Introduction to Natural Resources & Environmental Science

Description:
As a one-unit course, Introduction to Natural Resources and Environmental Technology is for students with interests in the overall use and stewardship of natural resources and the environment. Course content includes the meaning, kind, and importance of natural resources, issues associated with preservation and conservation, kinds of resource use, human population demands, recycling, reusing, sustainability, ecology, Earth and the solar system, weather and climate, biosecurity, soil, water, air, wildlife, land and land description, energy, minerals, rangeland, owner responsibilities, and waste management. FFA and supervised experience will also be included as appropriate.

Course Type:
"Regular"

Schools That Offer:

OCAS Code:

OHLAP Credit:
False

Course Length in Hours:
120

Course Length Explanation:

Contact:

Kurt Murray
(405) 743-5489
kmurr@okcareertech.org

Prerequisites:

Introduction to Agriscience

Knowledge and Skills:

Unit NRE1: Importance of natural resources and environmental science (8 hours)

Benchmark NRE1-1: Students will explain the meaning of natural resources and environmental science.

Benchmark NRE1-2: Students will list and describe major kinds of natural resources.

Benchmark NRE1-3: Students will classify natural resources based on renewability and exhaustibility.

Benchmark NRE1-4: Students will compare and contrast conservation and preservation.

Unit NRE2: Career entry and advancement in natural resources and environmental science (7 hours)

Benchmark NRE2-1: Students will identify occupations in natural resources and environmental science and list the competencies needed for occupational entry

Benchmark NRE2-2: Students will name and describe important personal skills for success in natural resources and environmental science careers.

Unit NRE3: Natural resources and environmental science safety (3 hours)

Benchmark NRE3-1: Students will assess safety situations in natural resources and environmental science work and choose appropriate safety practices.

Benchmark NRE3-2: Students will properly select, use, and maintain personal protective equipment when working in natural resources and environmental science.

Unit NRE4: Sustainability of natural resources and the environment (16 hours)

Benchmark NRE4-1: Students will explain the meaning and importance of sustainability with natural resources and environmental science.

Benchmark NRE4-2: Students will describe human population demands and trends as related to natural resources.

Benchmark NRE4-3: Students will explain recycling and reusing and demonstrate approved practices related to natural resource sustainability.

Benchmark NRE4-4: Students will describe the meaning and role of ecology and succession in natural resources and environmental science.

Benchmark NRE4-5: Students will explain food relationships and prepare food chain diagrams for selected species.

Benchmark NRE4-6: Students will define pollution and distinguish between point and nonpoint pollution.

Benchmark NRE4-7: Students will explain biosecurity and identify examples related to natural resources and environmental science.

Benchmark NRE4-8: Students will describe the importance of aquaculture and indicate the species and types of production systems that are used.

Unit NRE5: Renewable natural resources (21 hours)

Benchmark NRE5-1: Students will describe the nature, importance, and conservation of soil.

Benchmark NRE5-2: Students will describe the meaning, composition, and protection of air.

Benchmark NRE5-3: Students will describe the nature, composition, and conservation of water.

Benchmark NRE5-4: Students will explain the meaning, importance, and conservation of native forests.

Benchmark NRE5-5: Students will explain the meaning, importance, and conservation of rangeland.

Benchmark NRE5-6: Students will explain the classification, use, and importance of wildlife and its habitat.

Benchmark NRE5-7: Students will describe the nature, importance, and use of wind energy.

Benchmark NRE5-8: Students will describe the nature, importance, and use of alternative energy sources.

Unit NRE6: Land (23 hours)

Benchmark NRE6-1: Students will explain the meaning and classification of land.

Benchmark NRE6-2: Students will discuss the importance of wetland and relate wetland protection to sustainable resource use.

Benchmark NRE6-3: Students will discuss the measurement of land and demonstrate measurement techniques.

Benchmark NRE6-4: Students will explain land descriptions and interpret legal land documents.

Benchmark NRE6-5: Students will identify land ownership rights and responsibilities.

Benchmark NRE6-6: Students will name and explain weather and climate factors as related to the environment of land.

Unit NRE7: Nonrenewable natural resources (11 hours)

Benchmark NRE7-1: Students will identify energy resources and means of energy conservation.

Benchmark NRE7-2: Students will name important minerals, including uses, and describe means of mineral conservation.

Unit NRE8: Waste disposal and recycling (17 hours)

Benchmark NRE8-1: Students will name kinds of wastes and distinguish between wastewater, solid waste, and hazardous waste.

Benchmark NRE8-2: Students will describe methods used in managing and disposing of wastewater.

Benchmark NRE8-3: Students will describe methods used in managing and disposing of solid wastes.

Benchmark NRE8-4: Students will explain methods used in managing and disposing of hazardous wastes.

Benchmark NRE8-5: Students will name agricultural wastes and identify proper disposal methods, including the use of nutrient management plans.

Unit NRE9: Environmental issues (7 hours)

Benchmark NRE9-1: Students will identify global environmental issues.

Benchmark NRE9-2: Students will relate agricultural practices to environmental issues.

Unit NRE10: Agricultural education (7 hours)

Benchmark NRE10-1: Students will manage an appropriate supervised experience in natural resources and environmental science.

Benchmark NRE10-2: Students will identify opportunities for participation and advancement in the FFA related to natural resources and environmental science.

Natural Resources: Environmental - CTTC

or

Natural Resources: Parks and Recreation - CTTC

or

Natural Resources: Range & Soil - CTTC

or

Natural Resources: Wildlife Emphasis - CTTC

http://www.okcareertech.org/testing/Skills%20Standards/Agriculture_Career_Cluster.htm

Career Cluster Resources for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

http://www.careerclusters.org/resources/ClusterDocuments/agdocuments/AGFinal.pdf

Accountability Measures, Assessments, or Evaluation Procedures:

Natural Resources: Environmental - CTTC