• Themes – Guiding principles that are interwoven through environmental science topics, concepts, and subconcepts. They provide both a focus and organizing framework that guide the development and implementation of a cohesive, interrelated series of lessons or activities.
• Topics – Main areas of study within the environmental science framework. Topics encompass multiple supporting concepts.
• Concepts – Specific categories of information that support the topics in the framework. Concepts are explained or exemplified by associated subconcepts.
• Subconcepts – Specific information or examples that support concepts in the framework.

Framework Use
This framework is designed for secondary level environmental science courses. Its structure gives individual instructors flexibility to design a course that meets their needs, their students’ needs, and the needs of their district curriculum. Teachers are encouraged to place greater emphasis on topics not thoroughly covered in other areas of the district curriculum. The framework is not a curriculum in itself.

In addition to environmental science, the framework is applicable to courses such as ecology, natural resources, conservation, and environmental studies. Agriculture education instructors and instructors of topic specific courses such as wildlife and water may also find portions of the framework useful.
Advance placement (AP) environmental science instructors can use the framework to develop their courses and insert additional material required for the College Board exam where applicable.

Course Length
The framework identifies a comprehensive outline of topics and their associated concepts and subconcepts that would be ideally taught in a year-long course. For semester, block, or half-year courses, the priority topics have been starred (*) to assist in planning. Starred topics along with their associated concepts and subconcepts are priority for half-year courses and are listed in a suggested order.

If there is time in a half-year course to include more than the starred topics, choose from the remaining topics in the framework based on personal preference, student interest/needs, and local resources/issues. These additional topics may be included after the starred topics are taught or integrated into the teaching of the starred topics where appropriate.

Course Resources
Specific activities are not included in the framework. This digital resource library of environmental science activities, labs, assessments, videos, web sites, guest speakers, field trips and other resources supports the framework. This online resource provides sharing opportunities for environmental science teachers statewide.

Themes
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