LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Advanced Placement Earth and Environmental Science

Goal 1: The learner will develop abilities necessary to do and understand scientific inquiry.

Objective 1.02. Design and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions related to earth and environmental science.

  • Create testable hypotheses.
  • Identify variables.
  • Use a control or comparison group when appropriate.
  • Select and use appropriate measurement tools.
  • Observe and measure real phenomena.
  • Collect and record data.
  • Organize data into charts and graphs.
  • Analyze and interpret data.
  • Communicate findings.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Who has seen the wind? Harnessing alternative energy
In this lesson plan, students conduct a series of investigations in order to understand issues surrounding the production of energy from wind, informed by the video "Roping the Wind in Texas" on the Powering a Nation website. Activities include discussing a video about the siting of a wind farm in Texas; conducting calculations based on local wind data; and using Google Earth, windNavigator software, and hands-on investigations to assess the potential for producing wind energy in the students' local area.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Science)
By Linda Schmalbeck.
StreamWatch
This lesson is intended as a long term project to determine the overall health of a stream or wetland. Students identify seasonal changes that occur within the ecosystem, ideally with a minimum of bimonthly or monthly monitoring.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
By B. Carl Rush.
Rising tides: Climate change and the sea
This lesson plan uses videos, NASA visualizations, and digital map projections to help students understand the connection between climate change and sea level rise. The lesson draws on the "Climate Refugees" story on the Powering a Nation website, and includes independent research and inquiry activities that allow students to explore sea level changes in North Carolina and around the world.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Science)
By Linda Schmalbeck.
Inquiry-based exploration of human impacts on stream ecosystems: The Mud Creek case study
This unit plan for high school earth and environmental science explores the impact of human activity on the health of streams in urban and non-urban settings. Students mimic current scientific research by measuring physical, chemical, and biological indicators of stream health.
Format: (multiple pages)

Resources on the web

Water resources in Asia: Change and challenges
This Xpeditions lesson uses China's water issues as case studies to examine the delicate balance between using resources to improve the standard of living for citizens and preserving resources to protect natural biodiversity and environment. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Estuaries: Finding the balance
In this Xpeditions lesson, students examine the conflict between development and the environment, and the attempt to find a sound compromise. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Dangers of radiation exposure
The purpose of this lesson, from Science NetLinks, is to learn about sources of high-energy radiation and calculate student exposure to ionizing radiation over the past year. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
About a tree: The life and work of Emerging Explorer Mark Olson
In this Xpeditions lesson, students learn about National Geographic Emerging Explorer Mark Olson's efforts to identify extinct or nearly extinct plants and the reasons for the plant losses. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic