Introduction

 

Environmental Science is a branch of science that studies the physical, chemical, and biological parts of the environment and how they interact with each other. The environment is made up of both living and nonliving parts. All of these "parts" work and interact together to form what we call the environment. Each part of the environment - whether it is chemical, physical, or biological - has an impact on all the other parts of the environment, either directly or indirectly.

You are also a major part of your environment, and you have a daily effect on it whether you realize it or not. Through this course, you are going to be challenged to become more aware of all the "working parts" of the environment, how each part is interrelated and affects the other parts, your role in the environment, and how you can be environmentally responsible and have a positive impact on the environment.

Whether you know it or not, each one of use makes decisions that affect the world around us. As we make our way through life, we are traveling through the environment, affecting it either positively or negatively. How are you doing with these decision? What kind of footprint are you leaving?

Explore 10 Ways Humans Impact the Environment to gain some perspective on the type of impact humans have had on the environment.

 

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to...

  • Distinguish between abiotic and biotic factors in the environment.
  • Distinguish between the major terrestrial biomes based on the different abiotic and biotic factors present.

Enduring Understandings

  • The type of climate a region has determines the plant and animal life that inhabits that region.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Environmental Science Objective: 17

This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standard: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R10, W1, W2, W3, W4, W9, and W10

 

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