Download AP Environmental Science Syllabus

A.P. Environmental Science Syllabus
The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester,
introductory college course in environmental science. The goal of the AP Environmental Science course
is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand
the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural
and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine
alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. The following themes provide a foundation for
the structure of the AP Environmental Science course:
1) Science is a process.
2) Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
3) The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
4) Humans alter natural systems.
5) Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
6) Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
The AP Exam
The AP Environmental Science Exam is three hours long and is divided equally in time between a
multiple-choice section and a free-response section. The multiple-choice section, which constitutes 60
percent of the final grade, consists of 100 multiple-choice questions that are designed to cover the
breadth of the students’ knowledge and understanding of environmental science. The number of
multiple-choice questions taken from each major topic is reflected in the percentage of the course as
designated in the topic outline.
The free response section emphasizes the application of principles in greater depth. Four freeresponse questions are included in this section, which constitutes 40 percent of the final grade: 1 dataset question, 1 document-based question, and 2 synthesis and evaluation questions.
The use of calculators is not allowed on either section of the exam.
The above information is from: AP Environmental Science Teacher’s Guide. Copyright 2003 by the College Entrance
Examination Board. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
Lab and Field Work
Laboratory and Field work is critical for student understanding and mastery of
AP Environmental Science (APES) concepts, and the labs we will perform to learn about different topics
are listed in the syllabus next to the topic. Scientific technical skills that are expected to be mastered are
explained below and noted in the syllabus.
1) The course provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies
required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world and the curriculum draws
upon various scientific disciplines. Focus is on student-designed inquiry labs and rigorous
experiments that draw upon various methodologies in life and earth science. Labs and activities
with a SM denote a lab with a heavy focus on experimental design or scientific methodology.
2) The course includes methods for analyzing and interpreting information and experimental data,
including mathematical calculations. This component is addressed in labs that analyze student
experimental data, as well as real-world data sets, and is denoted by a DS.
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3) Some activities address specific mathematical calculations used in the field of environmental
science, such as population doubling time or energy calculations. Labs with specific
environmental calculations are denoted EC.
4)
Field work is a significant portion of this class, as it is important to actually do environmental
science in the natural environment. If a lab includes a field work component (meaning we do
science outside around campus or on a field trip) a FW is denoted in the syllabus.
5) The course teaches students how to identify and analyze environmental problems, to evaluate
the ecological and human health risks associated with these problems, and to critically examine
various solutions for resolving or preventing them. Case studies and Socratic seminars are
integrated in the units throughout the year to focus on developing these skills.
Grading and Late Work Policies
Grading Policy
Unit Tests 50%
Labs 25%
Quizzes 15%
Homework/Classwork 10%
Unit Tests All unit tests will mimic the AP environmental exam as closely as possible, meaning there
will always be a multiple choice and essay portion, and may contain cumulative questions. Additionally,
each unit test will have a practical lab station, so it is important to understand what is happening in lab
as you may be asked to perform a procedure again on a test. Students will be given a test review before
all tests. If a student fails a test, they have five days to make corrections on the multiple choice portion
of the test to raise their score to a maximum of a 70.
Student Supplies Needed for APES
1) Pens/Pencils – no work in red or pink ink will be accepted
2) Binder (to hold class notes and assignments)
3) Composition notebook – for learning portfolio work
4) Supplies for general class use: _________________________________________________
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Unit 1: Abiotic Factors of the Environment: Rocks, Water, and Climate
August 23-September 9
Major Topic
Intro to
Environmental
Science
Geology
Climate
Climate Variation
Water
Sub topics
geologic time scale,
plate tectonics, earth
quakes, volcanism,
rock cycle
solar intensity and
latitude, weather and
climate, seasons
Ocean circulation,
atmosphere-ocean
interactions
Corresponding
Course Topic
Outline
Section
I. A and D
I. A
I. B and C
freshwater/saltwater, I. C
agricultural,
industrial, domestic
use, conservation,
global problems,
surface/groundwater
issues, water cycle
Reading/Chapter
Associated Lab
Activity/Experience
Intro chapter from Hot, Flat and
Crowded by Friedman
Socratic seminar
Mod 24: Mineral Resources and
Geology pg 261-273
Rock Cycle demo and
activity
Mod 9: Unequal Heating of the
Earth pg 105 – 109
Online climate/solar
intensity/latitude
activity with
climatograms. DS
Mod 10: Air Currents pg 110-116 Aral Sea Disaster DS
Mod 11: Ocean Currents pg 117120
Mod 26: Availability of Water pg
295-310
Water quality
monitoring lab DS,
FW
Mod 27: Human Alteration of
Water Availability pg 302-307
Mod 28: Human Use of Water
Now and in the Future pg 308315
3
Unit 2: Abiotic Factors of the Environment: The Atmosphere and Change
FLIPPED: September 13 - September 27
Major Topic
Sub topics
The Atmosphere
Composition and
structure,
atmospheric
circulation and the
coriolis effect, ENSO
formation of
stratospheric ozone,
UV radiation, causes
of ozone depletion,
effects of ozone
depletion, strategies
for reducing ozone
depletion, relevant
laws
Stratospheric
ozone
Intro to Global
Warming
Global Warming
Corresponding Reading/Chapter
Course Topic
Outline Section
I. B
Mod 9: Unequal Heating of the
Earth pg 105 – 107
VII. A
Mod 49: Stratospheric Ozone
Depletion pg 538 - 541
VII. B
Section from Climate Change
from NWEI
Mod 62: Global Climate Change
and the Greenhouse Effect pg
665-673
Greenhouse gases and VII. B
the greenhouse effect, II. E
impact and
consequences of
global warming,
reducing climate
change, relevant laws
and treaties, carbon
cycle
Mod 63: Evidence of Global
Warming pg 674 – 685
Mod 64: Consequences of
Climate Change pg 686-694
Associated Lab
Activity/Experience
Mini-Lab – The
greenhouse effect DS
Socratic Seminar
Mini-lab: Ocean
Acidification DS
Graphing historic
CO2 levels SM, DS
Carbon
Sequestration in
Texas Trees Lab –
SM, DS
4
Unit 3: Biotic Factors of the Environment – Ecology
FLIPPED: September 29 – October 14
Major Topic
Sub topics
Intro to Ecology
Ecosystem
Structure
Energy Flow
Natural
Ecosystem
Change
Biogeochemical
Cycles
biological population
and communities,
ecological niches,
interaction among
species, ecosystem
services
Photosynthesis and
cellular respiration,
food webs and trophic
levels, ecological
pyramids
Climate shifts, species
movement, ecological
succession. Forestry –
tree plantations, oldgrowth forests, forest
fires and management
Nitrogen, phosphorus,
sulfur cycles,
conservation of
matter
Corresponding Reading/
Course Topic
Chapter
Outline Section
II. A-C
Associated Lab
Activity/Experience
The effects of climate
change on
ecosystems SM, DS
Mini-Lab: Ecosystem
field walk FW
II. A,C
Mod 20: Community
Ecology pg 204-211
II. B
Mod 6: Movement of
energy pg 69-78
Mini lab: Owl Pellet
and biomass lab DS
EC
II. D
Mod 8: Response to
disturbances pg 91-95
Mini-Lab: Forests and
tree growth SM
Mod 21: Community
succession pg. 212 - 216
II. E
Mod 7: The movement of
matter pg 79-90
Inquiry Lab: Nitrogen
Fixation Lab DS, SM,
EC
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Unit 4: Species Diversity
October 18 – October 31
Major Topic
Sub topics
Natural
Selection and
Evolution
Natural Selection and
Evolution
Biodiversity
Loss of
Biodiversity
Biomes
Keystone species,
biodiversity, species
diversity and edge
effects, calculating
biodiversity
Loss of biodiversity,
introduced species,
habitat loss, overuse,
pollution,
endangered/extinct
species, maintenance
through conservation,
relevant laws/treaties
terrestrial and aquatic
biomes
Correspondin
g Course
Topic Outline
Section
II. C
II. A,C
VII.C
Reading/Chapter
Associated Lab
Activity/Experience
Mod 16: Speciation and the
pace of evolution pg 164168
Mod 15: How evolution
creates biodiversity pg 154 163
Mod 14: Biodiversity of
Earth pg 149-154
Mod 60: Causes of declining
biodiversity pg 641-649
Species diversity and
Simpson's index DS,
SM, EC, FW
Mini-lab: Endangered
species activity
Mod 61: Conservation of
biodiversity pg 650 – 658
II.A
Mod 12: Terrestrial biomes
pg 121 - 132
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Unit 5: Population
November 2 –November 16
Major Topic
Sub topics
Population
Biology
Population
ecology, carrying
capacity,
reproductive
strategies,
survivorship
Human Population
– Calculations
Population size
and impacts of
population growth
Corresponding
Course Topic
Outline Section
III. A
III. B 1
Strategies for
sustainability,
case studies,
national policies,
hunger, disease,
economic effects,
resource use,
habitat
destruction
III. B 2,3
Reading/Chapter
Associated Lab
Activity/Experience
Mod 18: Abundance and
distribution of populations
pg 191-195
Mini Lab: Mark and
Recapture population
estimations EC
Mod 19: Population growth
models pg 196-203
Mod 22: Human population
numbers pg 227 – 236
World population
data histograms DS
Mod 23: Economic
development, consumption,
and sustainability pg 237246
Worldwide disease
activity DS
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Unit 6: Energy
November 18 - December 7, January 3-18
Major Topic
Sub topics
Energy concepts,
consumption, and
calculations
Energy forms,
power, units,
conversions, laws
of
thermodynamics,
history of energy
consumption,
industrial
revolution,
exponential
growth, energy
crisis, present
global energy use,
future needs
Fossil fuel
V. C
resources and use,
formation of coal,
oil, and natural
gas,
extraction/purifica
tion methods,
world reserves
and global
demand, synfuels,
environmental
advantages/disad
vantages of
sources
hydroelectric
V. E, G
power, dams,
flood control,
salmon, silting,
other effects
Renewable energy
– solar energy,
solar electricity, H
fuel cells,
Fossil Fuels
Renewable:
Hydroelectric,
wind, solar,
geothermal, and
biomass
Topic Outline
Section
V. A, B
Reading/Chapter
Mod 34: Patterns of energy
use pg 399 – 408
Associated Lab
Activity/Experience
Inquiry Activity Energy Efficient Home
Design Project
Mod 37: Conservation,
efficiency, and renewables pg
433-439
Mod 35: Fossil fuel resources
pg 409-417
Mod 38: Biomass and water
pg 440 – 448
Inquiry lab: Solar flat
plate collector lab FW,
DS
Mod 39: Solar, wind,
geothermal, and hydrogen pg
449-459
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Nuclear
biomass, wind
energy, small
scale
hydroelectric,
ocean waves and
tidal energy,
geothermal,
environmental
advantages and
disadvantages
Nuclear fission
V. D
process, nuclear
fuel, electricity
production,
nuclear reactor
types,
environmental
advantages/disad
vantages, safety
issues, radiation
and human
health, radioactive
wastes, nuclear
fusion
Mod 36: Nuclear Energy
Resources pg 418-425
Nuclear Socratic
Seminar
9
Unit 7: Pollution I
FLIPPED: January 20-Feburary 7
Major Topic
Intro to
Pollution
Water
Pollution
Air Pollution
Indoor Air
Quality and
Noise
Pollution
Sub topics
Topic Outline
Section
Reading/Chapter
Selected articles on fracking
Water pollution types,
sources, causes and
effects, cultural
eutrophication, ground
water pollution,
maintaining water
quality, water
purification, sewage
treatment/septic
systems, Clean Water
Act and relevant laws
Air pollution primary
and secondary sources,
major air pollutants,
measurement units,
smog, acid deposition –
causes and effects, heat
islands and temperature
inversions, remediation
and reduction
strategies, Clean Air Act
and other relevant laws
Indoor air pollution,
noise pollution, sources,
effects, control
measures
VI. A 3
VI. A 1
Mod 41: Wastewater from
humans and livestock pg 483490
Mod 42: Heavy metals and
other chemicals pg 491 – 497
Mod 43: Oil pollution pg 498501
Mod 44: Non chemical water
pollution pg 502-505
Mod 45: Water pollution laws
pg 506 – 509
Mod 46: Major air pollutants
and their sources pg 519-526
Associated Lab
Activity/Experience
Socratic Seminar
Inquiry lab: Bioassay
experiment for acid
rain DS, SM, EC
Air pollution lab –
NOx/Sox, Ozone
testing DS, SM
Mod 47: Photochemical smog
and acid rain pg 527-532
Mod 48: Pollution control
measures pg 533-537
VI. A 1, 2
Mod 50: Indoor air pollution
pg 542-545
Mini lab: Indoor air
quality of the home
DS, SM
Case study: Radon
10
Unit 8: Pollution II
February 9- February 28
Major Topic
Intro to Pollution
Toxicology
Hazardous waste
cleanup and
bioremediation
Toxicology and
hazards to human
health
Risk assessment/
Economic
costs/benefit
analysis
Sub topics
Corresponding Reading/Chapter
Course Topic
Outline Section
VI. B
Chapter from Silent Spring by
Rachel Carson
VI. B2
Mod 54: Hazardous waste
pg 575 – 578
hazardous
chemicals in the
environment,
types of
hazardous waste,
treatment/disposa
l of hazardous
waste, cleanup of
contaminated
sites
biomagnifications,
relevant laws
hazards to human VI. B1
health,
environmental
risk analysis, acute
and chronic
effects, doseresponse
relationships, air
pollutants,
smoking risk
cost-benefit
VI. C
analysis,
externalities,
marginal costs,
sustainability
Mod 56: Human disease
pg 591 – 600
Associated Lab
Activity/Experience
Socratic Seminar
Toxicology and
Disease student
videos
LD-50 Bioassay ab:
SM, DS, EC
Mod 57: Toxicology and
chemical risks pg 601 – 610
Mod 58: Risk analysis pg 612617
Mini lab: Testing toys
for lead SM, EC
11
Unit 9: Sustainability and Land Use For Food
March 2 - March 27
Major Topic
Sub topics
Global
Economics
Globalization, world
bank, relevant laws and
treaties
Fishing
fishing techniques,
IV. F
overfishing,
aquaculture, relevant
laws and treaties,
tragedy of the commons
soil and soil dynamics,
I. D
soil formation and
composition, physical
and chemical properties,
main soil types, erosion
and other soil problems,
soil conservation
Feeding a growing
IV. A
population, human
nutritional
requirements, types of
agriculture, green
revolution, genetic
engineering and crop
production,
deforestation, irrigation,
sustainable agriculture,
controlling pests, types
of pesticides, costs and
benefits of pesticide
use, integrated pest
management, relevant
laws
Soil
Agriculture
Topic Outline
Section
IV. G
Reading/Chapter
Associated Lab
Activity/Experience
Mod 65: Sustainability and
economics pg 703-710
Pg 372 – 373, 381-382
Tragedy of the
commons fishing
simulation DS, EC
Mod 33: Alternatives to industrial
farming pg 374 – 378
Soil Testing Labs
DS,SM,FW
Mod 31: Human nutritional
needs pg 359 – 362
Inquiry Lab: Compost
DS, EC
Mod 32: Modern large-scale
farming methods pg 363-373
Optional Saturday
field trip Austin
Farmer’s Market
12
Unit 10: Sustainability and Other Land Use (aka Land Use II)
March 29 – April 18
Major Topic
Sub topics
Mining
mineral formation,
extraction, global
reserves, relevant laws
and treaties
Solid wastes; disposal,
types, reduction
Solid Waste
Urban land
development
and
transportation
Public and
Federal Lands
Rangelands
urban land
development, planned
development, suburban
sprawl, urbanization,
transportation
infrastructure, federal
highway system, canals
and channels, road less
areas, ecosystem
impacts
public and federal lands,
management,
wilderness areas,
national parks, wildlife
refuges, forests,
wetlands, land
conservation,
preservation,
remediation, mitigation,
restoration, sustainable
land-use strategies
overgrazing,
deforestation,
desertification,
rangeland management,
federal rangelands
Course Topic
Outline
Section
IV. E
Reading/
Chapter
Associated Lab
Activity/Experience
Module 24: Weathering and soil
science pg 282-286
Mining Cookie Lab
DS, SM, EC
VI. A4
Module 52: The three R’s and
composting pg 561-567
Inquiry Lab: Compost
Analysis
IV. D 1,2
Module 53: Landfills and
incineration pg 568-574
Module 30: Land management
practices pg 338-343
IV. D 3,4,5
Module 29: Land use concepts
and classification pg 331-337
IV. C
Module 30: Land management
practices pg 338-343
Lab: Google Earth
Activity and Urban
Sprawl
DS, EC
Forest tree growth
mini-lab
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