Correlation of International Baccalaureate (IB) Objectives

The International Baccalaureate program has a complete set of objectives for an IB Environmental Systems class. In the table below, we have correlated the topics and subtopics with the experiments that are contained in this book, Investigating Environmental Science through Inquiry.

Vernier Experiment		IB Environmental Systems Topic Outline Correlation
1	Seasons and Angle of Insolation	A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System B.1. Exploitation of Energy Resources
2	A Local Weather Study	A.1.2 Describe and evaluate methods for measuring at least three abiotic factors within an ecosystem.
3	Investigating Dissolved Oxygen	2.2.2 Describe photosynthesis and respiration in terms of inputs, outputs, and energy transformations. A.1.2 Describe and evaluate methods for measuring at least three abiotic factors within an ecosystem. D.2.2 Define the term biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and explain how it is used to assess pollution levels in water. D.3.1 Outline the processes of eutrophication. D.3.2 Evaluate the impacts of eutrophication.
4	Water Quality	A.1.2 Describe and evaluate methods for measuring at least three abiotic factors within an ecosystem. A.4.2 Outline methods for assessing changes in abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem due to a specific human activity. D.2.1 Describe two direct methods of monitoring pollution. D.3.2 Evaluate the impacts of eutrophication.
5	Long Term Water Monitoring	A.1.2 Describe and evaluate methods for measuring at least three abiotic factors within an ecosystem. A.4.2 Outline methods for assessing changes in abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem due to a specific human activity.
6	Water Treatment	A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
7	Investigating Salinity	A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
8	Soil Temperature	3.8 The Soil System A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
9	Soil Salinity	3.8 The Soil System A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
10	Soil pH	3.8 The Soil System A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
11	Soil Moisture	3.8 The Soil System A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
12	Soil and Acid Precipitation	3.5 Acid Deposition 3.8 The Soil System A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
13	Managing Garden Soil Moisture	3.8 The Soil System A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
14	Cell Respiration	2.2.2 Describe photosynthesis and respiration in terms of inputs, outputs, and energy transformations.
15	Biodiversity in Ecosystems	Option A: Analyzing Ecosystems. A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System Option C: Conservation and Biodiversity. C.1 Biodiversity in Ecosystems
16	Biochemical Oxygen Demand	A.1.2 Describe and evaluate methods for measuring at least three abiotic factors within an ecosystem. D.2.2 Define the term biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and explain how it is used to assess pollution levels in water.
17	Water Cycle Column Investigation	Topic 3: Global Cycles and Physical Systems. 3.5 Acid Deposition Topic 3: Global Cycles and Physical Systems. 3.6 The Hydrosphere Topic 3: Global Cycles and Physical Systems. 3.8 The Soil System Option A: Analyzing Ecosystems. A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
18	Decomposition Column Investigations	Topic 2: The Ecosystem. 2.2 Function Option A: Analyzing Ecosystems. A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
19	Ecocolumn Investigations	Topic 2: The Ecosystem. 2.2 Function Option A: Analyzing Ecosystems. A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
20	Global Warming	3.4 The Issue of Global Warming
21	UV Investigations	3.1 Depletion of Stratospheric Ozone A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
22	Sunscreen Comparison	3.1 Depletion of Stratospheric Ozone A.1 Measuring Physical Components of a System
23	Primary Productivity	2.2.2 Describe photosynthesis and respiration in terms of inputs, outputs, and energy transformations. 2.2.4 Define the terms gross productivity, net productivity, primary productivity, secondary productivity, gross primary productivity, and net primary productivity. 2.2.5 Calculate the values of gross and net productivity from given data.
24	Modeling Population Growth	2.1 Structure 2.2 Function 2.3 Changes
25	Insulation Study	B.1 Exploitation of Energy Resources
26	Fossil Fuel Energy	B.1 Exploitation of Energy Resources
27	Energy Conversions	1.1.3 Describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics are relevant to environmental systems. B.1 Exploitation of Energy Resources
28	Wind Energy	B.1 Exploitation of Energy Resources
29	Solar Energy: Photovoltaic Cells	B.1 Exploitation of Energy Resources
30	An Investigation of Passive Solar Heating	B.1 Exploitation of Energy Resources
31	The Effect of Acid Deposition on Aquatic Ecosystems	3.5.2 Describe three possible effects of acid deposition on soil, water, and living organisms. 3.5.3 Explain why the effect of acid deposition is regional rather than global.
32	Measuring Particulates	D.2 Detection and Monitoring of Pollution
33	Investigating Indoor Carbon Dioxide Concentrations	2.2.2 Describe photosynthesis and respiration in terms of inputs, outputs, and energy transformations. D.2 Detection and Monitoring of Pollution
34	A Pollution Study	A.1.2 Describe and evaluate methods for measuring at least three abiotic factors within an ecosystem. A.4.2 Outline methods for assessing changes in abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem due to specific human activity.