•  Describing the relationship between carrying capacity and population size

•  Describing the formation and use of nonrenewable fossil fuels

•  Identifying by-products of the combustion of fossil fuels, including particulates, mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide

•  Identifying chemical equations associated with the combustion of fossil fuels

•  Describing benefits of abundant, affordable energy to mankind

•  Identifying effects of fossil fuel by-products on the environment, including ozone depletion; formation of acid rain, brown haze, and greenhouse gases; and concentration of particulates and heavy metals

•  Comparing nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reactions in the production of energy

•  Comparing energy production and waste output in generating nuclear energy

•  Differentiating between renewable and nonrenewable energy resources

•  Identifying local energy sources

Examples: landfill gas, wind, water, sun

•  Identifying ways the law of conservation of energy relates to fuel consumption

Examples: development of hybrid cars, construction of energy-efficient homes

•  Identifying layers of the atmosphere and the composition of air

•  Describing the formation of primary, secondary, and indoor air pollutants

•  Relating pollutants to smog and thermal inversions

•  Investigating the impact of air quality on the environment

•  Interpreting social, political, and economic influences on air quality

•  Determining the quality of fresh water using chemical testing and bioassessment

•  Describing the use of chemicals and microorganisms in water treatment

•  Describing water conservation methods

•  Describing the process of underground water accumulation, including the formation of aquifers

•  Identifying major residential, industrial, and agricultural water consumers

•  Identifying principal uses of water

Examples: economic stability, biodiversity, recreation

•  Classifying biota of estuaries, marshes, tidal pools, wetlands, beaches, and inlets

•  Comparing components of marine water to components of inland bodies of water

•  Describing the eutrophication of water by industrial effluents and agricultural runoffs

•  Classifying sources of water pollution as point and nonpoint

Examples: no-till planting, crop rotation

•  Defining various types and sources of waste and their impact on the soil

Examples:

- types-biodegradeable, nonbiodegradeable, organic, radioactive, nonradioactive;

- sources-pesticides, herbicides

•  Identifying ways to manage waste, including composting, recycling, reusing, and reclaiming

•  Identifying various processes and activities that promote soil formation

Examples: weathering, decomposition, deposition

•  Relating particle size to soil texture and type of sand, silt, or clay

•  Describing methods for preventing soil erosion

Examples: planting vegetation, constructing terraces, providing barriers

•  Identifying endangered and extinct species locally, regionally, and worldwide

•  Identifying causes for species extinction locally, regionally, and worldwide