Download MAJOR THEMES IN AP-ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE I

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SYLLABUS / 2016-2017
Cypress Lake High School/Ms. Chaves-Nieves
Textbook: Living in the Environment: Concepts, Connections, and Solutions (16ed.) G. Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman. Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. 2011.
MAJOR THEMES IN AP-ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
I- SCIENCE AS A PROCESS
II-ENERGY CONVERSIONS UNDERLIE ALL ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES
III-THE EARTH ITSELF IS ONE INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM
IV-HUMANS ALTER NATURAL SYSTEMS
V-ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS HAVE CULTURAL & SOCIAL CONTEXT
VI-HUMAN SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON DEVELOPING PRACTICES THAT WILL ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS
AP EXAM
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College Board AP Environmental Science Exam is on MAY 1st, 2017.
BEHAVIOR
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All school & district rules apply in the classroom
Cell phones MUST be put away during class. IF YOU HAVE YOUR CELL PHONE OUT, YOU WILL RECEIVE A DETENTION. Failure to comply with my classroom cell phone policy will
eventually result in a REFERRAL TO STUDENT SERVICES.
No cheating: Any self-aids not specifically designated as permissible by the classroom teacher or the appearance of giving or receiving help during a quiz, test, or exam will
result in an AUTOMATIC FAILURE FOR THAT PARTICULAR ASSIGNMENT OR TEST.
GRADING
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Student is responsible for ALL missed classwork, laboratories, & assessments. The student must inform & discuss all missing work with the teacher in order to determine
possibility of make-up work.
Homework assignments can be reading assignments, worksheets, review questions, take-home activities, or unfinished class work. Late homework assignments will be reduced
50% per day.
Make-up work is to be discussed with the teacher. Make-up work may include alternative assignments, re-taking assessments, or both. Remember: it is not possible to do
laboratory make-ups after an absence (you will have to do an alternative assignment or quiz to substitute for missing lab).
Assignments/Classwork/Required Materials-20%, Laboratories/Required Materials-20%, Tests-40%, Quizzes-20%
Fifty percent (50%) per day will be deducted from late assignments, classwork, and laboratory write-ups/data questions.
LABS
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Some labs will be complete lab write-ups in an appropriate laboratory/data format and some labs will be simply handouts. Labs will be done in groups of 2, 3, or 4 students.
EACH individual student in these lab groups is responsible for writing his/her own lab report.
It is imperative that students follow the laboratory safety regulations. Labs are an important part of all science classes. Students MUST be present the day of the lab because it
is not possible to do laboratory make-ups after an absence.
MATERIALS
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All students are required to bring to class AT ALL TIMES, the following: textbook, calculator (NO CELL PHONES), paper, notebook, binder with required handouts, pen or pencil,
and agenda. Calculators (NO CELL PHONES) will be used on tests, in class work, for doing problems in the textbook, and in labs.
1ST SEMESTER
TOPIC(S)
Introduction to Environmental Science, Basic Chemistry (Inorganic,
Organic, Biochemistry, and Nuclear Chemistry), Scientific Notation,
Dimensional Analysis
Earth Science concepts, Atmosphere, Climate, Weather, Coriolis effect,
Global waters & Resources use, Soil & Soil dynamics
TEXTBOOK PAGES
Pages 35-42, S2-S9, S31-S45, plus
SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
Ecosystem structure, Biomes & Aquatic life zones, Energy flow, Ecosystem
diversity, Natural ecosystem change, Natural biogeochemical cycles
Population biology concepts, Population ecology, Carrying capacity,
Reproductive strategies, Survivorship
Human population dynamics, Age structure diagrams, Impacts of
population growth, Strategies for sustainability
Agriculture: Feeding a growing population, Sustainable agriculture,
Controlling pests, Forestry, Rangelands
Other Land Use: Urban land development, Transportation infrastructure,
Public & Federal lands, Land Conservation Strategies
Pages 54-55, 140-159, 281-288,
302-305, 315-321, 332, 346-354,
469-470, S46-S52
Pages 5, 8-9, 40, 52-53, 58-97, 101108, 114, 141-185, 224, 239-272,
S27, S53-S58
Pages 52-53, 108-112, S12-S17
Pages 18-19, 125-137, 193-196,
277, 307, 440-448, 533-534,616618
Page 193, 215-233, 276-309, 318,
334-336, 552, 640-642
Pages 208, 227-243, 265-268, 602616, 640-642, S32
LABORATORIES/VIDEOS/CD’S/RESEARCH PAPERS
“The Lorax”
pH/Acids/Bases/Salts
Half-Life / Properties of Radioactive Isotopes
Research Paper on Endangered Species
Owl Pellets
Everglades Restoration
Natural Selection / Predator Prey Population
Research Paper on an Assigned Biome/Life Zone
Ecological Footprint
Estimating Human Populations
Soil Labs: Soil Texture, Porosity and Permeability, Chemical and
Physical Weathering
“Queen of the Sun”
2ND SEMESTER
TOPIC(S)
Other Land Use: Urban land development, Transportation
infrastructure, Public & Federal lands, Land Conservation
Strategies, Mining, Fishing, Global economics, Tragedy of
the Commons, Relevant Laws & Treaties
Energy forms, Units & Conversions, Laws of
Thermodynamics, Energy consumption:
Historical/Present/Future
Fossil fuel resources, Nuclear energy, Hydroelectric power,
Energy conservation, Renewable energy
Air pollution, Noise pollution, Water pollution, Solid and
hazardous waste
Hazards to human health, Hazardous chemicals in the
environment, Economic impacts, Sustainability
Stratospheric ozone, Climate change, Greenhouse gases,
Loss of biodiversity, Endangered & extinct species,
Maintenance through conservation, Relevant Laws &
Treaties
TEXTBOOK PAGES
Pages 208, 227-243, 265-268, 602-616, 640-642,
S32
Pages 5, 16, 40-43, S2
Pages 23-57, 270, 340-430, 599, S59-S70
Pages 69-71, 470-573, 596,
Pages 439-486, 562-584, 611-631
Pages 184-210, 474-527, S74-S77
LABORATORIES/VIDEOS/CD’S/RESEARCH PAPERS
“Tragedy of the Commons”
Research Paper on Alternative Energy Resources
Energy Conservation Exercise
Energy Practice Problems
Toxicology / LC50
Green House Effect
Groundwater Pollution
Water Testing
Research Assignment on Current Environmental Regulations
“Blue Gold”
APES TOPIC OUTLINE
Current info from the AP course College Board website:
I. Earth Systems and Resources (10-15% of AP exam)
A. Earth Science Concepts
(Geologic Time Scale; Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanism; Seasons; Solar
Intensity and Latitude)
B. The Atmosphere
(Composition; Structure; Weather and Climate; Atmospheric Circulation and the
Coriolis Effect; Atmosphere- Ocean Interactions; ENSO)
C. Global Water Resources and Use
(Freshwater/Saltwater; Ocean Circulation; Agricultural, Industrial and Domestic Use;
Surface and Groundwater Issues; Global Problems; Conservation)
D. Soil and Soil Dynamics
(Rock Cycle; Formation; Composition; Physical and Chemical Properties; Main Soil
Types; Erosion and Other Soil Problems; Soil Conservation)
II. The Living World (10-15% of AP exam)
A. Ecosystem Structure
(Biological Populations and Communities; Ecological Niches; Interactions among
Species; Keystone Species; Species Diversity and Edge Effects; Major Terrestrial and
Aquatic Biomes)
B. Energy Flow
(Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration; Food Webs and Trophic Levels; Ecological
Pyramids)
C. Ecosystem Diversity
(Biodiversity; Natural Selection; Evolution; Ecosystem Services)
D. Natural Ecosystem Change
(Climate Shifts, Species Movement; Ecological Succession)
E. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
(Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Water, Conservation of Matter)
III. Population (10-15% of AP exam)
A. Population Biology Concepts
(Population Ecology; Carrying Capacity; Reproductive Strategies; Survivorship)
B. Human Population
1. Human Population Dynamics
(Historical Population Sizes; Distribution; Fertility Rates; Growth Rates and Doubling
Times; Demographic Transition; Age-Structure Diagrams)
2. Population Size
(Strategies for Sustainability; Case Studies; National Policies)
3. Impacts of Population Growth
(Hunger; Disease; Economic Effects; Resource Use; Habitat Destruction)
IV. Land and Water Use (10-15% of AP exam)
A. Agriculture
1. Feeding a Growing Population
(Human Nutritional Requirements; Types of Agriculture; Green Revolution; Genetic
Engineering and Crop Production; Deforestation; Irrigation; Sustainable Agriculture)
2. Controlling Pests
(Types of Pesticides; Costs and Benefits of Pesticide Use; Integrated Pest
Management; Relevant Laws)
B. Forestry
(Tree Plantations; Old Growth Forests ; Forest Fires; Forest Management; National
Forests)
E. Mining
(Mineral Formation; Extraction; Global Reserves; Relevant Laws and Treaties)
F. Fishing
(Fishing Techniques; Overfishing; Aquaculture; Relevant Laws and Treaties)
G. Global Economics
(Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; Relevant Laws and Treaties)
V. Energy Resources and Consumption (10-15% of AP exam)
A. Energy Concepts
(Energy Forms; Power; Units; Conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics)
B. Energy Consumption
1. History
(Industrial Revolution, Exponential Growth, Energy Crisis)
2. Present Global Energy Use
3. Future Energy Needs
C. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
(Formation of Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas; Extraction/Purification Methods; World
Reserves and Global Demand; Synfuels; Environmental Advantages/Disadvantages of
Sources)
D. Nuclear Energy
(Nuclear Fission Process; Nuclear Fuel; Electricity Production; Nuclear Reactor Types;
Environmental Advantages/Disadvantages; Safety Issues; Radiation and Human
Health; Radioactive Wastes; Nuclear Fusion)
E. Hydroelectric Power
(Dams; Flood Control; Salmon; Silting; Other Impacts)
F. Energy Conservation
(Energy Efficiency; CAFÉ standards; Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Mass Transit)
G. Renewable Energy
(Solar Energy; Solar Electricity; Hydrogen Fuel Cells; Biomass; Wind Energy; Small
Scale Hydroelectric; Ocean Waves and Tidal Energy; Geothermal; Environmental
Advantages/Disadvantages)
VI. Pollution (25-30% of AP exam)
A. Pollution Types
1. Air Pollution
(Sources - Primary and Secondary; Major air pollutants; Measurement Units; Smog;
Acid Deposition - Causes, Effects, Heat Islands and Temperature Inversions; Indoor
Air Pollution; Remediation and Reduction Strategies; Clean Air Act and Other
Relevant Laws)
2. Noise Pollution
(Sources; Effects; Control Measures)
3. Water Pollution
(Types; Sources, Causes and Effects; Cultural Eutrophication; Groundwater Pollution;
Maintaining Water Quality; Water Purification; Sewage Treatment/Septic Systems;
Clean Water Act and Other Relevant Laws)
4. Solid Waste (Types; Disposal; Reduction)
B. Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
1. Hazards to Human Health
(Environmental Risk Analysis; Acute and Chronic Effects; Dose-Response
Relationships; Air Pollutants; Smoking, and Other Risks)
2. Hazardous Chemicals in the Environment
(Types of Hazardous Waste; Treatment/Disposal of Hazardous Waste; Clean-up of
Contaminated Sites; Biomagnification; Relevant Laws)
C. Rangelands
(Overgrazing; Deforestation; Desertification; Rangeland Management; Federal
Rangelands)
D. Other Land Use
1. Urban Land Development
(Planned Development; Suburban Sprawl; Urbanization)
2. Transportation Infrastructure
(Federal Highway System, Canals and Channels, Roadless Areas, Ecosystems
Impacts)
3. Public and Federal Lands
(Management; Wilderness Areas; National Parks; Wildlife Refuges; Forests; Wetlands)
4. Land Conservation Options
(Preservation; Remediation; Mitigation; Restoration; Adaptation)
5. Sustainable Land-Use Strategies
C. Economic Impacts (Cost-Benefit Analysis, Externalities; Marginal Costs;
Sustainability)
VII. Global Change (10-15% of AP exam)
A. Stratospheric Ozone
(Formation of Stratospheric Ozone; Ultraviolet Radiation; Causes of Ozone Depletion;
Effects of Ozone Depletion; Strategies for Reducing Ozone Depletion; Relevant Laws
and Treaties)
B. Global Warming
(Greenhouse Gases and the Greenhouse Effect; Impacts and Consequences of Global
Warming; Reducing Climate Change; Relevant Laws and Treaties)
C. Loss of Biodiversity
1. Habitat Loss; Overuse; Pollution; Introduced Species; Endangered and Extinct
Species
2. Maintenance through Conservation
3. Relevant Laws and Treaties
CONTACT INFORMATION
AIXA CHAVES-NIEVES
SCIENCE TEACHER
CYPRESS LAKE HIGH SCHOOL
RM W251
239.481.2233
[email protected]