Welcome to Mr. Tredinnick's Environmental Policy Course!
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This semester-long course examine the political landscape of the United States, through a specific emphasis of how the government develops and establishes policies regarding the environment. The course begins with an overview of the guiding principles of the formation of the government, before examining the role of different governmental and non-governmental agencies in formulating policies and legislation. Students will also examine how the policy of the United States contrasts to international frameworks on the environment. The varying levels of government will also be examined to see how policy is implemented at state, local, national, and international scales.
CONNECT STREAMS FOR SALMON MIGRATION |
Unit IV - Environmental Legislation
Unit IV Schedule
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Week 17: Project Work Time
(Dec 9-13) Module 4.3: Craft Your Message Central Question: How can you get others to pay attention to your data? Forum 4.3: - Importance of Storytelling: Grizzlies, Wolves, and Koalas: Conservation Photography - Analyze Your Trends (Assignment) Map Lab: Making Maps 101 HW: Data Collection 2 (Per your plan) Module 4.4: Central Question: Forum 4.4: - Create an Begin Action Plans + Examples of Action Plans HW: Action Plans due next class |
Week 18: Project Presentations
(Dec 16-20) Module 4.5: Central Question: Forum 4.5: - Present Action Plans + Examples of Action Plans Module 4.6: |
Unit IV Assignments
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Unit IV Resources
Unit III - State and Non-Governmental Environmentalists
Unit III Schedule
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Week 11: Lower Levels of Government
(Oct 29-Nov 2) Monday: State and Local Government - Forum 3.1 - Its a State Issue - Sub-Federal Levels of Government (Notes) - State Environmentalists (Assignment) Wednesday: Political Parties - Forum 3.2 - Differences Between the Parties - Geoinquiry - Voting Trends (Assignment) + 2016 Election Geoinquiry + ESRI - Community Analyst - Purpose of Political Parties (Notes) HW: Research an Issue (Assignment) + Whitehouse - Domestic Issues + GovTrack Week 14: Zoos and Aquariums
(Nov 19-23) Monday: Working Within A System - Forum 3.6: Government Compliance - Guest Speaker: Jenn Wilson - Zoo Registrar Tuesday: No Class "B" Day |
Week 12: Non-Government Actors
(Nov 5-9) Monday: Influential Institutions - Forum 3.3 - Keeping the Government Honest - Elizabeth Warren Rips Think Tanks - The Media + Politifact + Colbert and Campaign Spending - The Ivory Towers (Assignment) + Top Environmental Science Schools Wednesday: Ordinary Citizens - Forum 3.4 - Effect of Ordinary Citizens - Citizen Created Change (Assignment) + What exactly are people marching for when they march for science? + Time-Lapse Proof of Extreme Ice Loss + Leonardo Dicaprio: UN Speech + Bill Nye: Climate Change 101 
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Week 13: Contributions of NGOs
(Nov 12-16) Monday: Making Voices Heard - Forum 3.5 - The Rules of the Game - Interest Groups and Lobbyists (Notes) HW: Lobbying for Zoos (Assignment) + Association of Zoos and Aquariums Tuesday: No Class "B" Day Wednesday: Environmental NGOs Grade Check-Ins - Forum 3.6 - Handling Specific Issues - Non Government Organizations (Notes) - Examining an ENGO (Assignment) + Present Key Findings for last 15 min of class HW: Come up with 5 Questions for Speaker - Zoo Registrar Week 15: Finish Unit III
(Nov 26-30) Monday: Review Day Tuesday: No Class "B" Day Wednesday: Finish Unit III - Unit III Test - State and Non-Governmental Environmentalists |
Unit III Notes
Unit IV Review
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Unit III Assignments
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Unit III Resources
Semester Project - Collecting Scientific Data for Informed Governmental Action
Unit II - Environmentalism at the Federal Level |
"From the most narrow possible point of view, it is in the best interest of mankind to minimize the losses of genetic variations." - Rep. Leonor Sullivan (D-MO) 1973
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Unit II Schedule
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Week 6: Roles of the Legislature
(Sept 23-27) Module 2.1: The People's Branch
Central Question: What is the function of the Legislative Branch and how can it affect Environmental Conservation? (HS.1.1.c) Forum 2.1: Legislative Requirements - Roles of the Legislative Branch (Notes) - Bill to Law Flow Chart (Notes) + Schoolhouse Rock: I'm Just a Bill - The Passage of the ESA (Assignment) + BallotPedia: History of the ESA Module 2.2: Congressional Committees
Central Question: How is decision making delegated to ensure best possible outcome? (HS.1.1.c, HS.1.2.a) Forum 2.2: Committees on the Environment Field Excursion: Who is an Expert? (Jungle) - Committee Work (Assignment) *Links in Unit II Resources* HW: Environmental Checks and Balances (Assignment) + Resisting the Deregulation of Environmental Protection 
Week 9: The Role of Collective Citizens
(Oct 7-11) Module 2.7: Case Study: NEPA
- Forum 2.7 - Environmental Considerations - Finish and Discuss Federal Scientific Agencies - National Environmental Policy Act (Notes) + Connect Streams for Salmon Migration HW: Dakota Access Pipeline (Assignment) + Dakota Pipeline (Overview of DAPL) + Indian Country: DAPL Illegal + Forbes: Let DAPL Remain Operational Module 2.8: Case Study: EPA
- Forum 2.8 - Environmental Protector - Gutting the EPA (Assignment) + The Environmental Protection Agency + Media Bias/Fact Check Role of the Judicial Branch
- Forum 2.5 - Endangered Species Act + Field Excursion: Cats - The Supreme Court (Notes) HW: Cases of Importance (Assignment) - Oyez: Resource Site |
Week 7: The First Citizen
(Oct 14-18) Module 2.3: The Executive Branch
Forum 2.3: Presidential Actions - The Roles of the Executive (Notes) - Commander in Green (Assignment) + How Trump is Changing the Environment + CNBC: Trump Paris Accord Exit is Good News for the Environment + Time: Is Obama Bad for the Environment + WP: Obama on Saving Energy Module 2.4: Using Executive Power
Forum 2.4: Shared Responsibility Field Excursion: Take them Camping (Lions) - Presidential Environmentalists (Assignment) + Theodore Roosevelt and the National Parks + Theodore Roosevelt and Conservation + Executive Branch Reading Room 
Week 10: Expanded Reach of Governance
(Oct - ) Module 2.9: Tribal Governance and Conservation
Central Question: How does the role of Tribal Governance differ and how do their views on Environmental conservation compare to those of the State and Federal governments?(HS.1.1.d, HS.1.2.a, HS.1.2.d) Forum 2.9: Module 2.10: The People's Parks
Central Question: How does the National Park Service reflect the Federal Government's role to protect the environment (HS.1.1.c) Forum 2.10: Do parks reflect Democracy? Field Excursion: The National Park Service (NPS) + 601 Riverfront Dr, Omaha, NE 68102 |
Week 8: Executive and Independent Agencies
(Sept 30-4) Module 2.5: Module 2.6: NOAA, NASA, and the USGS - Forum 2.6 - Scientific Responsibilities - Federal Scientific Agencies (Assignment) + NASA + NOAA + USGS HW: Federal Scientific Agencies Thought Question 
Week 11: End of Unit II
(Oct 21-25) Module 2.11: Review Day - Forum 2.9 - Linkage Institutions - Present Committee Work - Study Time + Unit II Study Guide - Scale of Influence of the Federal Government Module 2.12: Finish Unit II - Unit II Test - Scale of Influence of the Federal Government |
Unit II Notes
Unit II Review
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Unit II Assignments
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Unit II Resources
Semester Project - Collecting Scientific Data for Informed Governmental Action
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Week 6: Field Data Collection
(Oct 2-6) Module 4.1: Observe and Report
Central Question: How is science important to government, and government important to science? (HS.1.2.a, HS.1.2.c) Forum 4.1: The Importance of Data - Big Data: Explaining its uses to Environmental Science + All students read sections I & III Field Lab: First Part of a Problem + Marine Debris Tracker |
Module 4.2: Developing a Question
Central Question: What is the importance of a well crafted research question in collecting data? Forum 4.2: Field Lab: Data Collection Methods + Survey123 + GPS & Maps (Apple) - Building a Research Question HW: Data Collection 1 (Per your plan) |
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Unit I - Principles of Environmental Protection |
"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; We borrow it from our children" - Native American Proverb
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Unit I Schedule
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Week 1: Course Introduction
(Aug 19-23) Module 1.1: Conservationists 101
Central Question: What is conservation and how do different forms of government get involved? Forum 1.1: Knowing the Ropes Field Excursion: Getting to Know You (O&A) Arguing a Policy (Assignment) HW: Review Syllabus Module 1.2: Governmental Ideology
Central Question: What impact can governmental philosophies impact conservation? (HS.1.1.b) Forum 1.2: Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life Field Excursion: Seeing Government (Bugs) Map Lab: Comparing Conservation Policies (Assignment) + Freedom and Conservation (Map) + Freedom in the World + Environmental Performance Index Week 4: Role of Citizens (Project Workshop)
(Sept 9-13) Module 1.6: Dividing Up Power
Central Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a three branch government? (HS.1.1.b) Forum 1.6: Autocratic or Democratic? Restrictions on Power (Notes) The Antiquities Act (Assignment) HW: Body Paragraphs drafted by 1.7 Module 1.7: Power of the People
Central Question: What actions can people take to effect change within the government? (HS.1.2.b) Forum 1.7: Forefront of Environmental Protection Field Lab: Land Worth Protecting Part II - Photos, Poetry, and Field Studies (Assignment) Writing Lab 1.2: Peer Review |
Week 2: Basic Division of Power
(Aug 26-30) Module 1.3: Scale of Government
Central Question: What are the different levels of American government and what role can they have in protecting the environment? (HS.1.1.b) Forum 1.3: Who protects what? American Federalism and Public Lands (Notes) Map Lab: Federalism Geoinquiry HW: Thesis Statement Draft Module 1.4: Power of the People
Central Question: In what ways is the U.S. Government of the people? by the people? and for the people? (HS.1.2.c) Forum 1.4: Land of the People Field Excursion: Land Worth Protecting Part I (Adventure Trails) American Citizenship (Notes) Writing Lab 1.1: Thesis Statement Drafts HW: Introduction and Outline (Due next Mod 1.5) Week 5: Unit I Summative Checks
(Sept 16-20) Module 1.8: The American Experiment
Central Question: Where did the United States get some of its ideas for how government should operate? (HS.1.1.a) Forum 1.8: - Beg, Borrow, Steal (Assignment) + We the People (Map) + WordCloud Creator - Review for Unit I Test Module 1.9: Finish Unit I
Central Question: Forum 1.9: Pre-Test Questions - Unit I Test: Principles of Environmental Protection + 10 Questions - Short Answer |
Week 3: American Citizenship
(Sept 2-6) Module 1.5: Getting Involved in the Process
Central Question: How can American citizens more directly get involved in the process of American Government and protecting the environment? (HS.1.1.b, HS.1.2.a) Forum 1.5: Why be Involved? Field Excursion: Speak Your Piece (Africa) Forms of Civic Participation (Notes) + ISideWith HW: Have Your Voice Heard (Assignment) + Nebraska Senator Lookup HW: Body Paragraphs drafted by 1.7 
Seneca Chief Red Jacket of the Iroquois League
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Unit I NotesAmerican Federalism and Public Lands
Unit I Position Project & Unit ReviewWriting Lab 1.1: Functional Thesis StatementThesis Statement Draft |
Unit I Assignments
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Unit I Resources
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Environmental Policy Course Resources
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Class Forum
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Helpful Websites
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Political News Sources
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