Alignment with Pennsylvania

Academic Standards for Science and Technology

Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology

The activities in this unit have been designed to help students in middle or high school develop an understanding of brownfields; causes of brownfields, why we should be concerned about brownfields, and efforts that have been established to remediate problems in brownfield sites. Photographs of common brownfields, such as abandoned gas stations, industrial plants and agricultural sites are included to help students understand that brownfields are not a problem that can be found everywhere.

Please see pages 6-12 of the narrative report for an overview of the ways that the study of brownfields can contribute to the teaching of content as outlined in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology and for Science and Technology. While there are numerous areas of direct alignment, the activities in the following pages are most closely aligned with the following standards.

Pennsylvania Academic Standards most closely aligned with the Brownfields Unit (10th grade)

3.2.10B Apply process knowledge and organize scientific and technological phenomena in varied ways.
3.2.10C Apply the elements of scientific inquiry to solve problems.
3.8.10A Analyze the relationship between societal demands and scientific and technological enterprises.
4.1.10E Identify and describe natural and human events on watersheds and wetlands.
4.3.10C Describe environmental health issues.
4.3.10B Explain how multiple variables determine the effects of pollution on environmental health, natural processes and human practices.
4.6.10C Analyze how ecosystems change over time.
4.8.10A Analyze how society’s needs relate to the sustainability of natural resources.
4.8.10C Analyze how human activities may cause changes in an ecosystem.
4.9.10A Explain why environmental laws and regulations are developed and enacted.