ES Module 1 : Introduction to Environmental Science
Lesson 1 : What is Environmental Science?Standard(s): SC.912.N.1.1 Define a problem based on a specific body of knowledge; SC.912.N.1.2 Describe and explain what characterizes science and its methods; SC.912.N.2.1 Identify what is science, what clearly is not science, and what superficially resembles science (but fails to meet the criteria for science); SC.912.N.2.2 Identify which questions can be answered through science and which questions are outside the boundaries of scientific investigation, such as questions addressed by other ways of knowing, such as art, philosophy, and religion; SC.912.N.2.5 Describe instances in which scientists' varied backgrounds, talents, interests, and goals influence the inferences and thus the explanations that they make about observations of natural phenomena and describe that competing interpretations (explanations) of scientists are a strength of science as they are a source of new, testable ideas that have the potential to add new evidence to support one or another of the explanations.
Objective(s): Explain the purpose of Environmental Science Essential Question: What is the difference between Environmental Science and Environmentalism? Vocabulary: Environmental Science, Environmentalism Assignment(s): 1-1 Cornell Notes, What is Environmental Science GP & IP |
Lesson 2 : The Process of ScienceStandard(s): SC.912.N.1.1 Define a problem based on a specific body of knowledge; SC.912.N.1.2 Describe and explain what characterizes science and its methods; SC.912.N.2.2 Identify which questions can be answered through science and which questions are outside the boundaries of scientific investigation, such as questions addressed by other ways of knowing, such as art, philosophy, and religion; SC.912.N.3.1 Explain that a scientific theory is the culmination of many scientific investigations drawing together all the current evidence concerning a substantial range of phenomena; thus, a scientific theory represents the most powerful explanation scientists have to offer.
Objective(s): Demonstrate understanding of the steps involved in the scientific method and the purpose of each component. Essential Question: How do scientists use the scientific method to solve problems? How is a theory generated from a series of experiments and observations? Vocabulary: observation, inference, hypothesis, experiment, control, variables, independent variable, dependent variable, analysis, conclusion, scientific theory Assignment(s): 1-2 Cornell Notes, The Process of Science GP & IP |
Lesson 3 : The Community of ScienceStandard(s): SC.912.N.2.4 Explain that scientific knowledge is both durable and robust and open to change. Scientific knowledge can change because it is often examined and re-examined by new investigations and scientific argumentation. Because of these frequent examinations, scientific knowledge becomes stronger, leading to its durability; SC.912.N.2.5 Describe instances in which scientists' varied backgrounds, talents, interests, and goals influence the inferences and thus the explanations that they make about observations of natural phenomena and describe that competing interpretations (explanations) of scientists are a strength of science as they are a source of new, testable ideas that have the potential to add new evidence to support one or another of the explanations; SC.912.N.3.1 Explain that a scientific theory is the culmination of many scientific investigations drawing together all the current evidence concerning a substantial range of phenomena; thus, a scientific theory represents the most powerful explanation scientists have to offer.
Objective(s): (1) Explain the major roles of the scientific community in the process of science, (2) Explain the study of environmental ethics Essential Question: What happens to a scientific study after data has been gathered and the results are analyzed? Vocabulary: peer review, theory, ethics, environmental ethics, anthropocentrism, biocentrism, ecocentrism, environmental justice Assignment(s): 1-3 Cornell Notes, The Community of Science GP & IP |