I. THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
1. What is an environment?
2. What is the Biosphere?
3. What are populations and community?
4. LAB: creating a school community map
5. LAB: species identification

II. ENERGY LEVELS IN THE COMMUNITY
1. What is a species?
2. What is symbiosis?
3. PROJECT: symbiosis game
4. What is a niche?
5. What is a food chain?
6. What is a food web?
7. PROJECT: constructing urban food webs

III. MATTER AND ENERGY
1. What are elements?
2. What are compounds?
3. What are phases of matter?
4. How do we write a chemical formula?
5. LAB: constructing molecular models
6. What is a physical reaction?
7. What is a chemical reaction?

IV. NATURAL CYCLES
1. What is water?
2. What is the water cycle?
3. LAB: saltwater and precipitation
4. What is the nitrogen cycle?
5. LAB: decomposers
6. How do CO2 and O2 cycle in the biosphere?

V. THE AIR
1. What is the atmosphere?
2. What is ozone?
3. What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
4. Why is UV radiation harmful?
5. What affects the ozone layer?
6. What is Global Warming?
7 LAB: measuring greenhouse effects
8. What are acids and bases?
9. Lab :How do we test for acids and bases?
10. Lab: What is the pH of rainwater?
11. Lab: Collecting and analyzing pollutants

VI. THE LAND
1. What is the land biome of NYC?
2. How do humans change the land?
3. What is solid waste?
4.. LAB: analyzing solid waste
5. What is hazardous waste?
6. How is hazardous waste disposed?
7. What are sources of harmful radiation?
8. How are radioactive wastes disposed?

VII. THE LOCAL WATER
1. What are wetlands?
2. Trip to Jamaica Wildlife Refuge
3. What are lakes?
4. What causes water pollution?
5. Lab: Analyzing water samples
6. Where does NYC water come from?
7. How is water treated?
8. What is sewage?
9. How is sewage treated?

VIII. HUMANS AND CONSERVATION
1. Can earth’s resources support a population explosion?
2. When are resources renewable and when are they non-renewable?
3. Is conservation necessary?
4. What is hydroelectric power?
5. How can dams harm the environment?
6. What is solar power?
7. What is wind power?
8. Final presentation of student experiments

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course surveys how living things interact with each other and adapt to different environments. The composition of abiotic factors in a variety of places in NYC will be examined with an emphasis as to how different conditions can determine the size, variety and organismic health of local urban communities. Particular emphasis will be placed on how humans have changed the local landscape and how we have a responsibility to correct wasteful habits whereby we can live in proper balance with the entire ecosystem. This class is the required, first Science course at Satellite for all new students. It is the basis of their science sequence and science portfolio. Students begin to practice methods of scientific inquiry and research skills.

TARGET POPULATION
This course is required for all new students at Queens-Satellite Academy High School.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

• To read critically and describe accurately, technical information orally and in writing.
• To observe the environment with precision
  
• To measure and record data without bias or preconception
  
• To research historical background, evidence, and conclusions of important experiments
  
• To create an original experiment that can be easily replicated
  
• To think skeptically and insist on evidence
  
• To work cooperatively and responsibly in small groups
  

MAJOR TOPICS / THEMES
Ecology
Chemical interactions
Geography
Animal behavior
Environmental health

ALIGNMENT TO STANDARDS
This course is aligned to the Science standard 4 - Physical Setting 2, 3, 4 with regard to the following standards:

• observe and describe interactions among components of air, water, and land
  
• explain properties of materials in terms of arrangement and properties of atoms that compose them
  
• use atomic and molecular models to explain common chemical reactions
  
• apply the principle of conservation of mass to chemical reactions
  
• use kinetic molecular theory to explain rates of reactions
  
• observe and describe transmission of various forms of energy
  
• explain heat in terms of kinetic molecular theory
  
• explain the uses and hazards of radioactivity
  

  This course also corresponds to the science standard 4 - Living Environment 1, 5, 6, 7 as it relates to the following standards:
  

• explain how diversity of populations within ecosystems relates to the stability of ecosystems
  
• explain factors that limit growth of individuals and populations
  
• explain the importance of preserving diversity of species and habitats
  
• explain how the living and non-living environments change over time and respond to disturbances
  
• describe the range of interrelationships of humans with the living and non-living environment
  
• explain the impact of technological development and growth in the human population on the living and non-living environment
  
• explain how individual choices and societal actions can contribute to improving the environment

RESOURCES AND MATERIALS
Numerous texts, videos and visuals including:
The Blue Planet - video
Life Science, Holt publishers - text
Environmental Science - text
Life Science, Scott, Foresman publishers - text
Pollution of the Lower and Upper Atmosphere - video
Peterson First Guides to Urban Wildlife
Articles from the Natural History magazine

ASSESSMENTS

• writing summaries of events in news
  
• using chemicals and laboratory equipment correctly and safely
  
• answering questions in worksheets and homework clearly and accurately
  
• taking accurate measurements
  
• asking clearly stated appropriate questions
  
• display an ability to follow instructions
  
• responding to different viewpoints critically and respectfully
  good attendance
  
• creating an original experiment of an environmental issue that is written and demonstrated logically, clearly and accurately with the condition that it can be replicated