Teaching syllabus for F.

4 Pre-IB Environmental Studies

No. of
Topics
lessons
Introduction:
(~7)
Experiential learning: Structure of ecosystem (refer to topic 3.1.)
Understanding our Environment 7
1. Atmosphere & Hydrosphere

1.1 Atmosphere as a system: structure of the atmosphere 1

1.2 Factors affecting elements of weather and climate: 3
1.2.1 Temperature 4
1.2.2 Air pressure and winds 3
1.2.3 Condensation and precipitation 2
Artificial rainfall

1.3 Major climatic zones 2

1.4 Earth water sources and water cycle 3

2. Lithosphere
1
2.1 Internal structure of the Earth

2.2 Plate tectonics

4
2.2.1 Evidence for continental drift

2.2.2 Mechanism of plate movement

6
2.3 Rocks – formation and rock cycle

6
2.4 Soils – formation and soil properties

3. Biosphere
4
3.1 Structure & functions of ecosystem:
3.1.1 Biotic & abiotic components of ecosystem
3.1.2 From species to ecosystems

3.1.3 Trophic levels in food chains and food web 2

1
3.1.4 Pyramids of numbers and biomass 2

3.1.5 Interactions between organisms: competition, parasitism, mutualism, predation and 2

herbivore

3.1.6 Energy flow in ecosystem 3

3.2. Basic skills for ecological study:

2
3.2.1. Field study skills and statistical analysis:
- Measuring abiotic components
- Measuring biotic components
- Measuring changes along an environmental gradient

9
3.2.2. Skills in scientific investigation and report writing

3.3. Field study of a local habitats 5

(integration of skills and knowledge)
3.4. Post-fieldtrip case study and a brief introduction on Biodiversity & conservation 6
A case study: Establishment and management of Country Parks for forest conservation in HK
after WWII

People in the Environment – Interaction of the four spheres

4. Farming
6
4.1 Farming as a system
4.2 Factors affecting farming

4
4.3 Case study: terrestrial farming system
4.4 Case study: Organic farming in HK