Ecology

Each unit below is taught for approximately five to seventeen days.

Unit 1: Introduction to Environmental Science

SOLs: BIO. 1 & BIO. 8

  • Science and the Environment
  • Tools of Environmental Science

Unit 2: Ecology

SOLs: BIO.7b-c & BIO. 8a-e

Organization of Life

  • Ecosystems: Everything is Connected
  • Evolution
  • Diversity of Living Things

How Ecosystems Work

  • Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Understanding Populations

  • How Populations Change in Size
  • How Species Interact with Each Other

How Ecosystems Work

  • Cycling of matter
  • How Ecosystems Change

Unit 3: Ecology - Plants

SOLs: BIO.4c & BIO. 2d

Plants

  • Characteristics
  • Photosynthesis
  • Trees
  • Plant Structure: Leaves

Unit 4: Ecology - Biomes

SOLs: BIO. 8a

Biomes

  • What is a Biome
  • Forest Biomes
  • Grassland, Desert, Tundra Biomes

Unit 5: Ecology - Aquatic Ecosystems

SOLs: BIO. 8d & e and ES. 8

Aquatic Ecosystems

  • Freshwater Ecosystems
  • Marine Ecosystems
  • Chesapeake Bay

Unit 6: Populations

SOLs: BIO. 8 a, d-e

Populations

  • Human Population
  • Biodiversity

Unit 7: Water and Land

SOLs: ES.8a-e, ES. 11d, BIO. 8d &e

Water

  • Water Resources
  • Water Use and Management
  • Water Pollution

Land

  • How We Use Land
  • Urban Land Use
  • Land Management and Conservation

Soil

  • Soil Profile, Chemistry, Erosion

Unit 8: Mineral and Energy Resources

SOLs: BIO. 8d

Waste

  • Solid Waste
  • Reducing Solid Waste
  • Hazardous Waste

Unit 9: Our Health and Our Future

SOLs: BIO. 8d

The Environment and Human Health

  • Case Studies 1 and 2

The remainder of the days will be used for SOL Review and Enrichment Activities.