Environmental Science Course
NGHS offers regular, merit, and Advanced Placement (AP) environmental science. The goal of the course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies that are required for them to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. The course helps students to identify and analyze both natural and human-induced environmental problems. It enables them to learn how to assess the risks associated with these problems and evaluate alternative solutions for resolving and preventing them. From a personal perspective, in today’s world it is of the utmost importance to prepare our students to become the environmentally literate citizens of tomorrow.
Grade Levels: 10--12 Approximate Number of Students Participating Annually: 130
Grade Levels: 10--12 Approximate Number of Students Participating Annually: 130
Students learn about water quality and habitat of the Chesapeake Bay on CBF's Skipjack.
Environmental Literacy Experience in Other Science Courses
Beginning with the 2011--2012 school year, every science course offered at NGHS includes an Environmental Literacy activity. These activities address both Next Generation Science Standards and Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards. The activities are also inquiry-based, hands-on, and many are completed outdoors. Students visit Hickory Environmental Education Center, the county school systems outdoor environmental center, to conduct a component of or the entire activity. The implementation of these activities ensured that all students participate in at least one meaningful environmental activity in each core science course. All students are required to complete the 3 core science courses offered at NGHS: Fundamentals of Physical Science, Biology, and Earth Science. Additional science courses are offered as electives.
Grade Levels: 9--12 Approximate Number of Students Participating Annually: 430
Grade Levels: 9--12 Approximate Number of Students Participating Annually: 430
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Honors Biology II Biodiversity Study
Honors Biology II students study biodiversity in a unique way. Students visit the Cove Run Brook Trout Restoration site and conduct an investigation to compare the biodiversity of the fenced riparian buffer zone to the surrounding pastureland. One meter squares are randomly placed within the study sites. Students then work in small groups to identify all species found within the squares, determine their relative abundance and classify them as native or non-native species. A volunteer from the Mountain Laurel Garden Club (a local organization) is assigned to each student group to teach basic plant anatomy and identification and help the students complete the activity. Prior to this activity, the garden club members visit the site with a Garrett College biology professor to locate and identify as many plant species as possible in preparation for the day.
Grade Levels: 11 and 12 Approximate Number of Students Participating Annually: 20
Honors Biology II students study biodiversity in a unique way. Students visit the Cove Run Brook Trout Restoration site and conduct an investigation to compare the biodiversity of the fenced riparian buffer zone to the surrounding pastureland. One meter squares are randomly placed within the study sites. Students then work in small groups to identify all species found within the squares, determine their relative abundance and classify them as native or non-native species. A volunteer from the Mountain Laurel Garden Club (a local organization) is assigned to each student group to teach basic plant anatomy and identification and help the students complete the activity. Prior to this activity, the garden club members visit the site with a Garrett College biology professor to locate and identify as many plant species as possible in preparation for the day.
Grade Levels: 11 and 12 Approximate Number of Students Participating Annually: 20
mlgc_wildflowers-cove_run.pdf | |
File Size: | 42 kb |
File Type: |
Environmental Issue Instruction in Other Courses
NGHS recognizes the student-centered activities described in the Best Management Practices section of this application as valuable experiences that provide the opportunity for students to learn about environmental issues while acquiring skills and knowledge in additional curricular areas. Therefore, these projects and activities are incorporated into the classroom instruction of various courses. The following are examples of cross-curricular environmental issue instruction occurring at NGHS that is further described and documented in the Best Management Practices section.
Course |
Activity Description |
Date |
Grade |
Approx. Number of Involved Students Annually |
Documentation |
English 11 |
Students read Fast Food Nation and then write a research paper on one of the key environmental issues addressed in the book. |
Sept. 2016 - present |
11 |
100 |
english_essay.pdf An excerpt from a student's research paper. |
Art I |
A project with an environmental issue theme has recently been created for Art I students. Students select an endangered species. They must first research the habitat and needs of the species. They then create a drawing that shows the species looking at a picture of its habitat. In addition to learning about habitat loss and its impact on species, students are graded on certain art standards. |
Sept 2018-present |
9--10 |
150 |
Examples of student art work and a copy of the lesson plan. endangered_speciesdepth_design_lesson_plan.doc art1.pdf |
Art II |
Students create a sculpture using recycled/reused materials. They are then invited to enter their sculptures in the MDE Rethink Recycling Sculpture Contest. |
Sept. 2015 - present |
11--12 |
40 |
Student work examples recycled_art.pdf |
Student Service Alliance |
Recycling Unit
|
Sept. 2015 - present |
11--12 |
15 |
The student assignment sheet and copies of rubrics completed by students as they peer reviewed one another's products. ssa_recycling_unit.pdf |
Wildlife & Forestry Management |
Students complete a variety of activities in this course related to learning about the physiology and management of wildlife and forests. The course requires students to have an in-depth understanding of the interrelationship of natural resources. |
Sept. 2015 - present |
11--12 |
30 |
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Carpentry I & II |
Students in these courses regularly contribute to the creation and maintenance of structures for environmental learning and habitat restoration on our campus. Activities include making bat boxes, bluebird boxes, and bird feeders for our campus, building a bridge and benches for our nature trail and outdoor learning centers, and building benches for our native meadow. |
Sept. 2015 - present |
10--12 |
45 |
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Horticulture |
Students learn about the chestnut blight and efforts to use hybrid chestnut trees to restore the population. They then partner with the American Chestnut Foundation to germinate and grow hybrid chestnut seedlings in the greenhouse. |
Oct. 2016 - May 2017 |
11--12 |
20 |
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Principles of Agriculture Science |
Students raise pigs and chickens. Some of the pigs are slaughtered and students learn how to make sausage. Eggs are collected from the chickens. The products are sold to the school and served in the cafeteria as well as to individuals. Students learn about the benefits and challenges of local food production. |
Sept. 2015 - July 2016 |
10 |
25 |
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Principles of Engineering & Digital Electronics |
Students use installed solar panels and a device that monitors the productivity of the panels to learn about energy conversion and electronic devices. Students also study benefits and drawbacks of using solar panels in various scenarios and methods that can be employed to increase the productivity of the panels. |
Sept. 2015 - present |
9--12 |
125 |
Environmental Issue Learning outside the Classroom
Students who show a high level of interest and/or aptitude in the disciplines of environmental science and natural resources are encouraged to pursue educational enrichment activities outside of the classroom. Some of these activities are school sponsored. Students are also encouraged to participate in other local and regional environmental learning experiences.
Northern Garrett High School Envirothon Team
NGHS has an extremely active Envirothon team. In addition to training for competition throughout the year, Envirothon students participate in fun, education field trips to learn about their local environment and local environmental research and studies. In the past 15 years, NGHS has sent an Envirothon team to the state competition 13 times.
Grade Levels: 9--12 Approximate Number of Students Participating Annually: 15
Northern Garrett High School Envirothon Team
NGHS has an extremely active Envirothon team. In addition to training for competition throughout the year, Envirothon students participate in fun, education field trips to learn about their local environment and local environmental research and studies. In the past 15 years, NGHS has sent an Envirothon team to the state competition 13 times.
Grade Levels: 9--12 Approximate Number of Students Participating Annually: 15
Natural Resources Careers Camp
Each July, the Maryland DNR sponsors a one week coeducational summer camp program for high school students interested in pursuing a career in forestry or natural resources. The camp is held at the Hickory Environmental Education Center in Garrett County. Several NGHS students have attended this camp over the past four years.
Grade Levels: 11 and 12 Approximate Number of Students Participating Annually: 2
Each July, the Maryland DNR sponsors a one week coeducational summer camp program for high school students interested in pursuing a career in forestry or natural resources. The camp is held at the Hickory Environmental Education Center in Garrett County. Several NGHS students have attended this camp over the past four years.
Grade Levels: 11 and 12 Approximate Number of Students Participating Annually: 2