Curriculum Documents by Quarter - Science Grade 12 Environmental
Learning Objectives
Human
beings modify ecosystems as a result of population growth, technology, and
consumption. Human destruction of
habitats is threatening current global stability and, if not addressed,
ecosystems will be irreversibly affected.
The atoms
and molecules on the earth cycle among the living and nonliving components of
the biosphere.
Living
organisms have the capacity to produce populations of infinite size, but
environments and resources are finite.
This fundamental tension has profound effects on the interactions
between organisms.
Species
evolve over time due to interactions, genetics, resources and selection.
Heating
of Earth’s surface and atmosphere by the sun drives convection within the
atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and currents.
Interactions among solid
earth, the oceans, the atmosphere and organisms have resulted in the ongoing
evolution of the earth system.
How do scientists organize our
knowledge of the universe?
How do scientists use evidence,
models, and explanations to communicate about discoveries?
How do scientists measure change?
What forces cause change?
What is the relationship between structure and
function in objects, organisms, and systems?
What is environmental science and what effect does
human use of resources have on the environment?
Explain sustainability and why it is a goal of
environmental science.
What is the scientific method and how is it applied
in environmental science?
Describe the values and steps used in environmental
decision-making.
Evaluate the consequences of environmental
decisions.
Describe the
composition, structure, properties, and cycles of the geosphere, atmosphere,
hydrosphere, and biosphere
Distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors,
population and species.
Explain the process of evolution through natural
selection.
Describe how energy is transferred through an
ecosystem.
Describe how materials are cycled in the
environment.
Explain the process of succession.
Describe the factors that determine where an
organism lives in an aquatic ecosystem
Describe the zones of aquatic ecosystems.
Human beings modify
ecosystems as a result of population growth, technology, and consumption. Human destruction of habitats is threatening
current global stability and, if not addressed, ecosystems will be irreversibly
affected.
The atoms and molecules on
the earth cycle among the living and nonliving components of the biosphere.
Living organisms have the
capacity to produce populations of infinite size, but environments and
resources are finite. This fundamental
tension has profound effects on the interactions between organisms.
Species evolve over time due to
interactions, genetics, resources and selection.
How do scientists organize our
knowledge of the universe?
How do scientists use evidence,
models, and explanations to communicate about discoveries?
How do scientists measure change?
What forces cause change?
What is the relationship
between structure and function in objects, organisms, and systems?
Describe
how energy is transferred through an ecosystem.
Describe
how materials are cycled in the environment.
Explain
the process of succession.
Describe
the factors that determine where an organism lives in an aquatic ecosystem.
Describe
the zones of aquatic ecosystems.
Describe
the threats to aquatic ecosystems.
Explain
why an estuary is a very productive ecosystem.
Compare
salt marshes and mangrove swamps.
Describe
the properties of a population and exponential growth.
Explain
how population sizes in nature are regulated.
Compare niche and habitat of organisms.
Explain how species interact in an ecosystem.
Predict population trends based on the properties
that scientists use to predict population sizes.
Explain differences in demographic transition
between countries.
Organisms both cooperate
and compete in ecosystems. The
interrelationships and interdependencies of these organisms may generate
ecosystems that are stable for hundreds or thousands of years.
Living organisms have the
capacity to produce populations of infinite size, but environments and
resources are finite. This fundamental
tension has profound effects on the interactions between organisms.
The great diversity of
organisms is the result of more than 3.5 billion years of evolution that has
filled every available niche with life forms.
Chemical reactions may
release or consume energy. Some
reactions such as the burning of fossil fuels release large amounts of energy
by losing heat and by emitting light.
Light can initiate chemical reactions such as urban smog.
How do scientists organize our knowledge
of the universe?
How do scientists use evidence,
models, and explanations to communicate about discoveries?
How do scientists measure change?
What forces cause change?
What is the relationship between structure and
function in objects, organisms, and systems?
Describe exponential
population growth.
Explain how the
reproductive behavior of individuals can affect the growth rate of their
population.
Describe the 5 major
interactions between species.
Explain how symbiotic
relationships may evolve.
Explain way in which
biodiversity is important to ecosystems and humans.
Analyze the potential
value of a single species.
Distinguish which types
of threats are having the largest impact on biodiversity.
Discuss ways in which
efforts to protect biodiversity can lead to controversy.
Analyze the relationship
between ground water and surface water in a watershed.
Identify patterns of
global water use and how it is used in homes, industry, and agriculture.
Describe how dams and
water projects are used to manage fresh water resources and how water can be
conserved.
Compare point-source
pollution and nonpoint-source pollution.
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