1 st six weeks 1 Identify questions and problems that can be answered through scientific investigation. 2 Design and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions about the world by creating hypotheses; identifying variables; selecting appropriate tools or equipment; collecting, recording and organizing data; interpreting data and communicating the findings. 3 Apply safety procedures in the laboratory and field studies by recognizing and avoiding potential hazards as well as safely manipulating materials and equipment. 4 Critically analyze reports of scientific investigations by examining the adequacy of experimental controls and offering other plausible explanations of the results. 5 Use models to understand and explain scientific phenomenon and processes. 6 Identify the different forms and quality of energy. 7 Explain the flow of energy through an ecosystem using the laws of thermodynamics, food webs, food chains, and ecopyramids. 8 Perform calculations and conversions using different units of energy.
2 nd six weeks 9 Explain the cycling of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and other nutrients in ecosystems. 10 Describe the structure of the earth and the processes that continually reform the earth such as earthquakes, volcanism, glaciation, erosion and weathering. Also explain how these processes affect ecosystem formation and function. 11 Describe the processes that form soil, the processes that degrade soil and methods of soil conservation. 12 Identify and describe different soil profiles, soil characteristics, and soil types. 13 Understand the origin, composition, structure of the atmosphere. 14 Identify the factors that affect weather and climate. 15 Describe the process of ecological succession. 16 Explain the roles that organisms, communities, and populations play in the functioning of an ecosystem. 17 Describe the role of adaptation, natural selection, and extinction in the process of evolution. 18 Explain how evolution and ecological succession work together in the formation of ecosystems.
3 rd six weeks 19 Identify, describe and give the geographic location of the major terrestrial biomes. 20 Identify the following areas of the ocean and describe their importance in ocean ecology: open ocean, continental shelf, intertidal zone, ocean depths, coral reefs. 21 Define limnology and eutrophication; identify and describe the zones of a lake; distinguish between oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic lakes. 22 Describe the differences between the tailwaters and headwaters of a moving water ecosystem. 23 Identify the different freshwater and marine wetlands, explain their importance to the biosphere, and identify threats to their preservation. 24 Define biodiversity, explain the importance biodiversity to the health of the biosphere, and describe the affect of on biodiversity. 25 Identify ways man negatively and positively affects biodiversity.
4 th six weeks 26 Calculate growth rates and doubling times of populations as well as project the future population size of a community. 27 Draw and interpret age structure diagrams, survivorship curves and other graphs related to population growth. 28 Name and describe the characteristics of the 4 stages of demographic transition. 29 Identify several factors impacting population growth and describe their affect on population size. 30 Describe the potential environmental and economic effects of overpopulation. 31 Identify areas in the world and USA where the different types of energy are found or used. 32 Describe the pros and cons, both economic and environmental, of the use of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources. 33 Perform a cost benefit analysis of two energy consuming devices and/or processes. 34 Describe methods of energy conservation.
5 th six weeks 35 Identify the effects of climate change on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. 36 Identify the major ambient air pollutants, legislation concerning each, and possible solutions to the problems. 37 Test and evaluate freshwater sources for various levels of nutrients, bacteria, and oxygen. 38 Identify aquatic indicator species and their impact on healthy ecosystems. 39 Name and describe important water legislation. 40 Describe the pros and cons, both economic and environmental, of conventional methods for solid, toxic, and hazardous wastes.
6 th six weeks 41 List and describe urban challenges facing both the developed and developing world. 42 Design a Green City, utilizing environmentally friendly infrastructure, including utilities. 43 Analyze cultural, ethical, and legal considerations regarding the environment. 44 Analyze economic forces affecting societies and the impact these have on their view and treatment of the environment. 45 Recognize the significance of major environmental laws :regional, national and international