Environmental Issue Instruction
Classes which provide instruction in real-world environmental issues, sorted by subject area:
Science: Biology (9th), Chemistry (10th), Physics (11th), AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, Ecology of the Bay (electives)
English: English 10 (10th), English 11 (11th) Literature of Ecodystopia (elective)
History: AP US History (11th), AP Government (12th), American Government (12th), Ethics (elective)
Math: Algebra II (11th), Advanced Algebra (12th)
World Languages: Latin 1 (9th), AP Spanish (12th)
Fine Arts: Wood Carving, Photography (electives, all grades)
Science: Biology (9th), Chemistry (10th), Physics (11th), AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, Ecology of the Bay (electives)
English: English 10 (10th), English 11 (11th) Literature of Ecodystopia (elective)
History: AP US History (11th), AP Government (12th), American Government (12th), Ethics (elective)
Math: Algebra II (11th), Advanced Algebra (12th)
World Languages: Latin 1 (9th), AP Spanish (12th)
Fine Arts: Wood Carving, Photography (electives, all grades)
Science
Biology
9th grade students complete a cumulative Chesapeake Bay poster assignment at the end of the school year. Drawing from their overnight field experience during Gunston's Bay Studies week, students craft explanatory posters on subjects like photosynthesis, biodiversity, and climate change. These posters reflect an ecological topic relevant to the Chesapeake region.
Pictures of student work from 2018 attached below:
Biology
9th grade students complete a cumulative Chesapeake Bay poster assignment at the end of the school year. Drawing from their overnight field experience during Gunston's Bay Studies week, students craft explanatory posters on subjects like photosynthesis, biodiversity, and climate change. These posters reflect an ecological topic relevant to the Chesapeake region.
Pictures of student work from 2018 attached below:
Chemistry
Ocean Acidification - 10th grade chemistry students completed a hands-on lab on ocean acidification and its relationship to fossil fuels, examining the effects on aquatic organisms such as oysters and clams.
Flint Water Crisis - 10th grade chemistry students read an article about the water crisis in Flint, MI and answered a list of questions about the lead concentration and "mineral crust" in the municipal water pipes. Thus students researched a contemporary application of environmental chemistry.
Student work attached below:
Ocean Acidification - 10th grade chemistry students completed a hands-on lab on ocean acidification and its relationship to fossil fuels, examining the effects on aquatic organisms such as oysters and clams.
Flint Water Crisis - 10th grade chemistry students read an article about the water crisis in Flint, MI and answered a list of questions about the lead concentration and "mineral crust" in the municipal water pipes. Thus students researched a contemporary application of environmental chemistry.
Student work attached below:
ocean_acidification_lab_student_work | |
File Size: | 961 kb |
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flint_water_crisis_student_work | |
File Size: | 95 kb |
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Physics
Energy Unit - 11th and 12th grade physics students completed a final project about modern energy production and usage. They delivered an 8-minute oral presentation focusing on a particular type of energy (solar, gas, coal, wind, etc.) and answered questions from their peers. This project was completed by both honors and standard physics students. Project description and student work attached below:
Energy Unit - 11th and 12th grade physics students completed a final project about modern energy production and usage. They delivered an 8-minute oral presentation focusing on a particular type of energy (solar, gas, coal, wind, etc.) and answered questions from their peers. This project was completed by both honors and standard physics students. Project description and student work attached below:
physics_final_project_description.pdf | |
File Size: | 71 kb |
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physics_energy_student_work | |
File Size: | 393 kb |
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AP Biology
Ecology Unit - The AP Biology curriculum is heavily focused on cell biology but does include a basic unit on Ecology. AP students reviewed this content (covered extensively in their first Biology course) and complete and free response question to help them prepare for the AP exam.
AP Bio Ecology unit, AP Bio Ecology Unit student work
AP Environmental Science
Design/build tidal power turbine - AP Environmental science is an advanced science elective that is solely focused on the topic of environmental education. Students engage in many hands-on, field based labs throughout the year. Students are also involved in service projects such as Maryland Grows Oysters and horseshoe crab spawning monitoring programs in the Delaware Bay. After taking the AP exam, the juniors in the class began a design/build project focused on developing a prototype tidal power turbine to be deployed in the Corsica River on Gunston's campus.
AP Environmental Science Design/Build project
Ecology Unit - The AP Biology curriculum is heavily focused on cell biology but does include a basic unit on Ecology. AP students reviewed this content (covered extensively in their first Biology course) and complete and free response question to help them prepare for the AP exam.
AP Bio Ecology unit, AP Bio Ecology Unit student work
AP Environmental Science
Design/build tidal power turbine - AP Environmental science is an advanced science elective that is solely focused on the topic of environmental education. Students engage in many hands-on, field based labs throughout the year. Students are also involved in service projects such as Maryland Grows Oysters and horseshoe crab spawning monitoring programs in the Delaware Bay. After taking the AP exam, the juniors in the class began a design/build project focused on developing a prototype tidal power turbine to be deployed in the Corsica River on Gunston's campus.
AP Environmental Science Design/Build project
Ecology of the Bay
Students in the Ecology of the Bay course (grades 11 and 12) completed fish tagging and a fish dissection on the Corsica River in September, 2018. These activities encouraged hands-on environmental learning and direct application of ecological principles. Photos attached below:
Students in the Ecology of the Bay course (grades 11 and 12) completed fish tagging and a fish dissection on the Corsica River in September, 2018. These activities encouraged hands-on environmental learning and direct application of ecological principles. Photos attached below:
English
English 9
Anthropocene Unit - 9th grade English students read Daniel Quinn's novel Ishmael and discussed its implications for human development, resource extraction, and environmental degradation. To showcase their learning, students composed a reflective paper about the novel and its environmental themes. Student work and assignment attached below:
English 9
Anthropocene Unit - 9th grade English students read Daniel Quinn's novel Ishmael and discussed its implications for human development, resource extraction, and environmental degradation. To showcase their learning, students composed a reflective paper about the novel and its environmental themes. Student work and assignment attached below:
ishmael_assignment_and_student_work.pdf | |
File Size: | 98 kb |
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English 10
Naturalism Unit - 10th grade English students completed a unit on literary naturalism, examining the use of realistic environmental symbols, motifs, and settings in various stories. Students explore the question: how can setting act as a character in a story? Student work from a quiz on Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat" attached below:
Naturalism Unit - 10th grade English students completed a unit on literary naturalism, examining the use of realistic environmental symbols, motifs, and settings in various stories. Students explore the question: how can setting act as a character in a story? Student work from a quiz on Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat" attached below:
naturalism_quiz.pdf | |
File Size: | 77 kb |
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Literature of Ecodystopia
Climate Change Unit - In this English elective (11th and 12th grade) class dedicated to studying dystopian fictions through an ecological lens, students explore contemporary cultural expressions of climate change. In this particular assignment, students read the New York Times article "Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change" and answered a series of response questions. Student work attached below:
Climate Change Unit - In this English elective (11th and 12th grade) class dedicated to studying dystopian fictions through an ecological lens, students explore contemporary cultural expressions of climate change. In this particular assignment, students read the New York Times article "Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change" and answered a series of response questions. Student work attached below:
losing_earth_student_work.pdf | |
File Size: | 50 kb |
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Math
Algebra II
Exponential Decay Unit - 11th-grade Algebra II students completed a final project on carbon dating and exponential decay of radioactive isotopes, showing real world and environmental applications of math concepts.
Algebra II
Exponential Decay Unit - 11th-grade Algebra II students completed a final project on carbon dating and exponential decay of radioactive isotopes, showing real world and environmental applications of math concepts.
carbon_dating_student_presentation.pdf | |
File Size: | 390 kb |
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Advanced Algebra
Water Fountain Lab - 12th-grade Advanced Algebra students completed a water consumption lab that analyzed the water wasted by traditional drinking fountains vs. water bottle filling stations, showing real world and environmental applications of math concepts.
Water Fountain Lab - 12th-grade Advanced Algebra students completed a water consumption lab that analyzed the water wasted by traditional drinking fountains vs. water bottle filling stations, showing real world and environmental applications of math concepts.
water_fountain_lab_student_work.pdf | |
File Size: | 65 kb |
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History
AP US History
Dust Bowl Unit - 11th grade students completed a paper on the American Dust Bowl and the novel Grapes of Wrath, referencing drought, environmental disasters, and cultural impacts. Assignment and student work attached below:
AP US History
Dust Bowl Unit - 11th grade students completed a paper on the American Dust Bowl and the novel Grapes of Wrath, referencing drought, environmental disasters, and cultural impacts. Assignment and student work attached below:
ap_us_assignment.pdf | |
File Size: | 23 kb |
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ap_us_student_work.pdf | |
File Size: | 71 kb |
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AP Government
Clean Air Act Unit - 12th grade students completed a case study assignment on the 1970 Clean Air Act. After reading a chapter in the book "The Environmental Case" by Judith Layzer, students answered questions and created a study guide composed of key terms centered around American environmental policy.
Clean Air Act Unit - 12th grade students completed a case study assignment on the 1970 Clean Air Act. After reading a chapter in the book "The Environmental Case" by Judith Layzer, students answered questions and created a study guide composed of key terms centered around American environmental policy.
ap_gvt_student_work | |
File Size: | 109 kb |
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American Government
Environment Unit - 12th grade students wrote a 5-paragraph essay in response to the attached environmental prompt. The environmental unit covers the Chesapeake Bay, fracking, wind, and solar power. Exploring local, state, and federal levels of power, students answer the question: what is the ability of government to protect the environment?
Environment Unit - 12th grade students wrote a 5-paragraph essay in response to the attached environmental prompt. The environmental unit covers the Chesapeake Bay, fracking, wind, and solar power. Exploring local, state, and federal levels of power, students answer the question: what is the ability of government to protect the environment?
american_gvt_assignment.pdf | |
File Size: | 12 kb |
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american_gvt_student_work.pdf | |
File Size: | 232 kb |
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Ethics
Students in the elective Ethics course completed a research paper on global environmental challenges. Topics included international carbon emissions, environmental safeguards, and energy sources. Assignment and student work attached below:
Students in the elective Ethics course completed a research paper on global environmental challenges. Topics included international carbon emissions, environmental safeguards, and energy sources. Assignment and student work attached below:
environmental_ethics_assignment | |
File Size: | 129 kb |
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Fine Arts
Wood Carving Wood Carving is an advanced art elective and is anchored in the Eastern Shore tradition of carving waterfowl decoys. Students study decoys made by famous carvers and base their own designs from photographs or taxidermy animals available in the studio. Pictures to the right and below. Photography Sense of Place - Photography students in Photo 1 and 2 undertake many projects to master basic photography skills. The setting for each of the sessions is Gunston's waterfront campus. The focus of the assignment may be depth of field or stopping motion. The photographs are collected and exhibited together to document the sense of place that this time in the field offers students. Pinhole Cameras - Students learn how to use different kinds of cameras properly and techniques on how to develop photos in a dark room, or online. In the pinhole camera project, the class goes through the recycling, find boxes, bottles, and other objects that light could come through. They poke holes in these objects, put chemicals on a piece of photo paper, and use the light through the pinhole to take pictures of natural scenes on campus. Pictures to the right and below. |
World Languages
Latin 1
Roman Agriculture - 9th grade students completed a Latin translation exercise and answered questions about agriculture, food, and markets in Ancient Rome, integrating a discussion of sustainability into their language subject matter. Student work attached below:
Latin 1
Roman Agriculture - 9th grade students completed a Latin translation exercise and answered questions about agriculture, food, and markets in Ancient Rome, integrating a discussion of sustainability into their language subject matter. Student work attached below:
Latin1_student_work | |
File Size: | 95 kb |
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AP Spanish
Environmental Organization Project - 12th grade students composed a written Spanish response to an email prompt from a fictional director of an environmental conservancy organization asking for ideas about a new environmental campaign. Assignment and student work attached below:
Environmental Organization Project - 12th grade students composed a written Spanish response to an email prompt from a fictional director of an environmental conservancy organization asking for ideas about a new environmental campaign. Assignment and student work attached below:
ap_spanish_assignment_and_student_work | |
File Size: | 3333 kb |
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