Environment & Ecology
Reading – Common Core Science
Introduction to Environmental Texts
Reading about environmental issues helps develop critical thinking and scientific literacy. This unit focuses on analyzing various text types about ecological challenges.
Text Types
• Scientific articles
• News reports
• Infographics
Reading Skills
• Skimming
• Scanning
• Critical analysis
Key Vocabulary
• Sustainability
• Carbon footprint
• Ecosystem
1. Analyzing Environmental Articles
Sample Article Excerpt
“The latest IPCC report indicates that global temperatures are rising at unprecedented rates, with a 1.5°C increase likely by 2030. This warming is directly linked to human activities, particularly fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.”
Main Idea
Human activities are causing rapid global warming
Key Details
• 1.5°C by 2030
• Fossil fuels
• Deforestation
Reading Comprehension Techniques
SQ3R Method
Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review
Annotation
Highlight key terms and main ideas
Graphic Organizers
Use charts to visualize information
2. Environmental Vocabulary
Key Terms
Biodiversity: Variety of life in an ecosystem
Renewable Energy: Energy from sustainable sources
Carbon Sequestration: Capturing atmospheric CO₂
Prefixes/Suffixes
Bio-: life (biodegradable)
-sphere: layer (atmosphere)
Eco-: environment (ecosystem)
Interactive Exercise
Match the terms with their definitions:
Sustainability
Deforestation
Greenhouse Effect
Meeting needs without compromising future generations
Clearing of forest areas
Trapping of heat in Earth’s atmosphere
3. Critical Reading Strategies
Evaluating Sources
CRAAP Test
Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose
Bias Detection
Identify loaded language or one-sided arguments
Case Study: Two Perspectives
Viewpoint A
“Climate change is primarily caused by natural cycles and solar activity. Human contribution is minimal.”
Viewpoint B
“97% of climate scientists agree that human activities are the dominant cause of recent climate change.”
Discussion Questions:
- Which viewpoint is supported by more evidence?
- What motivations might each author have?
- How would you verify these claims?
4. Reading Practice Exercise
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Located between California and Hawaii, this massive collection of marine debris spans approximately 1.6 million square kilometers – twice the size of Texas. Composed primarily of microplastics, it results from ocean currents converging in a gyre. Scientists estimate it contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing 80,000 tons.
Comprehension Questions:
- Where is the garbage patch located?
- How does its size compare to Texas?
- What percentage of the debris is visible?
