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Environmental Science: Ecosystem Balance and the Human Impact

How do ecosystems stay in balance, and what happens when that balance is disrupted? How do our everyday choices ripple through the environment, affecting everything from local communities to global economies? In this Environmental Science class, students will explore these questions and many more, diving deep into the interconnected systems that shape our world.

Students will begin by understanding the fundamental principles of environmental science and learn to think like systems analysts, revealing the hidden connections between humans and nature. Using engaging case studies, students will investigate the consequences of human population growth, resource consumption, and land use, all while asking how sustainable solutions can be achieved without unintended consequences. They will explore energy flow and food webs, discover the unique characteristics of different biomes, and examine the dynamics of ecological succession and species interactions. Students will learn how human activities impact ecosystem stability, exploring topics like urbanization, industrial agriculture, and soil and water management. Students will investigate the challenges of global food supply and explore the crucial role of systems thinking in ecosystem restoration.

In addition, students will explore the societal dimensions of environmental issues, examining environmental justice and social disparities as well as the economic and policy frameworks that shape environmental decision-making.

Through hands-on labs, research projects, and critical discussions, students will develop the skills to analyze complex systems and explore real-world environmental challenges. By thinking like an environmental scientist, they'll gain the tools to understand—and possibly change—the world around them.

In this standard-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 6 hours per week on their course work.

Acknowledgements

  • Successful completion of a full year of biology or equivalent.
  • This course contains an end-of-course proctored exam. Instructions for students to identify an appropriate adult proctor are included in the course lessons.

Course Objectives

Course Essential Questions:

  • How do natural systems function, and how do human activities impact their balance?
  • What are the consequences of environmental changes, and how can we use scientific principles to help develop sustainable solutions?
  • How can individuals, communities and governments work together, through a system-based approach, to restore ecosystem balance for an equitable and sustainable future?

Course Learning Objectives:

  • Analyze environmental systems and explain the interactions that shape their stability and function.
  • Apply systems thinking principles to evaluate human impacts on ecosystems and natural resources.
  • Investigate and propose evidence-based, collaborative, and sustainable solutions to environmental problems that consider ecological, social and economic factors.

Additional Requirements

  • Access to an outdoor space for natural observations
  • Miscellaneous craft supplies for hands-on modeling activities
  • Cell phone or camera and ability to upload to documents and course pages
  • Ability to watch YouTube videos
  • Accessibility Note: Although every effort has been made to make this course accessible to all students, some resources or activities in this course, such as audio files, images of visual art pieces, or hands-on activities, may present accessibility challenges.