Welcome to Mrs. Lathrop’s 2017-2018

Environmental Science Curriculum Map

This course has been designed as a hybrid class between research based project learning assignments, lectures, hands on labs, and curriculum enriched environmental science documentaries that enforces concepts within each topic.

% of total grade

20%

20%

20%

40%

Topic

Assignments

Labs

(20 labs total for year)

Documentaries (Rating)

complemented with analysis questions or reflection papers

Assessment

1) Intro to Environmental Science

· Introduction PowerPoint notes

· The Simpsons Scientific experiments worksheets

· Project 1: locate and interpret an environmental science research paper (identify type, IV, DV, hypothesis, and write overall summary

· Create questions to ask marine researcher during skyping session

#1 experimental lab

Discovery education: The making of Life (G)

Ocean mysteries with Jeff Corwin(G)

Reflection paper from skyping with marine biology

researcher

Analyze a field experiment

2) Taxonomy

· Taxonomy Notes

· Science Latin Roots worksheet

· Project 2: Taxonomy posters with Latin names(1 organism per phylum include pic and scientific name)

#2 Classification lab

Earth Focus (G)

Classification written exam (Students will be given organism and they would have to ID them to the correct phylum)

3) Flora Biodiversity

Trees & Plants

· Flora biodiversity notes

· Tree identification notes

· Plant physiology notes

· Plant toxins notes

· Leaf characteristic notes

· Using a dichotomous key worksheet (norms)

· Project 3: Leaf books ( 10 leaves, Latin names, Common names, 3 facts)

· Project 4: create a model (painting, model, sketch, own photo) of an invasive plant in Allegany

#3Tree Id Lab

#4 flower dissection lab

#5 Paper making lab

What plants talk about (PG)

The Happening ®

Flora Identification EXAM

4) Fauna Biodiversity

Mammals

Primates

Reptiles

Amphibians

Birds

Fish/marine life

Insects

· Mammal PowerPoint notes

· Animal tracks worksheet

· Reptiles PowerPoint notes

· Invasive species

PowerPoint notes

· Student handout alien impacts

· Project 5: create a glogster on an invasive species

· Amphibians PowerPoint notes

· Birds of prey PowerPoint notes

Quest Speaker: wildlife rehabilitator

· Project 6: Bird clay models with 1 page report

· Fish/marine life PowerPoint

· Shark PowerPoint Notes

#6 Track ID lab

#7 owl pellet dissection Lab

#8 Shark key lab

Cane Toad Documentary (PG)

Gator Boys (G)

Fly Away home (PG)

Fauna written Exam

Wildlife Prezi Research project

~ (Latin name, Common name, facts, diet, digestive system, reproductive system, habitat, signs, level of threat

~video Clip

~ Research case study analyzed

5) Ecology

· Ecology PowerPoint notes

· Project 7: shark public service announcement

· Practice ecology questions on castle learning

· Project 8 Ecology food web for different biomes

#9 Biodiversity Study Lab

Sharkwater (PG)

Ecology Exam: Multiple choice and short response

6) Loss of Biodiversity

· Loss of Biodiversity PowerPoint notes

· Project 9: in a small group read the story of the Lorax: illustrate a before, during, and after drawing. Pick 1 quote and exaplin its importance

· Project 10: Read & highlight the article Easters Island and answer analysis questions on Moodle !!!

#10 Mercury Bioaccumulation Lab

#11 acid rain and seeds lab

Mission Blue (PG)

The Lorax (PG)

Mysteries of Easter Island (PG)

Compare & contrast Essay of the Lorax and Easter Island

7) Conservation

· Conservation PowerPoint notes

· Hunting & conservation PowerPoint notes

· Project 10: Students will read the article the hunter and write their own ending to the story

· Project 11 Kendel jones debate

#12 ocean life and oil spills lab

Gorillas in the Mist (PG-13)

Conservation group skits

Example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dovI-ndGmyM

8) Careers in Environmental Science

· Careers in Environmental Science PowerPoint

· Myths or science facts PowerPoint notes

· Project 12: prepare questions for quest speaker and answer them during class

Quest Speaker: DEC officer

Quest Speaker: landscaper

Quest Speaker: Crop manager

Quest Speaker: Taxidermist

Quest Speaker: waste management

Quest speaker: forestry management

#13 Toxicology lab

Alaskan State Troopers (Mature)

Finding Big Foot (NR)

Individual Presentation or Brochure of job/career in environmental science

(job description, schooling, salary, benefits, locations of jobs, danger in the workforce, include video clip of an interview from online)

9) Aquaponics (water, soil, plants, nutrient cycles)

· Aquaponics PowerPoint Notes

· Nutrient Cycle PowerPoint Notes

· Water pollution PowerPoint notes

· Project 13: Chapter Presentations for the Book Into the wild by Jon Krakauer

Field trip to Portville to Sprague’s maple farm and visit to Cuba-Rushford’s outdoor wildlife center (fishery and deer farm)

#14 pond water lab

# 15 ph drinking water lab

#16 aquaponics lab

Unacceptable levels (NR)

Chapter Presentations for the book into the Wild

~Summary

~2 Quotes w analysis

~ Connection/ application

~ Activity

~final thoughts

10) Human Population Growth & sustainable farming

· Human population growth PowerPoint notes

· Project 14: Human growth population graphs

· Into the wild presentations

#17

Solar oven lab

Food Inc (PG)

Day after tomorrow ( PG-13)

GMO Poster

11) Embryology & Animal evolution

· Embryology PowerPoint notes

· Project 15:Incubate Chicken eggs from Boces

· Candling quiz

· Egg development worksheets

· Animal Evolution and the Environment PowerPoint notes

#18 chicken egg dissection Lab

Jurassic World (PG-13)

Jurassic world analysis reflection paper

12) Parasites, & Animal behavior

· Parasite PowerPoint Notes

· Project 16: Wanted parasite posters

· Animal Behavior PowerPoint notes

#19 Beta fish behavior lab

The Grizzly Man (R)

Parasite and animal behavior Written exam

13) Envirothon scenario final

· Fish Study Notes

· Work on final exam

#20 Fish biodiversity lab

Into the Wild (R)

Final Exam !

· 3 ring binder w notebook

· Colored pencils

· A ready set mind!!!

· Flash drive or access to H drive

· Outdoor apparel- outside work

tlathrop@alcsny.org

ALCS HS: (716) 375-6600 ext. 2248

Prep period 2: 8:31-9:14

Parent- Student-Teacher Contract:

Please review the above syllabus, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Please Sign below acknowledging that you have read the syllabus and fully understand the course expectations

_________________________________ Date:___________________________________

Signature of Parent

_________________________________ Date:___________________________________

Signature of student

Also note that some of the documentaries listed in the curriculum map have various ratings and require a parent permission slip. Please sign the permission slip below for consent.

MOVIE PERMISSION SLIP

I have reviewed the listed documentaries in the curriculum map and I give permission for my child _____________________________________ to watch any and all documentaries shown in Environmental science class for educational purposes.

_________________________________Date:_______________________ Signature of Parent

Please return only the signed permission slip.