Rainshadow CCHS – Spring 2010 ID Science 4B Syllabus

This course is a synthesis of the role of the sciences in interdisciplinary inquiry

with an emphasis on the relationships between Science, Technology, and Society.
Joe Ferguson: joe@rainshadowcchs.org * www.joerainshadow.weebly.com
Course Description: This culminating RS Science course provides synthesis of the role of the
sciences in interdisciplinary inquiry with an emphasis on the relationships of science, technology, and
society. It presents a historical overview of science and provides discussion of overarching science
concepts such as systems, models, risk, prediction, and applications of science. This course delivers
Rainshadow and State of NV Standards for grade 12 and prepares students to use science as a tool in
careers, higher education, and life.
Course Aims and Objectives for this 9 Weeks:
Upon completion of this 9 week unit, students will;
- Take an interdisciplinary perspective in studying the role of sciences in the physical world.
- Analyze such issues as biodiversity, ecosystems, and Nevada ecology.
- Use science as a tool for prediction to explore global issues and problems.
- Form a sense of their personal uses of science and technology in everyday life.
- Connect science inquiry to inquiry and values in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
Requirements:
- participation in classroom activities every day.
- record of daily activities, current events, notes, and vocabulary flash cards.
- completed portfolio of assignments. (see requirements below)
- completed projects, presentations, quizzes, and exams.

Week / Dates Tuesday Thursday

Course Intro & Class Expectations. What Environmental Science Intro & Current
1) Jan. 26, 28
is Environmental Science? Problems in the Environment
Current Environmental Problems Rachel Carson & Silent Spring – The
2) Feb. 2, 4
Presentations Beginning of the Environmental Movement
Human Population & Exponential
3) Feb. 9, 11 Our Human Footprint
Growth
4) Feb. 16, 18 Intro to Toxicology - Tox Town Poisons on Our Homes: Toxic House
5) Feb. 23, 25 Intro to Pollution - Air, Water, Land Smog City 2 – Particle Pollution
6) Mar. 2, 4 Smog City 2 - Ozone Air Pollution Neighborhood Project
7) Mar. 9, 11 Fossil Fuels & The Greenhouse Effect CO2 & Global Warming – Facts & Lab
8) Mar. 16, 18 The Carbon Cycle Solutions to Our Predicament?
9) Mar. 23, 25 Environmental Artistry Project No Class – Half-Day
10) Mar. 30, Apr. 1 Water Pollution: Facts and Figures Our Watershed, Scorecard EnviroMapper
11) Apr. 6, 8 Intro to An Ocean of Plastic Trash Toxic Garbage Island
12) Apr. 20, 22 Toxic Garbage Island Finish Toxic Garbage Island Project
Strange Days on Planet Earth: Troubled
13) Apr. 27, 29 Strange Days on Planet Earth Poster Project
Waters
14) May 4, 6 Strange Days Presentations Land Pollution: Extractive Industries
15) May 11, 13 Issue Study: Mining in Nevada Mining in Nevada Continued
16) May 18, 20 Endangered Species Project Introduction Endangered Species Project
17) May 25, 27 Finish Endangered Species Projects Endangered Species Project Presentations
18) Jun. 1, 3 Course Review Comprehensive Final Exam
Last class. Course reflection. Updating the
19) Jun. 8 Science Section of Your Rainshadow No School
Portfolio.
Grading Policy and Assessment: This class will be based on an approximately 2,000 point system
for the 19 week period.
Point Breakdown:
Attendance and Participation – 500 points
Complete Folder of Work – 500 points
- includes classwork, projects, and lab exercises.
Major Projects, Presentations, Quizzes, & Exams – 500 points
Literacy Course – 500
Portfolio Contents: You will maintain a folder to be kept in-class with all of the assignments that you
complete for this class. You will also be required to maintain an online portfolio for each of your
Rainshadow classes where many of your assignments will be saved. At the end of the semester you will
complete your modified online school portfolio that will showcase all of your best work from this
course. Work done in this class should be included in the science section of your comprehensive
Rainshadow Portfolio.
 Interdisciplinary Science 4A & B:
Synthesis of the role of the sciences in interdisciplinary inquiry with
an emphasis on the relationships of science, technology, and society.
This culminating Rainshadow science course provides synthesis of the role of the sciences
in interdisciplinary inquiry with an emphasis on the relationships of science, technology,
and society. It presents a historical overview of science and provides discussion of
overarching science concepts such as systems, models, risk, prediction, and applications of
science. Delivers Rainshadow & State of Nevada standards for grade twelve and prepares
students to use science as a tool in careers, higher education, and life.
Objectives & Portfolio Contents:
 Take an interdisciplinary perspective in studying the role of sciences in the physical world.
S1 Forces and Motion: laws of motion, gravity, machines, pressure, density, buoyancy, electricity, and
magnetism.
S2 Structure of Matter: physical properties, chemical bonding, atomic theory, systems of particles,
molecular theory.
S3 Energy and Matter: energy forms, changes of state, heat and temperature, waves, circuits, changes
in systems.
S4 Chemical Reaction: conservation of matter, rates of reaction, transformation of matter, chemical
properties.
S5 Nuclear and Electromagnetic Energy: behavior of light, nuclear applications, nuclear waste
disposal, electromagnetic energies.
 Analyze such issues as biodiversity, ecosystems, and Nevada ecology.
S6 Structure and Function: life cycles and disruption, equilibrium, cellular organization, environment,
plant structures
S15 Ecosystems: biodiversity and ecosystems, cycles of matter and energy, food webs, Nevada
bioregions
 Use science as a tool for prediction to explore global issues and problems.
S16 Natural Resources: consequences of resource use, recycling processes, careers, use of natural
resources, depletion, environmental degradation.
S17 Conservation: analyze and evaluate consumption patterns, conservation efforts, equilibriums,
environmental issues, global concerns, trade-offs, responsible behavior.
 Form a sense of their personal uses of science and technology in everyday life.
S19 Reasoning and Critical Response Skills: evaluate data, credibility of sources, cost/benefits analysis,
system analysis, hypotheses, laws, theories, rules, generalization, assumption, analogy models.
 Connect science inquiry to inquiry and values in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
S20 Systems, Models, Risk, Prediction: mathematical models, predictions, systems, statistical
modeling, risk analysis
S21 Values and Attitudes: curiosity, honesty, skepticism, reproducing results, multiple explanations
S22 Communication: follow experimental procedures, use tables and charts, participate in group
discussions, making arguments and claims

**Complete a Science Unit Final Project**