Ryan Tanner-Read
History and International Relations Teacher
History and International Relations Teacher
- Environmental Studies
I am no longer teaching this course. Some links may be broken.
This class will treat the environment as a problem of social science. We will explore some of the hard science related to environmental issues, but we will take a broader approach to understand the role of humans as part of the environment. We will consider the impacts humans make on the environment and how these are shaped by the institutions of human life. We will consider politics, psychology and ethics as we seek to understand how humans shape and are shaped by their environments. This class is not a class about activism or easy answers. It may provide the basis for activism or provide some answers, but it is primarily a class about seeking to understand the complex systems of humans in the environment. We look to history as well as contemporary life as we take an inquiry-based approach to this complex and controversial topic.
Key Question: How do human institutions from modes of thinking to social infrastructure impact the role of humans within the environment? How can or should human institutions be changed to provide solutions to the grand challenge of moving from the unsustainable present to a sustainable future?
Environmental Studies
Humans in the Landscape
Class Notes
Please use these links to access the class notes for your class on Google Docs. Remember that these notes are here to help you organize your thinking and check your own notes. They should not be a substitute for your own notes!
Please note that these notes are from the 2018-2019 school year.
A Block Notes here.
F Block Notes here.
Class Schedule
The outline below contains links to all the materials you will need for class including outside readings. You should bookmark this page so that you can return here for each class. All assignments (including questions linked under "Read" below) are due on the day they are listed.
Many of the presentations in this class will use an online tool called Sway to organize our class. For more information on how to use this, please click here.
Please note that this class outline reflects the 2018-2019 school year.
Fall Term
SEPTEMBER
1. What is Environmental Studies? What is Sustainable Development? Socratic, In Class: Syllabus, Homework: Class Introduction Survey (Due on Day 3)
2. Read Thoreau, "The Value of Wildness" and Marsh, "Human Responsibility for the Land," What is Natural? Socratic, In Class: Hudson River School Paintings
3. Turn in Class Introduction Survey, Finish What is Natural? Socratic
4. "Fish Game," In Class: Fish Game Worksheet
5. Read "Fisheries and the Tragedy of the Commons" Readings, Dangerous Thinking Socratic, In Class: "Property and Environment" Handout
6. Read "Ecological Footprint and the Consumption Conundrum" Reading, Footprints and Dreams: Measuring the Impact of Human Institutions Socratic, In Class: "Setting the Context" Reading
7. Read "Setting the Context," Footprints and Dreams: Measuring the Impact of Human Institutions Socratic
8. Read "Tipping Points" Article, Tipping Points and Human Institutions Socratic, In Class: Open-note Response to Tipping Points Article, Test Study Guide
9. Review Previous Readings, HOV Lanes Discussion, In Class: HOV Lanes Informal Debate
10. Conduct HOV Lanes Informal Debate
11. Review Previous Readings, Reviewing Class So Far, In Class: Piktochart Infographics on the "Grand Challenge"
12. Turn in Infographic, What is Climate Anyway? Lecture
13. Read "Distant Consequences" Reading, Distant Consequences Today Socratic
14. Introduction Test (Study Guide)
15. Read Introduction to Climate Change, Reading Quiz, How Does Climate Change Work? Socratic, In Class: Energy and Prosperity
16. Read "Global Warming's Terrifying New Math," The Three Numbers Socratic, In Class: Clips from Do The Math
OCTOBER
17. Read Lomborg Articles, Strategy, Economy and Environmentalism Socratic, In Class: Lomborg TED Talk, Give Climate Change and Energy Essay Prompt
18. Read Country Briefings for Conference of Parties Simulation, International Law and Climate Lecture, In Class: Prepare for Conference of Parties Simulation
18.5. Grandparents' Day (Prepare for Conference of Parties Simulation), Homework: Citizens Climate Lobby Background Work
19. Turn in Citizens Climate Lobby Background Work, Presentation on Carbon Fee and Dividend from Mr. Gage
20. Prepare for Conference of Parties Simulation
21. Prepare for Conference of Parties Simulation, Homework: Prepare statements for Conference of Parties Simulation
22. Turn in Simulation Statements, Begin Conference of Parties Simulation
23. Finish Conference of Parties Simulation
24. Read Articles on Paris COP21, A Bad Deal or Last Chance?: The Paris Climate Agreement Socratic, In Class: Trump Statement
25. Watch America Revealed: "Electric Nation," Homework: Complete Electric Nation Worksheet
26. Turn in Electric Nation Worksheet, In Class: Begin working on Climate Change and Energy Essay
27. Read "A Mighty Wind," NIMBYs and Windmills Socratic
28. Begin Watching The Nuclear Option, Homework: Finish as much of Nuclear Option Worksheet as possible
29. Finish Watching The Nuclear Option, Turn in Nuclear Option Worksheet, Work on Essays, Homework: Outline of Essay
30. Turn in Essay Outline, Work on Essay
31. Complete Draft of Essay, Essay Workshop, Work on Citations
NOVEMBER
32. The Planet is What You Eat: Our Food System and the Environment Socratic, In Class: Food Waste TED Talk, Homework: Finish Climate Change and Energy Essay
33. Turn in Climate Change and Energy Essay, Begin watching Food Inc
34. Read Food Inc Reaction Articles, Continue watching Food Inc
35. Complete watching Food Inc, Who Pays the Cost?: Agriculture, Human Health and The Earth's Health Socratic, In Class: Turn in Food Inc Response Questions
36. Read "How Much Processed Food Can We Eat?," Who Pays the Cost?: Agriculture, Human Health and The Earth's Health Socratic, Homework: Food Waste Research
37. Turn in Food Waste Research, Food Waste and Food Deserts Socratic, In Class: Food Deserts Report
38. Read "Big Food Strikes Back," Who is "Big Food?" Socratic, In Class: NPR Farmers and Michael Pollan Story, Homework: American Food System Response
39. Snow Day
Winter Term
40. Turn in American Food System Response,The Global Food System Socratic, In Class: Clips from Carnegie Council Feeding the Planet Panel
41. Read "Getting Fossil Fuels of the Plate," The Carbon Footprint of Your Plate Socratic
42. Read "Should We Grow GM Food?", Frankenfood?: Are GMOs a Holy Grail or a Curse? Socratic, Give Food System Podcast Assignment
43. Food System Potpourri, Food System Podcast Work
DECEMBER
44. Food System Podcast Work, In Class: Podcast Recording Techniques
45. Food System Podcast Work
46. Food System Podcast Work
47. Food System Podcast Recording
48. Food System Podcast Recording
49. Food System Podcast Recording, Homework: Finish Food System Podcast
50. Turn in Food System Podcast, Food System Podcast Listening, Homework: Making Connections Response
51. What Have We Learned So Far? Socratic, In Class: Work on Making Connections Response
52. Turn in Making Connections Response, Humans and the Water Cycle Socratic
53. Read Water Crisis Reading, Do We Have a Water Crisis? Debate
54. Begin Watching Blue Gold: World Water War
JANUARY
55. Continue Watching Blue Gold: World Water War
56. Finish Watching Blue Gold: World Water War, Turn in Blue Gold Questions
57. Read Blue Gold Responses, Water: Commons or Private Property? Socratic
58. Read Drought Articles, Drought and Clean Water Socratic, In Class: Responding to Drought Memo, Homework: Finish Drought Memo for Day 60
59. Read "A Way Forward," Last Call at the Oasis: Reducing Water Consumption or Relying on Technology? Socratic, In Class: Desalination Clips, Give Water Explainer Video Prompt, Homework: Research Explainer Topics
60. Turn in Drought Memo, Pollution, Water and Human Health Socratic
61. Present Explainer Topics to Class, Work on Video Research
62. Work on Video Research, Homework: Finalize Video Topic
63. Turn in Video Topic Proposals, Work on Video Research
64. Work on Video Research
65. Work on Video Research, Homework: Rough Draft of Video Script
66. Turn in Rough Draft of Video Script, Script Workshop, Work on Video
67. Work on Video, In Class: Introduction to iMovie
68. Work on Video
69. Work on Video
70. Work on Video, Homework: Video Rough Cut
71. Turn in Video Rough Cut, Work on Video
FEBRUARY
72. Work on Video, Finish Video
75. Turn in Final Video, Watch Videos and Grade Colleague Videos, Homework: Making Connections Response
76. Turn in Making Connections Response, Review "The Consumption Conundrum," Material Flow and Design Lecture
77. Read "The Reality of Our Actions," Where Does it All Go? Socratic
78. Begin watching No Impact Man, Homework: Personal Impact Response
79. Continue watching No Impact Man
80. Finish watching No Impact Man, Turn in No Impact Man Questions, What Is Your Impact? Socratic, In Class: Share Personal Impact
81. Read "The Next Industrial Revolution," A Revolution in Industry? Socratic, In Class: Cradle to Cradle Clip
82. Read "Moving From Individual to Societal Change," Remember Tipping Points? Socratic, In Class: Keep America Beautiful Ad
83. Read "Voluntary Simplicity" and "Cradle to Cradle: Four Success Stories, From Countertops to Fabrics," Simplicity v Sacrifice Socratic, Give Consumption Debate Prompt, Homework: Begin Consumption Debate Planning
84. Watch The Story of Stuff, In Class: Story of Stuff Worksheet, Homework: Continue Consumption Debate Preparation
85. Work on Debate Preparation, Homework: Consumption Debate Essay Outline
86. Turn in Consumption Debate Essay Outline, Conduct Consumption Debate, In Class: Give Digital Poster Assignment
Spring Term
MARCH
87. Read "What Happens When Fashion Becomes Fast, Disposable And Cheap?," Begin T-Shirts and the Planet Socratic, In Class: Fast Fashion TED Talks
88. Read "There Is A Major Climate Issue Hiding in Your Closet," Continue T-Shirts and the Planet Socratic, In Class: Fast Fashion TED Talks
89. Read "Can Green Marketing Claims Be Believed," Green Marketing: Greenwashing or Saving the Planet? Socratic, Homework: Find two sources for Digital Poster
90. Turn in two sources for Digital Poster, Work on Digital Poster, Homework: Mock up Digital Poster
91. Turn in Digital Poster Mock Up, Work on Digital Poster
92. Work on Digital Poster, Homework: Finish Digital Poster
APRIL
93. Turn in and Present Digital Posters, Homework: Making Connections Response
94. Turn in Making Connections Response, Where Have We Been? Socratic, In Class: Give Research Paper Prompt, Homework: Choose Two Possible Research Paper Topics
95. In Class: Research Topics, Homework: Choose Topic and Write Proposal Paragraph
96. Research Time
97. Turn in Proposal Paragraph, Research Methods Lecture, Research Time
98. Research Time
99. Research Time
100. Research Time
101. Research Time, Homework: Annotated Bibliography
102. Turn in Annotated Bibliography, Work on Research Paper
103. Work on Research Paper
104. Work on Research Paper, Homework: Research Paper Outline
105. Turn in Research Paper Outline, Work on Research Paper
106. Work on Research Paper
107. Work on Research Paper
108. Work on Research Paper
MAY
109. Work on Research Paper, Homework: Rough Draft of Research Paper
110. Turn in Rough Draft of Research Paper, Draft Workshop, Homework: TED Talk Research
111. TED Talk Discussion, Work on Research Paper or TED Talk
112. Work on Research Paper or TED Talk
113. Work on Research Paper or TED Talk
114. Work on Research Paper or TED Talk
115. Work on Research Paper or TED Talk
116. Work on Research Paper or TED Talk
117. Work on Research Paper or TED Talk
118. Work on Research Paper or TED Talk, Homework: Finish TED Talk and Final Draft, In Class: Give Final Exam Study Guide
119. TED Talks
120. TED Talks
121. Summing Up Socratic
122. Final Review Day
123. Turn in Final Draft, Final Review Day
124. Final Exam
© 2022 Ryan Tanner-Read