How are Earth’s dynamic systems interconnected to support life?

In this unit students examine the processes and interactions occurring within and between Earth’s four interrelated systems – the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. They focus on how ecosystem functioning can influence many local, regional and global environmental conditions such as plant productivity, soil fertility, water quality and air quality. Students explore how changes that have taken place throughout geological and recent history are fundamental to predicting the likely impact of future changes. They consider a variety of influencing factors in achieving a solutions-focused approach to responsible management of challenges related to natural and human-induced environmental change.

OUTCOMES

1.  Describe the movement of energy and nutrients across Earth’s four interrelated systems, and analyse how dynamic interactions among biotic and abiotic components of selected ecosystems contribute to their capacity to support life and sustain ecological integrity.

2.  Analyse how changes occurring at various time and spatial scales influence Earth’s characteristics and interrelated systems, and assess the impact of diverse stakeholder values, knowledge and priorities in the solutions-focused management of a selected regional environmental challenge.

3. Draw an evidence-based conclusion from primary data generated from a student-designed or student-adapted scientific investigation related to ecosystem components, ecosystem monitoring and/or change affecting Earth's systems.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Practical work 

• Student Designed Practical Report 

• Written response to set questions 

• Examination 

What affects Earth’s capacity to sustain life?

In this unit students consider pollution as well as food and water security as complex and systemic environmental challenges facing current and future generations. They examine the characteristics, impacts, assessment and management of a range of pollutants that are emitted or discharged into Earth’s air, soil, water and biological systems, and explore factors that limit and enable the sustainable supply of adequate and affordable food and water.

OUTCOMES

1. Explain how the chemical and physical characteristics of pollutants impact on Earth’s four systems, and recommend and justify a range of options for managing the local and global impacts of pollution.

2. Compare the advantages and limitations of different agricultural systems for achieving regional and global food security, evaluate the use of ecological footprint analysis for assessing future food and/or water security, and recommend and justify a range of options for improving food and/or water security for a nominated region.

3. Investigate and explain how science can be applied to address the impacts of natural and human activities in the context of the management of a selected pollutant and/or the maintenance of food and/or water security.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Practical work

• Student Designed Practical Report 

• Written response to set questions 

• Examination 

How can biodiversity and development be sustained?

In this unit students focus on environmental management through the application of sustainability principles. They explore the value of the biosphere to all living things by examining the concept of biodiversity and the ecosystem services important for human health and well-being. They analyse the processes that threaten biodiversity and evaluate biodiversity management strategies for a selected threatened endemic animal or plant species. Students use a selected environmental science case study with reference to sustainability principles and environmental management strategies to explore management from an Earth systems perspective, including impacts on the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

OUTCOMES

1. Explain the importance of Earth’s biodiversity, analyse the threats to biodiversity, and evaluate management strategies to maintain biodiversity in the context of one selected threatened endemic species.

2. Explain how sustainability principles relate to environmental management and analyse how stakeholder perspectives can influence environmental decision-making.

3. Evaluate the effectiveness of environmental management strategies in a selected case study.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Report of a practical activity and/or fieldwork

• Report in annotated poster or multimedia format

• Case study analysis 

• Written response to set questions 

How can climate change and the impacts of human energy use be managed?

In this unit students explore different factors that contribute to the variability of Earth’s climate and that can affect living things, human society and the environment at local, regional and global scales. Students compare sources, availability, reliability and efficiencies of renewable and non-renewable energy resources in order to evaluate the suitability and consequences of their use in terms of upholding sustainability principles. They analyse various factors that are involved in responsible environmental decision-making and consider how science can be used to inform the management of climate change and the impacts of energy production and use.

Students develop skills in data interpretation, extrapolation and interpolation, test predictions, and recognise the limitations of provisional and incomplete data. They learn to differentiate between relationships that are correlative and those that are cause-and-effect, and make judgments about accuracy, validity and reliability of evidence.

OUTCOMES

1. Analyse the major factors that affect Earth’s climate, explain how past and future climate variability can be measured and modelled, and evaluate options for managing climate change.

2. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using a range of energy sources, and evaluate the suitability and impacts of their use in terms of upholding sustainability principles.

3. Design and conduct a scientific investigation related to biodiversity, environmental management, climate change and/or energy use, and present an aim, methodology and method, results, discussion and a conclusion in a scientific poster.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Investigation, research and reports 

• Scientific poster 

• Written response to set questions 

• Examination