Welcome to Mr. Tredinnick's World Environmentalism Course!
In an increasingly interconnected world, we as a species are becoming more closely tied together economically, politically, socially, and environmentally. This semester-long course builds upon the ideas of the foundations of government, as examined in the development of the Environmental Policy of the United States, but on a global scale. This course builds upon those concepts to examine the foundations of our global systems and how they interact with the natural world. As a special topics course, International Relations: World Environmentalism combines topics from International Relations, Environmental Science, Physical Geography, and Global Studies to examine the world from a geopolitical perspective. Incorporating topics from economics, anthropology, sociology, geography (physical and human), history, and political science students will develop an understanding of the importance of global cooperation and governance to achieve the goals of environmental conservation and action.
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Page Map
Week 1: Separately Towards a Common Goal
(Jan 4-8th) Module 1.1: Orient Your Place in the World
Guiding Inquiry: How do individuals fit into a global understanding of environmentalism and interconnectedness? Forum: Making Meaning for Yourself (1.1) - Pre-Semester Evaluation (Activity) Discussion: Global Interconnectedness? + Carl Sagan: Pale Blue Dot + Discovery News: Is the Butterfly Effect Real? Geoinquiry: Recognize Your Place (Activity) Discussions: Course Guidelines and Expectations Module 1.2: The Environmentalism Pathway
Guiding Inquiry: How was the idea of environmentalism formed and how has it diffused over space and time? Forum: Why Focus on Parks? (1.2) - Origins of Conservationism (Notes) Geoinquiry: An American Idea? (Assignment) + 10 Oldest National Parks |
Week 2: Environmental Umbrella of the UN
(Jan 11-15th) Module 1.3: The Concert of the World
Guiding Inquiry: What is the United Nations and how can it help guide global environmentalism? Forum: Value of a Unifying Government (1.3) - Environmental Structures of the UN (Notes) - Sustainability through Cooperation (Assignment) + UN Sustainable Development Goals HW: Critiquing the UN's SDGs (Assignment) Module 1.4: A Global Approach to Conservation
Guiding Inquiry: Is the United Nations an appropriate agency to tackle environmental conservation? Forum: All or Nothing? (1.4) Discussion: Sustainability Through Cooperation Discussion: Recap (Critiquing the UN's SDGs) HW: Paris Climate Agreement (Assignment) + Mindscape: Paris Agreement Simplified + CFR: Consequences of Leaving the Paris Agreement Week 4: Bringing it All Together
(Jan 25-29th) Module 1.7: A Global Helping Hand
Guiding Inquiry: How do International Non- Governmental Organizations (INGOS) work to fill the gaps in conservation by the efforts of States and other international actors? Forum: Keep The Government Out of It! (1.7) - Environmental INGOs (Notes) - Make a Sales Pitch! (Assignment) HW: Unit I Celebration of Knowledge Next Class! Module 1.8: A Celebration of Knowledge
Guiding Inquiry: How does the world work together towards the goal of Environmental protection? What types of things are counter- productive towards achieving conservationism? Forum: Unit I - Q/C/C/C/CoO (1.8) - Unit I Celebration of Knowledge: International Cooperation Field Experience: Decompress (K.O.T.N) HW: The "Haves" and the "Have Nots" (Assignment) |
Week 3: Worldwide Environmental Actors
(Jan 18-22nd) Module 1.5: National Environmentalism
Guiding Inquiry: How do countries work together as individuals as part of a global whole to address larger issues like environmental protection? Forum: The Sum of All Parts (1.5) - Environmental Cooperation (Notes) Geoinquiry: A Global Effort (Assignment) + International Environmental Agreements (Dataset) + Submission Form HW: Climate and Economics (Assignment) + Media Bias Factcheck Module 1.6: Global Enterprise
Guiding Inquiry: How are corporations contributing to environmental issues in both a positive and negative way? Forum: To Be Trusted? (1.6) Discussion: Climate and Economics - Multinational Corporations (Notes) Scientific Modeling: Partners in a Solution (Assignment) HW: Unit I Celebration of Knowledge Next Week |
Unit I Notes![]()
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Unit I Celebration of Knowledge |
Unit I Assignments
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Unit I Resources
World Socialist Website: The Only Solution to Climate Change is World Socialism
Christian Science Monitor: What Does Climate Change Have to Do With Socialism?
Harvard Political Review: Who's Really Responsible for Climate Change?
Week 5: Theme
(Feb 1-5th) Module 2.1: The Anthropocene
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: Summarize Your Argument - Smithsonian: What is the Anthropocene - Population Matters - Welcome to the Anthropocene - Nat geo lesson on anthropocene - A Matter of Guns, Germs, & Steel? Module 2.2: Viewing the World as a Cornucopia
Guiding Inquiry: What responsibility do we have to maintain natural resources? Or are they simply here for our use? Forum: When is enough, enough? Field Experience: Supporting a Population (Gorillas) - Population Theories and the Strain on Resources (Notes) |
Week 6: Theme
(Feb 8-12th) Module 2.3: Where we Decide to Live
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - Environmental Determinism and Possibilism - Balanced Urban Growth - Case Study: Human Environment Interactions + Human Planet: Cities (Episode 8) - Human Adaptations to Live HW: Collection of Shame (Assignment) Module 2.4: Our Interactions With Others
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: Field Experience: Collection of Shame (Education Building) - Wild Animal Trade - Big Game Hunting HW: Until They May Return (Assignment) Week 8: Theme
(Feb 22-26th) Module 2.7: Agriculture and Food Security
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - Module 2.8: Celebration of Knowledge
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - Food security and the strain of agricultural interdependence |
Week 7: Living in the Anthropocene
(Feb 15-19th) Module 2.5: The Sixth Mass Extinction
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: Field Experience: Until they may Return (Asia) - Module 2.6: The End of All Things
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: Geoinquiry: Watching Climate Change (Assignment) Climate Change (Notes) Geoinquiry: Measuring Climate Change (Assignment) |
Unit II Notes![]()
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Unit II Assignments![]()
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Unit II Resources
Week 9: Theme
(Mar 1-5th) Module 3.1: Name of Module
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - HW: Documenting the Everyday - Out of EDEN connection + Students create a flipgrip of a way that they observe someone (unknowingly) working to address one of the SDGs Module 3.2: Making a Living in Conservation
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - a |
Week 10: Theme
(Mar 8-12th) Module 3.3: Name of Module
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - - Art Integration - find a artist/activist - bio and highlight one piece Module 3.4: Everybody Doing their Part
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - The Lorax 360 Expedition: Clearing Everest's Trash Global Digital Citizenship Integration |
Week 11: Theme
(Mar 22-26th) Module 3.5: Name of Module
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - Glocal Impact + Bunker Roy - ESPN implications of Actions, Local, National, Regional, Global impacts Module 3.6: Celebration of Knowledge
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - HW: Research a Country's Park System |
Unit III Notes |
Unit III Assignments |
Unit III Resources
Week 12: Diffusion of Conservation
(Mar 29-Apr 2nd) Module 4.1: America's Best Idea, Onward
Guiding Inquiry: Why would an idea like a system of protected areas be such a popular idea among countries all over the world? Forum: A Matter of Pride (4.1) Geoinquiry: Global Network of Parks (Assignment) HW: Finish Story Maps For Next Class + Story Map Submission Form Module 4.2: Of International Importance
Guiding Inquiry: How does the involvement of an organization like the UN add credibility to conservation efforts? Forum: Sharing With the World (4.2) Discussion: Global Network of Parks - UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Notes) + World Heritage Explained - Taking a Virtual Tour (Assignment) + Google Earth + UNESCO World Heritage Sites |
Week 13: Setting Aside for Generations
(Apr 5-9th) Module 4.3: For the Good of ALL
Guiding Inquiry: What does the world as a whole gain through the conservation of cultural and natural areas? Forum: Pitter Patter (4.3) Geoinquiry: Global Protected Areas (Assignment) + World Database of Protected Areas Discussion: Global Protected Areas HW: Nationalize or Privatize? (Assignment) Module 4.4: Marine Protected Reserves
Guiding Inquiry: Why are Marine Protected Areas needed and why are they so much harder to organize? Forum: Territorial Waters vs. Open Ocean (4.4) Discussion: Nationalize or Privatize? - Maritime Borders and Law (Notes) + Protected Planet: Marine Protected Areas + Pristine Seas Field Experience: Recreating a Masterpiece (Aquarium) 360 Expedition: Indonesia's Coral Reefs HW: Unit IV Celebration of Knowledge Next Week |
Week 14: Theme
(Apr 12-16th) Module 4.5: Collateral Damage
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - Effect of Global Conflicts on Natural Preserves - Virunga, ISIS, Lesotho, Monuments Men 360 Expedition: The Protectors, Walk in Ranger's Shoes Module 4.6: Celebration of Knowledge
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - |
Unit IV Notes![]()
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Unit IV Assignments
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Unit IV Resources
PEW Research Center: Nationalizing State Parks canSave Them...Or Wreck Them
Week 15: Writing Your Own Earth Story
(Apr 26-30th) Module 5.1: Tourism: Building Global Awareness
Guiding Inquiry: How can tourism be helpful for increasing a person's global awareness and what effects might it have on the local environment? Forum: Your Environmental Journey (5.1) - Travel and Tourism (Notes) Field Experience: Tourism and the Local Economy (Guest Services) - Ecotourism in Peril (Assignment) + Tourism Review: Tourism Industry in Galapagos is Blooming + Nordic Labour Journal: Iceland's Tourism Becomes a Hot Environmental Topic Module 5.2: Ecotourism: The Good and Bad
Guiding Inquiry: What effect does geographic location have on tourism? How can countries support economic growth through tourism and limit resulting environmental degradation? Forum: Tourism: The Good and Bad (5.2) Geoinquiry: Finding a Piece of Quiet (Assignment) HW: Act Section of Geoinquiry |
Week 16: Theme
(May 3-7th) Module 5.3: Building Experience
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: Finding a Piece of Quiet Recap (5.3) Field Experience: Just Not the Same (Alaska) - Module 5.4: Name of Module
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - Week 18: Theme
(May 17-21st) Module 5.7: Name of Module
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - Module 5.8: Name of Module
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - |
Week 17: Theme
(May 10-14th) Module 5.5: Name of Module
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - Module 5.6: Name of Module
Guiding Inquiry: Forum: - |
Unit V Notes![]()
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Unit V Assignments
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