• Participate in a supported learning community alongside your peers to build content and pedagogical knowledge and skills. (Common to all courses)
• Experience phenomena driven lessons which model three dimensional NGSS teaching and learning appropriate for 3rd–8th grade students. (Common to all courses)
• Discover the urban environment as a unique ecosystem working to maintain a balance between people's needs and the health of the environment.
• Understand how people impact the urban ecosystem and investigate how to mitigate negative impacts.
• Explore the evidence that helps inform society’s resolutions to environmental issues.

NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS1: From molecules to organisms: structures and processes

• LS1.A: Structure and function 
• LS1.B: Growth and development of organisms
• LS1.C: Organization for matter and energy flow in organisms 

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, energy, and dynamics 

• LS2.A: interdependent relationships in ecosystems 
• LS2.B: Cycles of matter and energy transfer in ecosystems 
• LS2.C: Ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience 

LS4: Biological evolution: unity and diversity 

• LS4.B: Natural Selection 
• LS4.C: Adaptation 

ESS3: Earth and human activity 

• ESS3.C: Human impacts on Earth systems

ETS1: Engineering design

• ETS1.A: Defining and delimiting engineering problems