Environmental Science 

SVN3M

What is the GOAL of this course? 

See Course Description:  Syllabus BIG IDEAS:

Background Information: What do we need to review/know so that the material covered in this course makes sense to us?

Scientific Solutions: Current issues are complex, have a history, and hopefully positive future directions

Waste Management: Discuss informed choices that can reduce and alter the waste we produce

Con’t 

Agriculture and Forestry: Discuss positive and negative consequences of our current management practices

Conservation of Energy: Gr 11:  energy production and consumption

Human Health Issues: Discuss the positive and negative impact of environment personal choices on human health

Model  

What do we need to be Healthy?  Cells Body/Person Family(ies) Community Municipality (5-7 involve industry, agriculture, business etc.)

Province Country  (7-8 involve global economy and environ issues)

Global Community

GROUP ACTIVITY  Using a large piece of paper, create a web which shows how each level of the model impacts the others. Draw and LABEL the connection arrows. Use one colour for positive, one for negative impacts

Discuss where you would like to live in Ontario.  Why?  What features are you looking for in a healthy community?

List the positive things you would look for and the negative things you would try to avoid

Be prepared to report back to the larger group!

Unit I: Introduction  Background information:

What do we need to REVIEW What do we need to LEARN What do we need to UNDERSTAND

Take a look at the units and SUGGEST some information that we might need to include in the introductory unit: (list on the white board)

Intro Unit Topics  Elements A little carbon chemistry; carbon cycle

Soil; soil science Water; water cycle Air; atmospheric chemistry Other: specific topics will come up in each unit

Course Format  Most units will include a variety of activities including: Power point notes (one or two max) Video Portfolio Journal Lab activities Group activities Computer research and short presentations

Article reviews (mostly read in-class) Guest speaker/field trip Review and Unit Test 

Brainstorm Activity With your partner answer the following questions: What does the term environment mean?

Are humans a part of the environment? How?

Our island: Earth

• Earth may seem enormous But it and its systems are finite and limited We can change the Earth and damage its systems

• Environment: all the living and non-living things around us– Animals, plants, forests, farms, etc…– Continents, oceans, clouds, ice caps– Structures, urban centers, living spaces– Social relationships and institutions

Humans are part of nature Humans depend on a healthy, functioning planet The fundamental insight of environmental science:

We are part of the natural world, but we can also change it

Our interactions with its other parts matter a great deal We depend completely on the environment for survival

Increased health, longer lives, wealth, mobility, leisure But natural systems have been degraded by pollution,

soil erosion, species extinction, etc. Environmental changes threaten long-term health and

survival

Think-Pair-Share Activity What is Environmental Science?

Environmental science Environmental science is the study of:

How the natural world works How the environment affects humans and vice versa

We need to understand our interactions with the environment To creatively solve environmental problems

Global conditions are rapidly changing We are also rapidly gaining knowledge The opportunity to solve problems is still available

Environmental science is not environmentalism

• Environmental science– Pursues knowledge about

the environment and our interactions with it

– Scientists try to remain objective and free from bias

• Environmentalism– A social movement – Tries to protect the natural world from

human-caused changes

Career Exploration Activity

HW Journal Entry #1 Career Exploration Activity