Solar Energy Honors

Instructor: Dr. Teresa Thornton

Contact Information:  teresa.thornton@palmbeachschools.org    Room: JERFSA 3-108

Office Hours:  By appointment ONLY.  Monday-Friday (please make sure I am available and not in meetings): Lunch, and after school. 

FULL SYLLABUS

STUDENT SUPPLY LIST!

HONOR CODE & TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT

GOOGLE DOCS SHORTCUTS

 Textbooks (subject to change)

There are no textbooks approved for this course.  Information will come from a variety of accepted and approved sources, including college level and AICE texts.

Potential List:

• •  Hassenzahl, D.,  Hager, M., & Berg, L. (2017) Visualizing Environmental Science

  • Weatherly, D. & Sheehan, N. (2017) Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Environmental Management: Student Book 

  • Skinner, G., Crafer, K., Turner, M., Skinner, A.& Stacey, J (2017) Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Environmental Management: Coursebook

  • Skinner, G., Crafer, K., Turner, M., & Skinner, A (2017) Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Environmental Management: Workbook

  • Weatherly, D & Sheehan, N. (2017) Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Mangement

  • All supplements relating to text will also be electronic:  https://sites.google.com/palmbeachschools.org/drthorntonjerfsa/home

  •  Assorted Journals, articles, videos, and activities 

DAILY AGENDAS POSTED AT TOP OF EVERY UNIT

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Course Description

This course takes a unique approach by combining different subjects and using science as a foundation for learning. It is an interdisciplinary study using the nature of science and its application as the delivery method for specific disciplines.  As writing and math are approximately 29% of the PBCSD course standards, and the nature and application of Science are approximately 30% of the PBCSD course standards.  Hence, a Research Project (Conducting independent research on a scientific topic), and Written Lab Analyses (Analyzing and interpreting data from science experiments and expressing findings in writing) are also required.

• The 52 standards are broken down in the following categories:

  • • The Nature of Science 16

    • Mathematics 06

    • Writing 09

    • Specific Disciplines 21

-oceanography -chemistry

-climate           -space

-mining           -population dynamics  

-chemistry         -environmental policy

-sustainability -environmental protection 

-natural resources -renewable and nonrenewable resources 

-biogeochemical cycling -pseudoscience

-production technologies -physical sciences

This course also explores how humans impact the planet and how we can manage our resources sustainably.

• Focus: Sustainable development, resource use, human impact on the environment.

• Goal: Understand how human behavior shapes the environment and learn patterns for sustainable management.

• Approach: Local and global perspectives, considering how cultural, social, and political factors influence environmental decisions.

• Key idea: Sustainable practices require changes in human thinking and decision-making.

• Outcome: Empowering learners to participate in creating a sustainable future.

Outcomes 

Knowledge and Understanding (what you know)

You'll be expected to show your grasp of scientific concepts and processes, relevant vocabulary, and their real-world implications. This includes both familiar and new topics.

Information Handling and Analysis (using what you know)

You'll demonstrate your ability to find, organize, and present information from various sources. This could involve translating data from one format to another, working with numbers, and interpreting results (like trends and patterns) to draw conclusions.

Investigation Skills and Making Judgments (applying what you know)

This section focuses on your ability to plan investigations, identify limitations in research methods, and suggest improvements. You'll also need to explain observed phenomena, relationships between concepts, and draw conclusions based on the evidence (both qualitative and quantitative data).

Breakdown of the Specific Skills (potential list):

• Phenomena, facts, definitions, etc. - This means understanding the core concepts and ideas in science.

• Vocabulary, terminology, and convention - Knowing and using the correct scientific terms and language.

• Technological applications and their impacts - Being aware of how science is used in technology and the effects on society, economy, and the environment.

• Locating, selecting, organizing, and presenting information - This involves finding relevant information from various sources, organizing it effectively, and presenting it clearly.

• Translating information - This means being able to express information in different forms (e.g., words to graphs, graphs to equations).

• Manipulating numerical data - Working with numbers related to scientific experiments and investigations.

• Interpreting and evaluating data - Making sense of data, identifying trends and patterns, drawing conclusions based on evidence.

• Planning investigations - Designing experiments and research projects.

• Identifying limitations of methods - Recognizing the potential weaknesses or biases in research methods.

• Presenting reasoned explanations - Providing clear explanations for observed phenomena and relationships based on evidence.

• Making judgments and reaching conclusions - Drawing well-supported conclusions based on both qualitative (descriptive) and quantitative (numerical) information.

 Major Concept Schedule (Tentative)

Unit  & Topic

• • 1. What is Science?

    2. Space and the Sun

    3. The Atmosphere and human Activities

    4. Geology, Minerals, & Their Exploration

    5. Energy and the Environment

    6. Water & Its Management

    7. Oceans and Fisheries

    8. Agriculture and the Environment

    9. Human Population

    10. Natural Ecosystems and Human Activity

Teaching & Learning Strategy 

In order to facilitate an evolving education system this primarily an electronic classroom.  Using the latest technology students will be encouraged to manage, work, and submit assignments via the Google Classroom Suite (https://sites.google.com/palmbeachschools.org/drthorntonjerfsa/home) or via email. In addition, collaborative groups will be formed to promote peer learning. An emphasis will be placed on active engagement in the processes of math and science. In doing math and science, each student will construct in a body of knowledge that will support learning in other courses.  As part of the foundations curriculum, this course will emphasize the acquisition of specific skills that include writing and speaking effectively, critiquing, problem solving, and evaluating.  Therefore, the demonstration of these skills will become part of the evaluation process of this course. 

FULL SYLLABUS ABOVE