Connections Educational Resources

Our year-long (two semester) Earth and Environmental Science enrichment program will introduce students grades 7 - 12 to basic geography and geology concepts, as well as exploring environmental issues.

​

Course outline and schedule.  Please note that dates in (parenthesis)  indicate that course work is provided but the class will not meet

 

Unit 1:  Ecology / Ecosystems

 

1  9/1  Birds without Borders

 

2  9/8  Biomes

 

3  9/15  Exploring Your Environment -- Ecosystems 

​

4  9/22  Exploring Your Environment -- Earth’s Capacity

​

5  9/29  Water (Guest Speaker Jason Bailey)

​

6  10/6   TBD

​

Unit 2:  Research in Environmental Science* -- presenting in multi-media format

*this coincides with the Research Writing unit in High School English; students who are in both classes may use one topic to complete both this research project and their research paper, if desired

​

1  10/13 Research Presentation -- Learning to cite information in multi-media presentations

​

2  (10/20)  Research Presentation continued (class will not meet -- students will use this week to continue their reading and note-taking for their research presentation)

​

3  10/27  Research Presentation completed

​

4  11/3  Current Environmental Events (evaluating research)

​

5  11/10 Current Environmental Events (evaluating research)

 

​6  11/17 Presenting Research (final class of the semester; class party)

​

7   (12/2)  OPTIONAL At-Home Assignment:  Virtual Field Trip 

​

8   (12/9)  OPTIONAL At-Home Assignment:  Virtual Field Trip

​

Unit 3: Climate Change 

​

1  1/12  Weather and Climate

​

2  1/19  Energy

​

3  1/26  Temperature

​

4  2/02  Causes of Climate Change

 

5  2/09  Impacts of Climate Change

​

6  2/16  What Can We Do?

​

7  (2/23)  Web-based assignment  (class will not meet)

​

Unit 4:  Applications in Environmental Science

​

1 3/2  Sustainable Agriculture 

​

​2 3/9 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

​

3  3/16  Pollution

​

4  3/23  TBD

​

3/30 Spring Break -- no class

​

5  4/6  Understanding the EPA 

 

6  4/13  The EPA in Action

​

7  4/20  Earth Day Party (April 22nd)  -- final class

​

8  (4/27)  OPTIONAL At-Home Assignment:  Virtual Field Trip

​
 

Earth Science Textbook -- https://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/navigation/home.cfm

​

Each resource session will include a lecture, video, or demonstration, followed by hands on activities, follow-up projects, and discussion.

 

 

Students who would like a high school environmental science credit will be given materials to guide them through a research paper each semester. 

 

PLEASE NOTE:

 

1)  This course will include investigation and explanation of prevailing scientific theory regarding origins of life, which is evolution.  Students need to understand the vocabulary and theory of evolutionary thought in order to successfully navigate most high school and college classes.

 

2) This course will take a more sociological approach to environmental science.  Students who may wish to pursue a major in environmental science would want to consider this an introductory course (likely called Earth Science on a transcript) and follow up with AP Environmental Biology.