KDS DAR HIGH SCHOOL

environmental science

1^st Nine Weeks Syllabus

2016 – 2017

Coach Rice                

Phone:  256-728-4238

E-Mail: ricerf@marshallk12.or          

UNIT FOCUS: Studying Earth and Ecological Reactions

Course of Study

Environmental Science is a course that introduces students to a broad view of the biosphere and the physical parameters that affect it. The course incorporates the scientific and engineering practices reflecting the scientific processes used in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The scientific and engineering practices are implemented through a student-centered and collaborative classroom environment that is laboratory-intensive and includes field investigations and case studies. Core ideas are explored and developed in more detail and refined with increased sophistication and rigor based upon knowledge gained in earlier grades. Students learn by constructing explanations from evidence acquired through analysis and interpretation of data from laboratory investigations, field investigations, and case studies. Students integrate and evaluate multiple sources of authentic information to address issues or suggest possible solutions to problems in the environment based on current findings. The academic language of the core idea is used in context to communicate claims, evidence, and reasoning for phenomena and to engage in argument from evidence to justify and defend claims. Students are encouraged to use creativity in designing engineering solutions to solve various problems affecting Earth and its environment. The Environmental Science content standards provide a depth of conceptual understanding to adequately prepare students for college, career, and citizenship with an appropriate level of scientific literacy. The foundation of the course is based upon Earth and Human Activity, one of the disciplinary core ideas in the Earth and Space Science domain. This core idea involves areas of study that include natural resources, natural hazards, human impacts on Earth systems, and global climate change. Integrated within the disciplinary core ideas of Environmental Science are the Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science (ETS) core ideas, which are denoted with an asterisk (*). The ETS core ideas require students to use tools and materials to solve simple problems and to use representations to convey design solutions to a problem and determine which is most appropriate.

The teacher may give additional tests, quizzes or assignments at his/her discretion.  Students should see the teacher for specific dates and times of what was covered during an absence from class. 

The teacher reserves the right to modify this schedule as needed.  Students are responsible for knowing about modifications announced in class.