Welcome!

Hello and welcome to Environmental Geography at Pebblebrook High School, Fall semester 2017! My name is Mr. Sean Stetler and I will be your teacher for this course. Over the next 90 days we will examine how the earth shapes human lifestyles across various cultures, and conversely how humans shape the earth to fit their needs. This course is half science, half social studies, and fully aimed at developing students who understand geo-environmental issues and are capable of solving them. I cannot stress how relevant and important this course content is for your lives and for the livelihood of the earth!

You can use this site for the following:

  • Weekly updates for tentative Monday-Friday lessons
  • Explanation of assignments
  • Reminders about homework and due-dates

While we are going to be working hard to solve complex global issues, we will also be having fun throughout the year. The class will be centered around hands-on activities, labs, and projects aimed at life-long skills such as critical thinking, analysis, and evaluation with an emphasis on problem-solving. We will explore the culture of various countries around the world through food, music, and sport. Finally, we will try to get outside of the classroom as much as possible in order to connect with the community and the physical landscape around it.

The goal of this course is to prepare you to be global citizens who are environmentally conscious and culturally aware so that you can go out in the world and enact positive change. Unfortunately, the actions of the generations before you have created geo-environmental issues that will have to be solved by YOUR generation.  The world needs bright, young problem solvers to step up and take on the challenge of solving these issues. If you spend the next 90 days engaged and focused on the task at hand, then this class will give you the tools you need to literally save the world!

Lets get to work.

 

 

Week 14 Agenda

Below you will see what we will be learning each day this week, and what we will be doing each day as well.

Monday– Slumdog Millionaire (con’t) – Students will finish the film and drink Masala Chai, a staple of Indian Culture. 

Tuesday– Human Impact on the Environment Intro- Students will complete a timeline of major events throughout history in which humans impact the earth. 

Wednesday– Human Impact on the Atmosphere- Students will complete Breakout activity on climate change and brainstorm ways they can help to solve the problem. 

Thursday– Climate Change- Students will read about the impact of climate change and watch a clip on Greenland’s melting ice shelves. 

Friday– Before the Flood – Students will watch parts of the film Before the Flood and take notes on problems and solutions facing the earth’s environment. 

Week 13 Agenda

Below you will see what we will be learning each day this week, and what we will be doing each day as well.

Monday– Hinduism and Caste System- Students will learn about Indian Culture through analysis of the Caste System and discussion of how it effects Hindu life. 

Tuesday– Unit Review- Students will review and prepare for the Unit 4 Test through completion of a study guide and review games

Wednesday– Unit 4 Test: Human Populations and Culture

Thursday– Indian Culture- Students will do a cross-cultural comparison of Indian and American culture through active viewing of the film, Slumdog Millionaire. 

Friday– Culture (con’t) – Students will finish the film and drink Masala Chai, a staple of Indian Culture. 

Week 12 Agenda

Below you will see what we will be learning each day this week, and what we will be doing each day as well.

Monday– Overpopulation- Students will complete a simulation on overpopulation and analyze images about the impact overpopulation has on a society. 

Tuesday– China’s One Child Policy- Students will read about China’s One Child Policy, analyze how it was implemented across society, and evaluate its success. 

Wednesday– Population Control Debate- Students will practice argumentative skills by debating whether or not the US should institute a population control policy.  

Thursday– Population Legislation Assignment- Students will create a piece of legislation that would address the issue of global overpopulation. 

Friday– Culture Day – Students will explore various components of Chinese culture such as chop sticks and tea while watching a slide-show highlighting my experiences abroad in China. 

Week 11 Agenda

Below you will see what we will be learning each day this week, and what we will be doing each day as well.

Monday– Unit Intro: Basics of Demography- Students will define terms used to measure human populations by analyzing If the World was a Village of 100 People. 

Tuesday– World Demography Data Analysis- Students will analyze data from several major countries and interpret demographic trends across the world. 

Wednesday– Global Population Trends Project- Students will start a project in which they use computer software to visually represent demographic trends of 1 country. 

Thursday– Global Demographics Quiz and Culture- Students will take a quiz on demographics and start a lesson on culture. 

Friday– Culture Day – Students will describe what culture is through an analysis of American Culture in the film about the Lost Boys of Sudan. 

Week 10 Agenda

Below you will see what we will be learning each day this week, and what we will be doing each day as well.

Monday– Shark Tank! – Students will have a competition in which they present/sell their product to the class.

Tuesday– Nuclear Energy Debate- Students will debate whether Nuclear energy is a viable alternative to fossil fuels and renewables. 

Wednesday– Energy Quiz- Students will prepare for and complete a quiz on Energy

Thursday– Unit Test Review- Students will play a variety of review games in order to prepare for the Unit 3 Test on Friday

Friday– Unit 3 Test: Energy and Politics

Week 9 Agenda

Below you will see what we will be learning each day this week, and what we will be doing each day as well.

Monday– Non-renewable Energy- Students will complete a webquest on Fossil Fuels and use an energy calculator to find out how much energy they use. 

Tuesday– Renewable and Nuclear Energy- Students will debate which source of renewable energy is best.

Wednesday– Energy Invention Project (day 1)- Students will complete a project in which they are inventing and selling a product that harnesses the power of renewable energy.

Thursday– Energy Invention Project (day 2)- Students will complete a project in which they are inventing and selling a product that harnesses the power of renewable energy. 

Friday– Shark Tank! – Students will have a competition in which they present/sell their product to the class.

Week 8 Agenda

Below you will see what we will be learning each day this week, and what we will be doing each day as well.

Monday– Intro to Political Geography- Students will analyze how size, shape, and location affects different states around the world 

Tuesday– Types of Governments – Students will identify how different types of government distribute power

Wednesday– Build a Country Assignment- Students will build a country of their choice by designing the size, shape, location, and type of government through means of a national anthem 

Thursday– Build a Country Assignment- Students will complete their project and review for a quiz on political geography 

Friday– Political Map Review and Unit 3 Quiz – Students will complete series of map review games and then take a quiz on major political landmarks of the world

Georgia Student Health Survey

Week 6 Agenda

Below you will see what we will be learning each day this week, and what we will be doing each day as well.

Monday– Conservation Efforts- Students will review different methods of conservation and develop a plan to save a specific endangered species. Click here to see the World Wildlife Fund Endangered Species list. 

Tuesday– Owl Pellet Lab– Students will dissect owl pellets in order to further understand food chains and ecosystem biodiversity. 

Wednesday– Physical Features– Students will learn earth’s major physical features and their impact on huamn life by playing a matching game. 

Thursday– Biodiversity Debate- Students will study ethos, pathos, and logos, and develop a persuasive argument for biodiversity conservation. 

Friday– Unit 2 Quiz- Physical Geography and Biodiversity 

Week 5 Agenda

Below you will see what we will be learning each day this week, and what we will be doing each day as well.

Monday– Biodiversity and it’s Benefits- Students will learn what biodiversity is and how it is beneficial to humans through an interactive lecture and group work. 

Tuesday– Cataloging Competition– Students will work in groups to locate and identify as many species as possible on Pebblebrook’s campus. 

Wednesday– Threats to Biodiversity– Students will discover what the various threats to biodiversity are through a jigsaw activity. 

Thursday– Conservation Efforts- Students will complete a Webquest on different attempts at species conservation. 

Friday– Endangered Species Flyer- Students will create a flyer that promotes the protection and conservation of  one particular endangered species.