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 / district 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