Lesson Schedule

Natural World –Fall 2009

 

Session / Date

Due Today

Today’s Lesson

Homework

PART 1: The Nature of Science

Thursday

August 27

 

Class Philosophy and Orientation

 

The Realms of Science

 

 

Short Paper :  Your Science Autobiography

 

Tuesday

Sept. 1

 

Science Autobiography

Arguing From Authority

Non-sciences

Pseudosciences

Wiki-knowledge

 

Wikipedia Assignment

 

 

Thursday

Sept. 3

 Wikipedia Assignment

Current Events

 

Experimental versus non-experimental science

An Introduction to the Scientific Method

 

 

Short Paper: Real World Problem

 

 

Tuesday

Sept. 8

 

 

 Introduction to Term Projects

 

Thursday

Sept. 10

 

 

Current Events

Field Trip to Emigration Creek

Team Time--organization 

 

Tuesday

Sept. 15

 Short Paper--Real World Problem

Limitations of Science and Its Methods 

 

Materials and Methods Exercise

Thursday

Sept. 17

 

 

  Current Events 

Controversies in Science--Past and Present

(e.g. polio vaccines)

Team Time

 

 Project Proposals

 Sample Project

Tuesday

Sept. 22

 

 

 

 Project Proposals—Initial presentations in Class

 Trouble shooting and Design 

 

Thursday

Sept. 24

Project Proposals

 

 

Current Events

Introduction to Evolutionary Theory

Historical Background

Humans as the World’s Greatest Evolutionary Force

evolution.pdf

 

 

Tuesday

Sept. 29

 

 

 

Discussion of Paper on Humans and Evolution

Natural Selection vs Commercial Selection

 

 

 

A growing Threat Down on the Farm

Thursday

Oct. 1

Short Paper: Humans and Agriculture

Current Events

Introduction to DNA basics

Team Time—Data Collection

Born to Run

Tuesday

Oct. 6

 

 

 

 

Introduction to Basic Genetics

 Short Paper—Your Genetics--

www.23andme.com

BRCA genes—Who owns your information?

BRAC lawsuit

 

 

Thursday

Oct. 8

 

Current Events

Modern Techniques—Vaccines, therapy, diagnosis

Project Time

 

Tuesday

Oct. 13

 

Short paper: Your genetics

Midterm Exam—in class 

 

 

 

 

Fall Break

 

Tuesday

Oct. 20

 

Population Genetics

http://www.ser.org/pdf/primer3.pdf

Thursday

Oct. 22

 

Current Events

Ecosystems—An Introduction

Team Time

 

Tuesday

Oct. 27

 

 Utah Ecosystems—Challenges Ahead

Team Time – Proper data analysis

Long term ecosystem response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill

 

Thursday

Oct. 29

 

 

 

Current Events

 

Field Trip #2 – Perkins Flat or Jordan River

 

 

Tuesday

Nov. 3

 

Short Paper: Exxon Valdez

Wolves in Yellowstone—Introduction and Discussion

Endangered Species of Utah

Thursday

Nov. 5

 

Current Events

 

Modification of Food—Biodiversity and Obesity

 

Tuesday

Nov. 10

 

Habitat Destruction

Acid Rain

Ozone Depletion

Other fun stuff

 

Thursday

Nov. 12

 

Current Events

Scientific Presentations—A Primer

 

 

Evolutionary Response to Rapid Climate Change

Tuesday

Nov. 17

 Short Paper: Climate Change

 Science in Politics—Who to Believe?

 

 

 

Thursday

Nov. 19

 

Current Events

 

Can Habitat Destruction be Undone?

Columbia River Dams

Lake Powell

 

 

Short Paper:  ANWR

Tuesday

Nov. 24

 

Short Paper:  ANWR

Final Discussion:  Is there an end to science?

 

Project Time

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Break

 

Tuesday

Dec. 1

 

Current Events

 

Project Time

The Process of Peer Review

 

 

 

Thursday

Dec. 3

 

First  Term Project Presentations

 

Click here for guidelines to help you write your presentations

 

 Written Project Presentations

Tuesday/Academic Thursday

Dec. 8

 

 

Written Project Presentations Due 

Remaining Term Project Presentations

 

Final Exam Review