The first week of school can feel overwhelming for both students and teachers, especially when you want to set the right tone from day one. This Introduction to Environmental Science lesson is designed to ease students into the course while giving them a clear, engaging foundation for the big ideas they will return to all year.

Students are introduced to environmental science through a systems-thinking lens, exploring ecological organization, Earth’s spheres, open systems, cause and effect, feedback loops, natural resources, ecological footprints, tragedy of the commons, and sustainability. The lesson is structured to feel approachable and engaging while still building meaningful vocabulary and conceptual understanding.

This resource includes a PowerPoint slideshow, scaffolded guided notes, an aligned Review & Reflect study guide, and my version of the tragedy of the commons fishing lab. I highly suggest buying this as a lesson bundle, which includes 10 high interest case studies to get them excited about the class. I personally do this activity prior to giving the Introduction to Environmental Science PowerPoint.

What You’ll Receive After Purchase:

• PowerPoint Presentation (Teacher Version)
  • Clean, modern, and ready for direct instruction
  • Work in PowerPoint 365 (recommended) or Google Slides
  • Fully editable text boxes
  • Background images are secured (non-editable for copyright), but you can easily add or delete slides
• Recorded Version of the Lesson
  • MP4 file + an unlisted YouTube link
  • Perfect for absent students, sub plans, or flipped classroom
• Student Version of the Slideshow
  • Available in both PPT and PDF formats with a watermark
  • Great for posting in a digital classroom for student access after instruction
  • (See Terms of Use below for sharing policies)
• Guided Notes
  • Includes both a fill-in-the-blank version and a completed version
  • Designed for focus, flexibility, and student success as they actively listen.
• Review & Reflect Study Guide
  • Snapshot of essential outcomes, key visuals, multiple choice + free-response questions, and an emoji-driven self-assessment.
• Tragedy of the Commons "Fishing Frenzy" lab

Looking for EVERYTHING in one place?
Grab this resource, plus every environmental science product I’ve created, in my full year bundles below. They are the easiest way to bring consistency, creativity, and high-impact learning to your classroom all year, while saving tons of prep time and stress!

• MP Environmental Science (on-level) Full Year Curriculum
• AP Environmental Science Full Year Curriculum

Terms of Use:

• Sharing: This product is for single classroom use by the original purchaser only. If you wish to share with colleagues, please purchase additional licenses or refer them to my store.
• Editing: You may edit the text in most of the resources included in this zip file to fit your classroom needs.
  However, you may not:
  • Repackage, resell, or post the edited version
  • Remove the copyright footer or logo
  • Extract any images or visuals to create new resources
• Posting: You may post the flattened, watermarked student version for your students to access. You may also record your own voice over the slideshow for private class use (Google Classroom, Canvas, etc.), but not for public or commercial platforms like YouTube, Outschool, etc.

Reviews

If this resource worked well for you and your students, I’d be so grateful for your review! Reviews help other teachers make confident choices—and you’ll earn credit toward future purchases. Have an issue? Please email me before leaving feedback—I’ll work with you until you’re 100% satisfied.

Contact Me

Got questions or custom requests? Reach out via the Q&A section above or email me directly at AshleyLGrapes@gmail.com. I usually respond within the hour!