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In this class, we will learn all about taking care of God’s amazing gift to us: our wonderful planet Earth. Students will explore how humans are all in this together, how humans have been affecting the Earth, and how to take measure to avoid being in a lot of trouble! In fact, human survival will greatly depend on whether or not humans can live sustainably. Will you and your classmates be the ones to save us because of what you learn here?
SPECIAL NOTE #1: Price includes a user license for Yellowdig, an internal communications platform for students to use within Canvas. Yellowdig promotes deeper discussion and critical thinking skills.
SPECIAL NOTE #2: We are going to use an AP textbook because it is so good, but this is NOT an AP-level class.
Please see this video by Dr. Gillies for more information about this class!
Please view prerequisites and required supplies below.
Every student will need some sort of device to take and share photos and videos for some of the homework assignments.
Textbook: Friedland/Relyea Environmental Science for AP, ISBN-13: 978-0716738497 or ISBN-10: 071673849X. You can find a good used copy for only a few dollars on Amazon.
Note: We are using an AP textbook because it is so good (and widely available with plenty of lower-cost options), but this is NOT an AP-level class. Nothing else like access codes will be needed. It is fine to get a used or e-book, and if you choose to rent it, make sure you rent it for both semesters.
I recognize that this is an older textbook. The price is definitely right because newer ones seem to cost 100’s of dollars these days. We supplement with modern research on a regular basis to make sure the material stays fresh and up-to-date.
Dr. Catherine Gillies grew up on the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, Maryland. Her life after high school can be summed up in two words: “Big Adventures!” She graduated from the Naval Academy in 1989, going on to be a helicopter pilot serving on seven aircraft carriers during her career. She later flew in a Marine Corps squadron and taught Naval and Marine student pilots to fly the UH-1N "Huey." Catherine earned a Masters in Psychology in 1997, a Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in 2000, and a Doctorate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in 2003. Catherine retired from the Navy in June 2009.
Catherine has taught undergraduate and graduate courses for three different colleges. She and her family live near Annapolis, Maryland, where she was a homeschooling mom to three kids for 12 years. In her spare time, she likes to sew, bake, swim, sail, and hike. She has also been a Scout leader for 17 years. Through her mentorship, the youth she works with strengthen their servant leadership and become better stewards of God’s gift to us — our big, beautiful Earth.
IC Gardner –
Wow! My son enjoyed this class so much that it motivated him to study environmental science in college and he was just accepted into the College of Global Futures at Arizona State! Thank you Dr. Gillies! Dr. Gillies is an outstanding teacher and I wish we could have taken more classes with her like Aviation Science. She’s engaging and teaches her subject well. Students are encouraged to participate and have fun projects to work on. My son loved her class so much! Sign up now! We miss Excelsior Classes and all the fabulous teachers!
Susan S. –
“My son absolutely loved this class! It brought out a passion for Environmental Science that we did not even know he had inside of him! So many nights around our dinner table were conversations about what he was learning in class from Dr. Gillies. Dr. Gillies is passionate, professional and very knowledgeable in this subject area. I am so grateful that she helped to open doors for our son to delve into a subject that he now wants to continue to pursue. You will definitely not regret signing up for this class!”