Week

National

Standard

State

Standard

Benchmarks

Activities

Assessments

1

Chapter 1: Science and the Environment

Section 1: Understanding Our Environment

Section 2: The Environment and Society

Env.2.7

Env.2.8

Env.2.9

Define environmental science, and compare environmental science with ecology.

List the five major fields of study that contribute to environmental science.

Describe the major environmental effects of hunter-gatherers, the agricultural revolution, and the Industrial Revolution.

Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Classify environmental problems into three major categories.

Describe the “Tragedy of the Commons.”

Explain the law of supply and demand.

List three differences between developed and developing countries.

Explain what sustainability is, and describe why it is a goal of environmental science.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

2

Chapter 1: Science and the Environment

Section 1: Understanding Our Environment

Section 2: The Environment and Society

Env.2.7

Env.2.8

Env.2.9

Define environmental science, and compare environmental science with ecology.

List the five major fields of study that contribute to environmental science.

Describe the major environmental effects of hunter-gatherers, the agricultural revolution, and the Industrial Revolution.

Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Classify environmental problems into three major categories.

Describe the “Tragedy of the Commons.”

Explain the law of supply and demand.

List three differences between developed and developing countries.

Explain what sustainability is, and describe why it is a goal of environmental science.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

3

Chapter 2: Tools of Environmental Science

Section 1: Scientific Method

Section 2: Statistics and Models

Section 3: Making Informed Decisions

UCP 2

UCP 3

SAI 1

SAI 2

ST 2c

SPSP 6d

HNS 3

List and describe the steps of the experimental method.

Describe why a good hypothesis is not simply a guess.

Describe the two essential parts of a good experiment.

Describe how scientists study subjects in which experiments are not possible.

Explain the importance of curiosity and imagination in science.

Explain how scientists use statistics.

Explain why the size of a statistical sample is important.

Describe three types of models commonly used by scientists.

Explain the relationship between probability and risk.

Explain the importance of conceptual and mathematical models.

Describe three values that people consider when making decisions about the environment.

Describe the four steps in a simple environmental decision-making model.

Compare the short-term and long-term consequences of two decisions regarding a hypothetical environmental issue.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

4

Chapter 2: Tools of Environmental Science

Section 1: Scientific Method

Section 2: Statistics and Models

Section 3: Making Informed Decisions

UCP 2

UCP 3

SAI 1

SAI 2

ST 2c

SPSP 6d

HNS 3

Describe how scientists study subjects in which experiments are not possible.

Explain the importance of curiosity and imagination in science.

Explain how scientists use statistics.

Explain why the size of a statistical sample is important.

Describe three types of models commonly used by scientists.

Explain the relationship between probability and risk.

Explain the importance of conceptual and mathematical models.

Describe three values that people consider when making decisions about the environment.

Describe the four steps in a simple environmental decision-making model.

Compare the short-term and long-term consequences of two decisions regarding a hypothetical environmental issue.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Video: Plate tectonics

Quiz

Test

5

Chapter 3: The Dynamic Earth

Section 1: The Geosphere

Section 2: The Atmosphere

Section 3: The Hydrosphere and Biosphere

ES 1a

ES 1c

ES 1d

ES 2a

ES 3c

LS 4a

LS 4c

UCP 1

UCP 4

Describe the composition and structure of the Earth.

Describe the Earth’s tectonic plates.

Explain the main cause of earthquakes and their effects.

Identify the relationship between volcanic eruptions and climate change.

Describe how wind and water alter the Earth’s surface.

Describe the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Describe the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Explain three mechanisms of heat transfer in Earth’s atmosphere.

Explain the greenhouse effect.

Name three major processes in the water cycle.

Describe the properties of ocean water.

Describe the two types of ocean currents.

Explain how the ocean regulates Earth’s temperature.

Discuss the factors that confine life to the biosphere.

Explain the difference between open and closed systems.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

6

Chapter 3: The Dynamic Earth

Section 1: The Geosphere

Section 2: The Atmosphere

Section 3: The Hydrosphere and Biosphere

ES 1a

ES 1c

ES 1d

ES 2a

ES 3c

LS 4a

LS 4c

UCP 1

UCP 4

Describe the composition and structure of the Earth.

Describe the Earth’s tectonic plates.

Explain the main cause of earthquakes and their effects.

Identify the relationship between volcanic eruptions and climate change.

Describe how wind and water alter the Earth’s surface.

Describe the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Describe the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Explain three mechanisms of heat transfer in Earth’s atmosphere.

Explain the greenhouse effect.

Name three major processes in the water cycle.

Describe the properties of ocean water.

Describe the two types of ocean currents.

Explain how the ocean regulates Earth’s temperature.

Discuss the factors that confine life to the biosphere.

Explain the difference between open and closed systems.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

7

Chapter 4: The Organization of Life

Section 1: Ecosystems-Everything is Connected

Section 2: Evolution

Section 3: The Diversity of Living Things

UCP 1

UCP 4

LS 3a

LS 3b

LS 3e

LS 4c

Distinguish between the biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem.

Describe how a population differs from a species.

Explain how habitats are important for organisms.

Explain the process of evolution by natural selection.

Explain the concept of adaptation.

Describe the steps by which a population of insects becomes resistant to a pesticide.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

8

Chapter 4: The Organization of Life

Section 1: Ecosystems-Everything is Connected

Section 2: Evolution

Section 3: The Diversity of Living Things

UCP 1

UCP 4

LS 3a

LS 3b

LS 3e

LS 4c

Distinguish between the biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem.

Describe how a population differs from a species.

Explain how habitats are important for organisms.

Explain the process of evolution by natural selection.

Explain the concept of adaptation.

Describe the steps by which a population of insects becomes resistant to a pesticide.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

9

All

All

All

Review

Finals

Week

National

Standard

State

Standard

Benchmarks

Activities

Assessments

1

Chapter 5: How Ecosystems Work

Section 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Section 2: The Cycling of Materials

Section 3: How Ecosystems Change

LS 1e

LS 4b

LS 5f

UCP 1

Describe how energy is transferred from the sun to producers and then to consumers.

Describe one way in which consumers depend on producers.

List two types of consumers.

Explain how energy transfer in a food web is more complex than energy transfer in a food chain.

Explain why an energy pyramid is a representation of trophic levels.

List the three stages of the carbon cycle.

Describe where fossil fuels are located.

Identify one way that humans are affecting the carbon cycle.

List the three stages of the nitrogen cycle.

Describe the role that nitrogen-fixing bacteria play in the nitrogen cycle.

Explain how the excess use of fertilizer can affect the nitrogen and phosphorous cycles.

List two examples of ecological succession.  Explain how a pioneer species contributes to ecological succession.

Explain what happens during old-field succession.

Describe how lichens contribute to primary succession.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

2

Chapter 5: How Ecosystems Work

Section 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Section 2: The Cycling of Materials

Section 3: How Ecosystems Change

LS 1e

LS 4b

LS 5f

UCP 1

Describe how energy is transferred from the sun to producers and then to consumers.

Describe one way in which consumers depend on producers.

List two types of consumers.

Explain how energy transfer in a food web is more complex than energy transfer in a food chain.

Explain why an energy pyramid is a representation of trophic levels.

List the three stages of the carbon cycle.

Describe where fossil fuels are located.

Identify one way that humans are affecting the carbon cycle.

List the three stages of the nitrogen cycle.

Describe the role that nitrogen-fixing bacteria play in the nitrogen cycle.

Explain how the excess use of fertilizer can affect the nitrogen and phosphorous cycles.

List two examples of ecological succession.  Explain how a pioneer species contributes to ecological succession.

Explain what happens during old-field succession.

Describe how lichens contribute to primary succession.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

3

Chapter 6: Biomes

Section 1: What Is a Biome

Section 2: Forest Biomes

Section 3: Grassland, Desert, and Tundra Biomes

LS 3a

LS 4c

LS 4d

LS 6b

Describe how plants determine the name of a biome.

Explain how temperature and precipitation determine which plants grow in an area.

Explain how latitude and altitude affect which plants grow in an area.

List three characteristics of tropical rain forests.

Name and describe the main layers of a tropical rain forest.

Describe one plant in a temperate deciduous forest and an adaptation that helps the plant survive.

Describe one adaptation that may help an animal survive in the taiga.

Name two threats to the world’s forest biomes.

Describe the difference between topical and temperate grasslands.

Describe the climate in a chaparral biome.

Describe two desert animals and the adaptations that help them survive.

Describe one threat to the tundra biome.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

4

Chapter 6: Biomes

Section 1: What Is a Biome

Section 2: Forest Biomes

Section 3: Grassland, Desert, and Tundra Biomes

LS 3a

LS 4c

LS 4d

LS 6b

Describe how plants determine the name of a biome.

Explain how temperature and precipitation determine which plants grow in an area.

Explain how latitude and altitude affect which plants grow in an area.

List three characteristics of tropical rain forests.

Name and describe the main layers of a tropical rain forest.

Describe one plant in a temperate deciduous forest and an adaptation that helps the plant survive.

Describe one adaptation that may help an animal survive in the taiga.

Name two threats to the world’s forest biomes.

Describe the difference between topical and temperate grasslands.

Describe the climate in a chaparral biome.

Describe two desert animals and the adaptations that help them survive.

Describe one threat to the tundra biome.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Video: Plate tectonics

Quiz

Test

5

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

6

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

7

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

8

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

9

All

All

All

Review

Finals

Week

National

Standard

State

Standard

Benchmarks

Activities

Assessments

1

Chapter 5: How Ecosystems Work

Section 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Section 2: The Cycling of Materials

Section 3: How Ecosystems Change

LS 1e

LS 4b

LS 5f

UCP 1

Describe how energy is transferred from the sun to producers and then to consumers.

Describe one way in which consumers depend on producers.

List two types of consumers.

Explain how energy transfer in a food web is more complex than energy transfer in a food chain.

Explain why an energy pyramid is a representation of trophic levels.

List the three stages of the carbon cycle.

Describe where fossil fuels are located.

Identify one way that humans are affecting the carbon cycle.

List the three stages of the nitrogen cycle.

Describe the role that nitrogen-fixing bacteria play in the nitrogen cycle.

Explain how the excess use of fertilizer can affect the nitrogen and phosphorous cycles.

List two examples of ecological succession.  Explain how a pioneer species contributes to ecological succession.

Explain what happens during old-field succession.

Describe how lichens contribute to primary succession.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

2

Chapter 5: How Ecosystems Work

Section 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Section 2: The Cycling of Materials

Section 3: How Ecosystems Change

LS 1e

LS 4b

LS 5f

UCP 1

Describe how energy is transferred from the sun to producers and then to consumers.

Describe one way in which consumers depend on producers.

List two types of consumers.

Explain how energy transfer in a food web is more complex than energy transfer in a food chain.

Explain why an energy pyramid is a representation of trophic levels.

List the three stages of the carbon cycle.

Describe where fossil fuels are located.

Identify one way that humans are affecting the carbon cycle.

List the three stages of the nitrogen cycle.

Describe the role that nitrogen-fixing bacteria play in the nitrogen cycle.

Explain how the excess use of fertilizer can affect the nitrogen and phosphorous cycles.

List two examples of ecological succession.  Explain how a pioneer species contributes to ecological succession.

Explain what happens during old-field succession.

Describe how lichens contribute to primary succession.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

3

Chapter 6: Biomes

Section 1: What Is a Biome

Section 2: Forest Biomes

Section 3: Grassland, Desert, and Tundra Biomes

LS 3a

LS 4c

LS 4d

LS 6b

Describe how plants determine the name of a biome.

Explain how temperature and precipitation determine which plants grow in an area.

Explain how latitude and altitude affect which plants grow in an area.

List three characteristics of tropical rain forests.

Name and describe the main layers of a tropical rain forest.

Describe one plant in a temperate deciduous forest and an adaptation that helps the plant survive.

Describe one adaptation that may help an animal survive in the taiga.

Name two threats to the world’s forest biomes.

Describe the difference between topical and temperate grasslands.

Describe the climate in a chaparral biome.

Describe two desert animals and the adaptations that help them survive.

Describe one threat to the tundra biome.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

4

Chapter 6: Biomes

Section 1: What Is a Biome

Section 2: Forest Biomes

Section 3: Grassland, Desert, and Tundra Biomes

LS 3a

LS 4c

LS 4d

LS 6b

Describe how plants determine the name of a biome.

Explain how temperature and precipitation determine which plants grow in an area.

Explain how latitude and altitude affect which plants grow in an area.

List three characteristics of tropical rain forests.

Name and describe the main layers of a tropical rain forest.

Describe one plant in a temperate deciduous forest and an adaptation that helps the plant survive.

Describe one adaptation that may help an animal survive in the taiga.

Name two threats to the world’s forest biomes.

Describe the difference between topical and temperate grasslands.

Describe the climate in a chaparral biome.

Describe two desert animals and the adaptations that help them survive.

Describe one threat to the tundra biome.

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Video: Plate tectonics

Quiz

Test

5

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

6

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

7

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

8

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

9

All

All

All

Review

Finals

Week

National

Standard

State

Standard

Benchmarks

Activities

Assessments

1

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

2

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

3

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

4

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Video: Plate tectonics

Quiz

Test

5

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

6

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

7

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

8

Map/Critical thinking

Vocab

Concept Review

Group activity

Quiz

Test

9

All

All

All

Review

Finals