Download AP Environmental Science - Lusher High School - Home

Honors Environmental Science
Lusher Charter School
2014-2015
Instructor: Jeff Belmont, [email protected]
Office Hours=Tuesday and Thursday 3:45-4:45pm
The Course:
The Honors Environmental Science course is designed to be an introduction to
environmental science and prepare students to learn more about science and
environmental science in the future. The two main goals of this course are to help
students develop a conceptual framework of modern Environmental Science and to gain
an appreciation of the Scientific Method. Additionally, students will gain relevant
knowledge that will allow them to take part in discussions and make more informed
decisions regarding environmental issues in society.
Environmental Science is a highly interdisciplinary field and, as such, will require
building upon knowledge and skills gained in other introductory science courses,
including biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics. This course will give the
students opportunities to integrate their understandings of the natural sciences, social
sciences, and humanities, through the lens of topics such as ecology, sustainability, and
human health. Students will gain a better understanding of current research methods and
methods for collecting, analyzing, and applying scientific knowledge through a variety of
classroom, lab, and field experiences.
The course will focus on seven major topics, similar in scope to those focused on in AP
Environmental Sciences. The following topics will be covered in roughly the following
distribution, though not necessarily in this order:
Earth Systems and Resources 10-15%
The Living World 10-15%
Population Demographics 10-15%
Land and Water Use 10-15%
Energy Resources and Consumption 10-15%
Pollution and Health 25-30%
Issues of Global Environmental Change 10-15%.
Course Objectives:
The objectives of the course are that each student shall:
• use various types of instrumentation and scientific methodologies to collect and
analyze data
• find and use patterns in collected data to solve problems
• master the major principles of environmental science
• research and present information and topics relevant to environmental science
• apply knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social issues
Overview:
Text: Textbooks will not be assigned for this class. A class set of “Environment: The
science behind the Stories,” by Withgott and Brennan, 3rd Ed, will be available for
students to use during and after class, but must remain in the classroom. An additional
copy is available in the library.
-Replacement cost for lost or damaged books=$77.00
Supplemental Materials:
An Ocean of Air by Gabrielle Walker
Additional assigned readings and texts will be determined over
the course of the semester
Class Schedule: This class is on an “A” Day schedule. Students meet for 100 minutes
per class every other day.
Student Evaluation:
Assessments for this course will generally include: (Percentages are cumulative for the
course)
 Homework, quizzes, and other daily assessments (15% of grade)
 Group assignments and projects (10%)
 Arts Integration Project (5%)
 Lab work, lab assignments, including notebooks, field activities, special activities
(20%)
 Unit and Quarterly exams (25%)
 Semester exams (25%)
More detailed assessment information will be provided at the beginning of each quarter,
so that students can keep track of their progress.
Grading and assignments may change over the course of the year to reflect changes in
course schedule and learning progress.
Student Responsibility
As this is an Honors and upper-level science course, students are expected to perform at a
level that will prepare them for similar college-level work. No work should be turned in
that is incomplete or not done to the best of a student’s ability. The success of each
student depends on his or her willingness to complete assigned readings and out of class
work and assessments to work toward mastery of the material. All students have the
potential to do well in this course, however, their level of success and what they get out
of the course depends directly on the effort they are willing to put into it.
Course Website
Assignments and course information will be found on a Weebly site. Students and
Parents will have access to this site through the Lusher school website.
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 3:45-4:45 pm
Please take advantage of this extra time to get help from your teacher and to have
additional space and supplies for working on homework and projects. All students are
welcome to come for help either day or both. Students consistently struggling with the
materials or pace of the course should seek help from teacher as soon as possible.
Late Work/Makeup Policy
In order to reflect that this is a college prep course, a full letter grade will be taken off of
any assignments that are turned in late. Minor assignments will not be accepted past the
due date and students will receive a grade of zero (0) for that assignment, unless specified
by the instructor.
Work missed for acceptable reasons (excused absence, teacher pre-approval), including
labs, should be made up within one week of the missed class. Please communicate with
the instructor any of these situations as soon as possible.
Because emphasis will be placed by the instructor on giving ample notice for all exams
and major assignments in this course, no test re-takes will be available unless granted
under extreme circumstances.
Computer Use
Laptop computers, phones, ipads, and other electronic devices are to be used only with
permission. Students found using them without permission will be asked to turn them in
to the teacher at the beginning of each class, where they will remain until the end of the
school day. A full set of laptop computers is available for students to use when needed,
for example during lab exercises, research based assignments, and for preparing for
presentations. Lusher policy is that personal electronic equipment is not to be used during
the school day.
Honor Code
Students are expected to adhere to Lusher School’s Project Pride and Core Values, as
expressed above. Honesty, integrity, and mutual respect are necessary for true learning.
Lusher’s mission is to foster a community of trust that will enhance student achievement.
Students who accept responsibility for creating a climate of academic integrity reap
lifelong benefits. Those who are in violation of the honor code can be subject to various
disciplinary actions.
Lusher Charter School’s Honor Code is as follows:
1. On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this
assignment/assessment.
2. I will not lie, cheat, plagiarize, or steal in my academic endeavors, nor will I
accept the actions of those who do.
3. I will conduct myself responsibly and honorably in all my activities as a member
for the Lusher Charter School community.
Schedule (Tentative)
The following page provides an outline of schedule units and topics of study. As the goal
of the course is to gain mastery of the environmental science subject materials, the course
schedule is subject to change based on the progress of learning and contingencies that
may arise.
Quarter
Unit
Lecture and Discussion Topics
1st
Introduction to
Environmental
Science
Interdisciplinary nature of Env. Science
Economic approaches to the environment
Process of creating Environmental Policy
1st
Climate
Change and
Atmospheric
Science
Earth’s
Systems and
Resources
Weather and climate, atmospheric circulation
Stratospheric ozone and global warming
Sources of air pollution
Relevant legislation
Geologic time
Plate tectonics
Soil and weathering systems
2nd
Energy
Resources and
Consumption
2nd
The Human
Population
3rd
Community
Ecology
3rd
Biodiversity
and Population
Ecology
3rd
Sustainable
Land and
Water Use
4th
Waste and
Toxicity
4th
Aquatic
Systems and
Pollution
4th
Sustainable
Solutions to
Climate
Change
Review energy conversions and how electricity
is created from energy sources
Historic, current, and future energy use
Compare fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric,
and renewable energy sources
Human population history
Distribution, fertility rates, growth rates, and
the demographic transition
Population pyramids
National policies and strategies for
sustainability
Energy flow through an ecosystem
Ecosystem structure and species interactions
Community structure and ecological succession
Biogeochemical cycles
Natural selection and evolution
Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Soil conservation and sustainable agriculture
Integrated pest management
Llocal issues of conservation
Comparing urbanization and sprawl
Analyzing current methods of management for
public and protected areas
Preservation, remediation, mitigation, and
restoration
Treatment of waste and hazardous materials
Cost-benefit analyses of econ. and health
impacts
Relevant legislation
Water circulation and use
Surface and groundwater issues
Eutrophication and the dead zone
Sources of water pollution
Relevant legislation
Maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem
services in the face of global change
Strategies for sustainable development
1st-2nd
Labs &
Activities
Intro to site
analysis,
Eco- footprint
assessment
Coriolis effect
simulation,
Greenhouse
models
Topography,
Plate tectonics,
Soil analysis
Text Ch
Solar absorption
and
technologies,
Biofuels
extraction
Cemetery
demography,
Monarch
tagging and data
analysis
19-21
Plant growth
lab,
Compost study
4-7
Quadrat
sampling and
species
identification,
Ag. Fieldtrip
Site analysis,
Local issues in
land use,
City planning
project
Bioassay
9-11
Water quality
testing-city
water and in
field
15-16
Sustainable
school project
23
1-3, 23
17-18
7, and
supp.
materials
8, and
supp.
materials
12-13
14, 22