STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Explain the principle of exponential growth.

 II.     Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable resources.

 III.    Describe the major categories of pollution and main approaches to pollution control.

 IV.     Explain the law of conservation of matter.

 V.      Explain the first and second laws of thermodynamics.

 VI.     Define energy efficiency and net useful energy.

 VII.    Distinguish the different roles played by producers, consumers, and decomposers in natural ecosystems.

 VIII.   Describe at least two biogeochemical cycles and the human impact on those cycles.

 IX.     Discuss the importance of photosynthesis.

 X.       List the factors responsible for the earth`s climate and the human impact on one factor.

 XI.     Describe the main types of terrestrial ecosystems

 XII.    Discuss the major categories of aquatic systems.

 XIII.     Explain the major factors that affect the size and rate of change of the total human population.

 XIV.    Compare hunting and gathering societies, settled agricultural societies, and modern industrial societies

 XV.    Explain England`s shift to reliance on coal as an energy source with regard to its relation to the Industrial Revolution.

 XVI.      Describe environmental problems associated with early industrialization.

 XVII.    Analyze the causes and effects of citizen environmental activism in the United States in the 1960s.

 XVIII.   Explain the link between the human use of chloroflourocarbons and the ozone hole, and the human risk from ozone depletions.

 XIX.  Describe and explain the causes of the greenhouse effect.

 XX.   Describe the most likely consequence of rapid climate change.

 XXI.    Explain why international agreements will be needed to respond effectively to the risk of climate change.

 XXII.   Describe the causes of and processes responsible for photochemical smog.

 XXIII.  Discuss the causes and effects of air pollution.

 XXIV. Explain changes in pollution control methods.

 XXV.   Describe how risk assessment is used to evaluate pollution`s hazards to human health.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      The Age of Global Change: Introduction, Ecosystems, The Environmental Revolution, The Atmosphere, Pollution, Development

 II.     Policy Choices: Endangered Species, Energy, Food and Famine, Conservation

 III.    The Future: Public Policy, Choices for the Coming Decade, Future Trends