Environmental Science HS Curriculum Guide - School District of Philadelphia

[Pages:25]Environmental Science Curriculum Guide for High School

SDP Science Teachers

Please note: Pennsylvania & Next Generation Science Standards as well as Instructional Resources are found on

the SDP Curriculum Engine

Prepared by: Jamie Feldstein

10/2017

Environmental Science: Term 1 Unit 1

Topic: The Scientific Method and Introduction to Environmental Science

Duration: Traditional (50 minute periods): 8 - 10 classes ( adjust using professional discretion)

Block (90 minute periods) : 4 - 5 classes (adjust using professional discretion)

Eligible Content CHEM.A.1.1.2: Classify observations as qualitative and/or quantitative.

CHEM.A.1.1.3: Utilize significant figures to communicate the uncertainty in a quantitative observation.

BIO.B.4.2.4: Describe how ecosystems change in response to natural and human disturbances.

BIO.B.3.3.1: Distinguish among the scientific terms: hypothesis, inference, law, theory, principle, fact, and observation.

Performance Objectives SWBAT: These are examples, created by SDP teachers, of how you may translate the eligible content into learning goals for your classroom.

? SWBAT to apply the scientific method IOT generate questions about environmental issues, identify dependent and independent variables, and critique the elements of an experimental design.

? SWBAT cite textual evidence IOT draw conclusions regarding human actions and environmental impacts.

? SWBAT proficiently use lab equipment to obtain quantitative data IOT construct graphical representations and use statistics to interpret and describe experimental results.

? SWBAT contrast correlation and causation IOT analyze how scientists determine which factors impact an environment.

? SWBAT write a lab report IOT communicate their understanding of the processes and conclusions of the investigation.

Key Terms and Definitions

1. Causation: when one factor is responsible for the change in another factor. 2. Constants: all of the factors that are the same in both the experimental group and the control

group.

3. Control: the factor or subject of an experiment that is not manipulated but can be used to make comparisons between sets of data. The experimental subjects that represent the "normal" conditions.

4. Correlation: the mutual relationship between 2 things. 5. Dependent variable: the factor in an experiment that is changed or determined by

manipulation of one or more other factors (independent variables), and addresses what is evaluated at the end of the experiment to determine if the experimental and treatment groups are different. 6. Environment: the total of surroundings (air, water, soil, vegetation, people, wildlife) influencing each living being's existence, including physical, biological and all other factors: the surroundings of a plant or animal, including other plants or animals, climate and location. 7. Environmental Science: the branch of science concerned with the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the environment and their effect on organisms. 8. Experimental/treatment group: the experimental subjects that are exposed to the variable of interest. 9. Hypothesis: a proposed explanation based on limited observation used as the starting point of further investigation. 10. Independent Variable: the factor in an experiment that is deliberately manipulated, and addresses what the experiment is designed to test the effect of. 11. Law: a concise quantitative statement or equation that proves valid for a wide variety of phenomena. 12. Observation: the process by which scientists learn about their world. Includes looking, noticing and measuring, as well as designing and carrying out experiments and creatively reevaluating previous observations. 13. Qualitative: involves analysis of data such as words (e.g., from interviews and literature), pictures (e.g., video), or objects (e.g., an artifact). 14. Quantitative: involves analysis of numerical data (measure, count, etc). 15. Sample size: the number of experimental subjects in an experiment (bigger sample size is usually better). 16. Scientific Method: a series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions. A method of thinking through a problem to a conclusion that is substantiated. 17. Scientific Theory: an explanation for some phenomenon that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning. 18. Theory: a testable explanation for a set of observations.

Environmental Science: Term 1 Unit 2

Topic: The Basic Chemistry of Our Planet

Duration: Traditional (50 minute periods): 13 - 15 days (adjust using professional discretion)

Block (90 minute periods): 7 - 8 days (adjust using professional discretion)

Eligible Content BIO.A.2.1.1: Describe the unique properties of water and how these properties support life on Earth.

BIO.A.2.2.1: Explain how carbon is uniquely suited to form biological macromolecules.

BIO.A.2.3.2: Explain how factors such as pH, temperature, and concentration levels can affect energy.

CHEM.A.1.1.1: Classify physical or chemical changes within a system in terms of matter and/or energy.

CHEM.A.1.2.5: Describe how chemical bonding can affect whether a substance dissolves in a given liquid.

Performance Objectives SWBAT: These are examples, created by SDP teachers, of how you may translate the eligible content into learning goals for your classroom.

? SWBAT use the periodic table to diagram the structure of a given atom IOT compare electron configurations in the first 20 elements.

? SWBAT distinguish between types of bonds IOT explain how atoms combine to become molecules.

? SWBAT discuss the unique characteristics of the carbon atom IOT identify, draw, and describe the function of organic molecules (e.g. recall atomic structure when describing carbohydrates and hydrocarbons to draw the conclusion that they store potential energy).

? SWBAT identify reactants and products IOT explain how energy flows through a system (e.g. photosynthesis and respiration, sun and living things).

? SWBAT diagram and describe water's structure at the molecular level IOT describe how water's unique properties make it essential to all life on Earth and characterize Earth's interacting spheres.

? SWBAT describe how chemistry is the basis for understanding and solving environmental issues IOT create solutions to environmental problems (such as the effects of acid precipitation in PA).

Key Terms and Definitions

1. Acid Precipitation: rain, snow, hail, fog, or dew, with a pH of less than 5.6 due to the presence of acid pollutants such as sulfuric and nitric acid.

2. Acid: a substance with a pH of less than 7 due to a greater amount of free H+ ions than OH ions.

3. Adhesion: The intermolecular attraction between unlike molecules. Capillary action results from the adhesive properties of water and the molecules that make up plant cells.

4. Atom: the smallest unit of an element that maintains the properties of that element. 5. Base: a substance with a pH of greater than 7 due to a greater about of OH ions than H+ ions. 6. Buffer: a solution that can maintain a nearly constant pH if it is diluted, or if relatively small

amounts of strong acids or bases are added. Buffer solutions resist pH changes 7. Carbohydrates: any of various neutral compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (as

sugars, starches, and celluloses) most of which are formed by green plants and which constitute a major class of animal foods. 8. Cellular Respiration: A complex set of chemical reactions involving an energy transformation where potential chemical energy in the bonds of "food" molecules is released and partially captured in the bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules. 9. Chemical Change: any change from one state (gas, liquid, solid) which is accompanied by alteration of the chemical composition; any process in which one or more substances are changed into one or more different substances. 10. Cohesion: The intermolecular attraction between like molecules. Surface tension results from the cohesive properties of water. 11. Combustion: a usually rapid chemical process (as oxidation) that produces heat and usually light; also a slower oxidation (as in the body). 12. Compound: a substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements that are chemically combined. 13. Electron: a negatively charged subatomic particle. 14. Element: a substance that cannot be separated or broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. 15. Energy: usable power that comes from heat, electricity, etc. 16. Hydrocarbon: an organic compound (as acetylene or butane) containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal, and bitumens. 17. Ion: atoms or molecules that carry either a positive or negative charge as a result of giving away/gaining electrons. 18. Isotope: atoms of the same element that share the same number of protons, but contain different amounts of neutrons. 19. Matter: the thing that forms physical objects and occupies space. 20. Mixture: a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically combined. 21. Molecule: the smallest unit of a substance that keeps all of the physical and chemical properties of that substance. 22. Neutron: a subatomic particle of about the same mass as a proton but without an electric charge, present in all atomic nuclei except those of ordinary hydrogen.

23. pH: a figure expressing the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a logarithmic scale on which 7 is neutral, lower values are more acid and higher values more alkaline. The pH is equal to -log.

24. Photosynthesis: A process in which solar radiation is chemically captured by chlorophyll molecules through a set of controlled chemical reactions resulting in the potential chemical energy in the bonds of carbohydrate molecules

25. Polarity: a separation of electric charge in a molecule, leading to the ability to interact with water and other polar molecules, and the inability to interact with nonpolar molecules such as oils.

26. Potential Energy: the energy of a body or a system with respect to the position of the body or the arrangement of the particles of the system.

27. Proton - a stable subatomic particle occurring in all atomic nuclei, with a positive electric charge equal in magnitude to that of an electron, but of opposite sign.

Environmental Science: Term 1 Unit 3

Topic: Biogeochemical Cycles, Systems, Spheres

Duration: Traditional (50 minute periods): 13 - 15 days (adjust using professional discretion)

Block (90 minute periods): 7 - 7 days (adjust using professional discretion)

Eligible Content BIO.B.4.1.2: Describe characteristic biotic and abiotic components of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

BIO.B.4.2.3: Describe how matter recycles through an ecosystem (i.e. water cycle, carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, nitrogen cycle, etc.).

BIO.B.4.2.4: Describe how ecosystems change in response to natural and human disturbances.

Performance Objectives SWBAT: These are examples, created by SDP teachers, of how you may translate the eligible content into learning goals for your classroom.

? SWBAT diagram the biogeochemical cycles (i.e. water, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous) IOT explain how the the Law of Conservation of Matter connects biotic and abiotic factors within interlinked systems in the spheres.

? SWBAT use direct and indirect observations IOT to gather data and draw inferences and conclusions regarding the function of biogeochemical processes.

? SWBAT investigate the effects of positive and negative feedback loops in terms of Earth systems and spheres IOT display how the atmosphere interacts with life on Earth.

? SWBAT describe the contributions of Earth's four spheres to our planet's life support system IOT analyze how the interactions between the hydrosphere and the biosphere support life.

? SWBAT cite evidence-describing ways in which human influences modify biogeochemical cycles in terms of reservoir storage and fluxesIOT explain how ecosystems change in response to human disturbances and propose potential solutions.

Key Terms and Definitions

1. Atmosphere: the area of air and gas enveloping objects in space, like stars and planets, or the air around any location.

2. Abiotic factor: a term that describes a nonliving factor in an ecosystem.* 3. Biogeochemical cycles: the movement of abiotic factors between living and nonlinving

components within ecosystems; also known as nutrient cycles (i.e., water cycle, carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, and nitrogen cycle).* 4. Biosphere: zone of life on Earth; sum total of all ecosystems on Earth.* 5. Biotic factor: a term that describes a living or once living organism in an ecosystem.* 6. Carbon cycle: the process of carbon atoms being passed between biotic and abiotic factors. 7. Cellular respiration: a process by which cells extract energy from organic compounds by breaking bonds, releasing carbon dioxide as waste products. C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy (ATP). 8. Consumer: organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms. 9. Ecology: study of the relationships between organisms and their interactions with the environment.* 10. Feedback loop: The section of a control system that allows for feedback and self correction and that adjusts its operation according to differences between the actual and the desired or optimal output. 11. Flux: an operation or series of operations resulting in change. 12. Geosphere: any of the almost spherical concentric regions of matter that make up the earth and its atmosphere, as the lithosphere and hydrosphere. 13. Greenhouse gas: any of various gaseous compounds (such as carbon dioxide) that absorb infrared radiation, trap heat in the atmosphere, and contribute to the greenhouse effect. 14. Homeostasis: balance 15. Hydrologic cycle: the water cycle, how water moves around the earth through biotic and abiotic factors 16. Hydrosphere: the water on or surrounding the surface of the globe, including the water of the oceans and the water in the atmosphere. 17. Lithosphere: the rigid outer layer of the earth, having an average thickness of about 75 km and comprising the earth's crust and the solid part of the mantle above the asthenosphere. 18. Negative feedback loop: a process that returns a system to equilibrium.

19. Nitrogen cycle: the process of nitrogen atoms being passed between biotic and abiotic factors.

20. Organism: form of life; an animal, plant fungus, protist or bacterium.* 21. Oxygen cycle: the process of oxygen atoms being passed between biotic and abiotic

factors. 22. Photosynthesis: a process by which solar radiation is chemically captured by chlorophyll

molecule through a set of controlled chemical reactions resulting in the potential chemical energy in the bonds of carbohydrate molecules 6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy C6H12O6 + 6O2.* 23. Positive feedback loop: a process that amplifies change. 24. Producer: organism that makes its own food, an autotroph. 25. Reservoir: a supply or source of something. A physical place where a resource is stored.

Environmental Science: Term 2 Unit 4

Topic: Ecosystem Dynamics: Food Webs, Energy Pyramids, Succession

Duration: Traditional (50 minute periods): 8 - 11 days (adjust using professional discretion)

Block (90 minute periods): 7 - 8 days (adjust using professional discretion)

Eligible Content

BIO.B.4.1.1: Describe the levels of ecological organization (i.e., organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere).

BIO.B.4.1.2: Describe characteristic biotic and abiotic component of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. BIO.B.4.2.1: Describe how energy flows through an ecosystem (e.g., food chains, food webs, energy pyramids).

Performance Objectives SWBAT: These are examples, created by SDP teachers, of how you may translate the eligible content into learning goals for your classroom.

? SWBAT define biotic and abiotic limiting factors IOT give examples of each and describe their interactions.

? SWBAT diagram the trophic levels in food chains and food webs IOT explain how energy moves through an ecosystem.

? SWBAT relate limiting factors to primary productivity IOT calculate the productivity of ecosystems.

? SWBAT trace the path of energy from the sun through trophic levels IOT describe why primary productivity is the basis of the food chain.

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