Environmental Science



The environmental science program is a 2-year program for 6th and 7th graders. Students in the program learn the high school environmental science curriculum, yet it is begun at a middle school level. As, they go, students gain computer  and lab skillls. With computers, students will focus on internet research, data collection and analysis, and microsoft applications for communicating work. Lab work starts with an emphasis on observation skills and builds lab skills through thoughtful investigations. Students will work on projects individually and in small groups.

At the end of the 6th grade year, students will take the environmental science midterm, which covers all the material learned in 6th grade environmental science. At the end of the 7th grade year, student will take the Baltimore County high school exam in Environmental Science. Students will earn a high school credit for passing the exam and satisfactory performance in coursework.

UNITS

GRADE 6

ECOLOGY

  • organization within ecosystems
  • living and nonliving factors in ecosystems
  • food chains and food webs
  • energy flow
  • photosynthesis and cellular respiration
  • nutrient cycles
  • interactions among organisms
  • biomes
  • climatograms
  • exploration of individual ecosystems

AQUATICS: CHESAPEAKE BAY

  • water use
  • water treatment and purification
  • water quality testing
  • indicator species
  • stream health
  • human impact on aquatic systems
  • aquatic plants and aquatic habitats
  • geography and natural historyof the bay
  • bay organisms 
  • Maryland fish indentification

***ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MIDTERM***

GRADE 7

SOIL

  • soil particle size, soil profile porosity, and permeability
  • organic matter in soil
  • suspended and dissolved solids
  • buffer zones
  • erosion controls
  • soil testing

WILDLIFE

  • identification of species
  • adaptations
  • endangered species
  • extinction
  • habitat management
  • hunting regulations

FORESTRY

  • identification of trees
  • silviculture
  • rainforest investigations
  • succession
  • forest density
  • benefits of forests
  • deforestation

AIR AND ENERGY

  • air pollutants
  • global warming
  • ozone depletion
  • renewable and nonrenewable energy sources

***ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FINAL EXAM***