Environmental Science Unit 1:
The Living World
Course Essential Understandings
- Science is a process.
• Science is a method of learning more about the world.
• Science constantly changes the way we understand the world.
- Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
• Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere.
• As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable.
- The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
• Natural systems change over time and space.
• Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.
- Humans alter natural systems.
• Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years.
• Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale of their impact on the environment.
- Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
• Understanding the role of cultural, social, and economic factors is vital to thedevelopment of solutions.
- Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainablesystems.
• A suitable combination of conservation and development is required.
• Management of common resources is essential.
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Course Goals: to understand and demonstrate that:
- Science is a process.
- Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
And to:
- develop your understanding of the nature of science as it pertains to the physical world.
- understand and describe, qualitatively and quantitatively, the nature of matter and energy and apply your understanding to natural phenomena you observe
- investigate and understand the interactions between humans and the Earth.
- critically observe environmental systems
- develop and conduct well-designed experiment
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Course Essential Questions
- How might I use scientific inquiry to investigation the natural world?
- How can I use my experience in science to learn to think and communicate clearly, logically, and critically in preparation for college and a career?
- How can I best assess my own learning and progress?
- How can I use technology in my learning and become a better digital citizen?
- How can I think more divergently, creatively, and innovatively as a scientist?
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Scientific Inquiry and Application Skills
- Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations
- Design and conduct scientific investigations
- Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications
- Formulate and revise explanations and models using logic and evidence (critical thinking)
- Recognize and analyze explanations and models
- Communicate and support a scientific argument
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Unit Essential Questions
- How are the basic concepts, skills, and understandings in science related to one another? interrelated?
- In what ways is measurement used to describe the patterns in the natural world?
- In what ways can data be used to visualize, display, and share new information?
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Understandings
- Scientific measurement; SI system and why it is used - mass, length, volume, time
- Precision and accuracy in measurement
- Calculations are the justification for your results
- Measurements and observations are analyzed using mathematical processes to discover connections and trends.
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Learning Targets: |
Students will be able to....
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Learning Targets: Essential Question |
Students will be able to.....
- State the essential question, and
- Explain how each topic of study is foundational to or otherwise related to our essential question.
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Academic Vocabulary: Bricks |
Academic Vocabulary: Mortar |
- unit
- SI system
- meter
- mass
- volume
- significant figures (measurement)
- testable question
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- describe
- calculate
- analyze
- classify
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- interpret
- list; state
- explain
- define
- law (in science)
- claim
- evidence
- reason
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Handouts
Resources
Links |