identify the influences of environment on behavior.
Explain the impact of limiting factors on human society.
Describe factors that can impact the stability of a society.
Skills used: making logical connections, supporting claims, understanding cause and effect, making valid criticisms
What Are Natural Resources?
Explain how natural resources are produced.
Explain how fossil fuels are formed.
Explain how resource availability is limited by rates of use and renewal.
Skills used: making predictions, compare and contrast, researching with technology, making logical connections
Nuclear Energy
Describe how nuclear power plants work.
Science Practice: Weigh the merits of using nuclear energy to solve society’s need for electrical energy by comparing a number of human, economic, and environmental costs and benefits.
The Social Costs of Resource Use
Compare and contrast the costs and benefits of using renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Evaluate the consequences of world dependence on fuels.
Explain how technology can be utilized in resource conservation efforts.
Skills used: making logical connections, evaluating explanations, compare and contrast
Resource Conservation
Assess the availability and allocation of resources.
Discuss problems associated with the use of non-local resources.
Compare and contrast uses of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Propose alternatives to using nonrenewable resources.
Skills used: compare and contrast, proposing alternative solutions, researching with technology
Unit Test
Humans and the Environment
Human Impact on the Environment
Relate the greenhouse effect to global warming and explain its impact on the environment.
Analyze how human populations affect resources.
Give examples of human activities that have been beneficial and detrimental to the environment.
Science Practice: Give examples of science contributions impacting sustainability.
Governments and
Illustrate how conservation efforts have positively impacted ecosystems.
Compare the effects of government sanctioned activities on ecosystems.
Assess the impact of government and business on energy efficiency.
Skills used: making logical connections, interpreting observations, supporting claims, making predictions, compare and contrast
Informed Policy
Describe the influence that scientific knowledge has on society.
Identify contributing factors to environmental policy decisions.
Evaluate the benefits of monitoring environmental parameters when making policy regarding resource use.
Skills used: compare and contrast, making logical connections, supporting claims, understanding cause and effect
Impact of Policy
Assess the potential environmental consequences of policies that address social problems.
Evaluate the effects of policies on global and local ecosystems.
Propose possible effects of policies regarding sustainable land use.
Skills used: supporting claims, plotting trends, making predictions, interpreting observations, compare and contrast
Milestones and Turning Points
Illustrate the impact of major milestones in environmental science.
Predict possible milestones in environmental policy.
Describe the efforts of various countries to reduce resource and ecological depletion.
Skills used: making valid criticisms, understanding cause and effect, researching with technology, making predictions, identifying trends
Effects of Technology
Describe the impact of energy producing technologies on the environment and the acquisition of natural resources.
Explain how energy producing technologies impact land fertility and aquatic viability.
Skills used: making predictions, identifying trends, researching with technology, understanding cause and effect, interpreting observations, evaluating explanations, making valid criticisms
Success Stories
Describe various ways communities are attempting to restore and protect ecosystems.
Give examples of emerging efforts designed to successfully address environmental issues.
Skills used: understanding cause and effect
Unit Test
Cumulative Exam
Cumulative Exam Review
Cumulative Exam
School Country
United States
School state
Arizona
School city
Buckeye
High school
Buckeye Union High School
Estrella Foothills High School
Youngker High School