Environmental Systems Unit 4

Big Idea:

• This unit bundles student expectations that focus on interrelationships among resources within the local environmental system. Students focus on land use and management and the impact of these practices on the quality and sustainability of renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Students gain knowledge and experiences necessary to thoughtfully evaluate the relationship between human consumption of resources and the ability of the Earth to sustain mankind in the future. Students identify source, use, quality, management, and conservation of water; document the use and conservation of both renewable and non-renewable resources as they pertain to sustainability; and identify renewable and non-renewable resources that must come from outside an ecosystem. Furthermore, students describe and compare renewable and non-renewable energy derived from natural and alternative sources. Students also evaluate the impact of waste management methods such as reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting on resource availability. Additionally, students evaluate the effect of human activities on the environment and evaluate cost-benefit trade-offs of commercial activities.
• Students will explore population dynamics and the impact populations have on resources within ecosystems.

Student Expectations:

Priority TEKS

E.5(B) identify source, use, quality, management, and conservation of water

E.5(C) document the use and conservation of both renewable and no‐renewable resources as the pertain to sustainability

E.5(E) analyze and evaluate the economic significance and interdependence of resources within the environmental system

E.9(F) evaluate cost‐benefit trade‐offs of commercial activities such as municipal development, farming, deforestation, over‐harvesting, and mining

Focus TEKS

E.5(A) summarize methods of land use and management and describe its effects on land fertility

E.5(D) identify renewable and non‐renewable resources that must come from outside an ecosystem such as food, water, lumber, and energy

E.5(F) evaluate the impact of waste management methods such as reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting on resource availability

E.6(B) describe and compare renewable and non‐renewable energy derived from natural and alternative sources such as oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind

E.9(E) evaluate the effect of human activities, including habitat restoration projects, species preservation efforts, nature conservancy groups, hunting, fishing, ecotourism, all‐terrain vehicles, and small personal watercraft, on the environment

E.9(J) research the advantages and disadvantages of “going green” such as organic gardening and farming, natural methods of pest control, hydroponics, xeriscaping, energy‐efficient homes and appliances, and hybrid cars

Ongoing TEKS

E.1(A) demonstrate safe practices during laboratory and field investigations, including the appropriate first aid responses to accidents that could occur in the field such as insect stings, animal bites, overheating, sprains, and breaks

E.1(B) demonstrate an understanding of the use and conservation of resources and the proper disposal or recycling of materials

E.2(F) collect data individually or collaboratively, make measurements with precision and accuracy, record values using appropriate units, and calculate statistically relevant quantities to describe data, including mean, median, and range

E.2(G) demonstrate the use of course apparatuses, equipment, techniques, and procedures, including meter sticks, rulers, pipettes, graduated cylinders, triple beam balances, timing devices, pH meters or probes, thermometers, calculators….

E.2(H) use a wide variety of additional course apparatuses, equipment, techniques, materials, and procedures as appropriate such as air quality testing devices, cameras…...

E.2(I) organize, analyze, evaluate, build models, make inferences, and predict trends from data

E.2(K) communicate valid conclusions supported by the data through methods such as lab reports, labeled drawings, graphic organizers, journals, summaries, oral reports, and technology‐based reports

E.3(C) draw inferences based on data related to promotional materials for products and services

Student Learning Targets:

• I will know the development of new materials and the increased use of existing materials by a growing human population have led to the removal of resources from the environment much more rapidly than they can be replaced by natural processes. Disposal of waste materials has also become a problem. Solving these problems requires systematic efforts involving both social and technological innovations.
• I will know the earth has many natural resources of great importance to human life. Some are readily renewable, some are renewable only at great cost, and some are not renewable at all.

Essential Questions:

• In what ways do the choices we make individually and as a society impact the sustainability of resources in our local ecosystem?
• What are the pros and cons of each energy source that we use?

Extra Information:

Adopted Textbook: Environmental Systems Texas: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

District Grading Policy

Texas Gateway Online Resource Center