Course title

SCI 151 & SCI 152

Pre-requisite

Instructor Approval; a grade of “B” or higher in 8th grade science is required.

Course description

The goal of this course is to provide students with the scientific principles; concepts; and methodologies required to
understand the interrelationships of the natural world; to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and
human-made; to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems; and to examine alternative solutions for
resolving and/or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from
different areas of study. This course is designed for the responsible; independent student who is committed to a thorough
understanding of environmental principles and the advance use of scientific processes. An investment of extra time and
attention to course work outside of the normal school day is required. A research project is required for this course.

TEXTBOOK:
Environmental Science (2013); Heithaus and Arms; Holt McDougal- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Textbook website: my.hrw.com (you will get a username and password to use this site)

THE FOLLOWING LIST OF MATERIALS ARE MANDATORY FOR SUCCESS IN THIS CLASS:
-Binder – for ALL class materials
-Loose-leaf paper – for class notes (keep this in your binder).
-Clip board – for field trips and outdoor assignments.
-Planner or calendar - to keep track of your assignments
-Blue or black pen - for all written work; and pencil for lab work.
-Colored pencils or pens – for note taking; in-class grading; sketching; etc.
-Calculator - scientific calculators are preferable
-Personal protection equipment - closed-toed shoes on lab days (goggles and apron will be provided unless you wish to bring your own)

COURSE SCHEDULE
 UNIT 1. Introduction to Environmental Science
 Chapter 1. Science and the Environment 1 week +2 days
 Section 1 – Understanding Our Environment
 Section 2 – The Environment and Society
 Making a Difference – Predators of Africa
 Chapter Lab – What’s in an Ecosystem?
 Chapter 2. Tools of Environmental Science 2 weeks
 Section 1 – Scientific Methods
 Section 2 – Statistics and Models
 Section 3 – Making Informed Decisions
 Maps in Action – A Topographic Map of Keene; New Hampshire
 Society and the Environment – Bats and Bridges
 Chapter Lab – Risk Assessment
 Chapter 3. The Dynamic Earth 3 weeks + 1 day
 Section 1 – The Geosphere
 Section 2 – The Atmosphere
 Section 3 – The Hydrosphere and Biosphere
 Maps in Action – Earthquake Hazard Map of Contiguous U.S.
 Society and the Environment – Ocean Currents
ÔÉò Chapter Lab - Beaches
 UNIT EXAM – Chapter 1; 2; and 3 During week 9
 Unit 2. Ecology
 Chapter 4. The Organization of Life 1 week + 2 days
 Section 1 – Ecosystems: Everything is Connected
 Section 2 – Evolution
 Section 3 – The Diversity of Living Things
 Making a Difference – Butterfly Ecologist
 Chapter Lab – How Do Brine Shrimp Select a Habitat?
 Chapter 5. How Ecosystems Work 1 week + 3 days
 Section 1 – Energy Flow in Ecosystems
 Section 2 – The Cycling of Matter
 Section 3 – How Ecosystems Change
 Maps in Action – Tracking Bats and Insects in Texas
 Chapter Lab – Factors That Influence Ecosystems
 Chapter 7. Aquatic Ecosystems 1 week + 1 day
 Section 1 – Freshwater Ecosystems
 Section 2 – Marine Ecosystems
 Maps in Action – Wetlands in the United States; 1780’s vs. 1980’s
 Society and the Environment – Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans
 Chapter Lab – Eutrophication: Too Much of a Good Thing?
 UNIT EXAM – Chapter 4; 5; and 7
 Chapter 8. Understanding Populations
 Section 1 – How Populations Change in Size
 Section 2 – How Species Interact with Each Other
 Society and the Environment – Conserving Top Predators
 Chapter Lab – Calculating Generation Rate
 Chapter 9. The Human Population
 Section 1 – Studying Human Populations
 Section 2 – Changing Population Trends
 Maps in Action – Fertility Rates and Female Literacy in Africa
 Society and the Environment – Lost Populations: What Happened?
 Chapter Lab – How Will Our Population Grow?
 Chapter 10. Biodiversity
 Section 1 – What is Biodiversity?
 Section 2 – Biodiversity at Risk
 Section 3 – The Future of Biodiversity
 Making a Difference – Dr. E. O. Wilson: Champion of Biodiversity
 Chapter Lab – Differences in Diversity
 EXAM – Chapters 8; 9; and 10
 Chapter 11. Water
 Section 1 – Water Resources
 Section 2 – Water Use and Management
 Section 3 – Water Pollution
 Points of View – The Three Gorges Dam
 Chapter Lab – Groundwater Filters
 Chapter 12. Air
 Section 1 – What Causes Air Pollution?
 Section 2 – Air; Noise; and Light Pollution
 Section 3 – Acid Precipitation
 Maps in Action – Light Sources
 Society and the Environment – Killer Smog
 Chapter Lab – The Acid Test
 Chapter 13. Atmosphere and Climate Change
 Section 1 – Climate
 Section 2 – The Ozone Shield
 Section 3 – Climate Change
 Chapter Lab – Build a Model of Global Air Movement
 EXAM – Chapters 11; 12; and 13
 Chapter 14. Land
 Section 1 – How We Use Land
 Section 2 – Urban Land Use
 Section 3 – Land Management and Conservation
 Making a Difference – Restoring the Range
 Chapter Lab – Creating a Land-Use Model
 Chapter 15. Food and Agriculture
 Section 1 – Feeding the World
 Section 2 – Crops and Soil
 Section 3 – Animals and Agriculture
 Points of View – Genetically Modified Foods
 Chapter Lab – Managing the Moisture in Garden Soil
 Chapter 16. Mining and Mineral Resources
 Section 1 – Mining and Mineral Resources
 Section 2 – Mineral Exploration and Mining
 Section 3 – Mining Regulations and Mine Reclamation
 Maps in Action – Mineral Production in the United States
 Chapter Lab – Extraction of Copper from Its Ore
 EXAM – Chapters 14; 15; and 16
 Chapter 17. Nonrenewable Energy
 Section 1 – Energy Resources and Fossil Fuels
 Section 2 – Nuclear Energy
 Points of View – Pipelines and Oil Sands
 Chapter Lab – Your Household Energy Consumption
 Chapter 18. Renewable Energy
 Section 1 – Renewable Energy Today
 Section 2 – Developing Energy Technologies
 Maps in Action – Wind Power in the United States
 Chapter Lab – Blowing in the Wind
 EXAM – Chapter 17 and 18
 Chapter 19. Waste
 Section 1 – Solid Waste
 Section 2 – Reducing Solid Waste
 Section 3 – Hazardous Waste
 Chapter Lab – Out of Sight – Out of Mind
 Chapter 21. Economics; Policy; and the Future
 Section 1 – Economics and International Cooperation
 Section 2 – Environmental Policies in the United States
 Section 3 – The Importance of the Individual
 Making a Difference – Get Involved with the Environment
 Chapter Lab – Be an Environmental Scientist
 EXAM – Chapter 19 and 21
 CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAM – Covering All Content

Environmental science is a high school credit course; acceptable for preparing you to move on to introductory-level College courses. My goal is to give you a glimpse of how a college-level class works. I hope this course is not only challenging; but also interesting and rewarding for you. Good luck!

School Country

United States

School state

Arizona

School city

Tucson

High school

Tanque Verde High School

School Address

4201 N. Melpomene

School zip code

85749

Requested competency code

Lab Science

Date submitted

01/29/2015

Approved

Yes

Approved competency code

• LINT
• Integrated science

Approved date

02/10/2015

Online / Virtual

No