Download AP Environmental Science

FORSYTH COUNTY COURSE SYLLABUS
2016-2017
COURSE TITLE:
TEACHER NAME:
ROOM:
1422
AP Environmental Science
Amanda Ostrosky
E-MAIL:
[email protected]
PHONE: 770-781-2264
EXT: 101422
Course Description: This course conforms to College Board topics for the Advanced Placement
Environmental Science Examination. The major themes for this course as indicated by the AP
Environmental Science course guide include Earth systems and resources, the living world, populations,
land and water use, energy resources and consumption, pollution, and global change. Students are
expected to take the AP exam in May. This course requires a rigorous college level lab component and
utilizes a college text.
Standards: Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different
areas of study. Yet there are several major unifying constructs, or themes, that cut across the many
topics included in the study of environmental science. The following themes provide a foundation for the
structure of the AP Environmental Science course.
1. Science is a process.
o Science is a method of learning more about the world.
o Science constantly changes the way we understand the world.
2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
o Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere.
o As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable.
3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
o Natural systems change over time and space.
o Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.
4. Humans alter natural systems.
o Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years.
o Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and
scale of their impact on the environment.
5. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
o Understanding the role of cultural, social and economic factors is vital to the
development of solutions.
6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
o A suitable combination of conservation and development is required.
o Management of common resources is essential.
Learning Resources/Textbook(s): We will be utilizing an online textbook through the
MindTap/Cengage platform that Forsyth County has adopted. You will receive your login code within the
first couple of weeks of class or sooner. Most of your required reading and homework assignments will
be completed on this platform.
Required Assignments: The order and dates that topics are covered may change in order to enhance
the efficiency and effectiveness of the course. Activities are subject to change as well.
Topic/Activities
Duration
Fall Semester
I. Intro to APES
a. Tragedy of Commons Lab
b. Ecological Footprint
c. Lorax vs. Truax
d. Parts Per Million Lab
II. Cyling of Matter/Nutrients & Earth Systems
a. Scientific Method Lab – Soil Salinization
b. Biogeochemical Cycles Project
c. Ecosystems
III. Climate,
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Biomes, & Aquatic Ecosystems
Climatograms
Biome Characteristics
Aquatic Biome Characteristics and Zonation
Flora & Fauna
Climate
IV. Ecology & Biodiversity
a. Case Studies
b. HIPPO
c. Invasive Species Wanted Poster Project
d. Ecosystem Interactions
e. Biodiversity Conservation
2 weeks
3 weeks
4 weeks
4 weeks
V.
Evolution & Populations
weeks
a. Natural Selection & Beetle Morphology Lab
b. Wolf, Moose, & Fir Tree Case Study
c. Human Population Growth
d. Population Dynamics
Spring Semester
VI. Risk & Toxicology
a.
LD50 Lab
b. Case Study on Mercury Levels
c. Infectious Disease
4
3 weeks
VII.
Water & Water Pollution
a. Dam Project
b. Water Conservation
c. Water Treatment
d. Water Laws & Acts
3 weeks
VIII.
Land, Agriculture, & Mining
a. Soil Analysis Lab
b. Soil Conservation
c. Sustainable Agriculture
d. GMOs
e. Mining Practices
f. Mining Pollution
g. Mining Laws & Acts
3 weeks
Topic/Activities
Duration
IX. Air, Air Pollution, & Climate Change
a. Layers of the Atmosphere
b. Acid Rain Lab
c. Air Laws & Acts
d. Climate Change
e. Ozone Depletion
3 weeks
X. Waste & Energy
a. Solid & Hazardous Waste
b. Waste Laws & Acts
c. Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Energy
d. Energy Conversions & Calculations
3 weeks
XI. AP Exam Review
2 weeks
Availability for Extra Help: I am available during IF/Advisement in addition to Tuesday and Friday
mornings between 7:45 and 8:15. I am available other times by appointment. Please let me know ahead
of time that you are coming in so that I can devote my full attention to your needs.
Makeup Work: When students are absent from school, they are responsible for all missed work and
assessments. A student who is absent on the class day immediately before a regularly scheduled
assessment/assignment will be responsible for completing the assessment/assignment on the regularly
scheduled day and time. Students who have been absent more than two consecutive days (including the
assessment day) will be given five (5) school days to make up the assessment and/or other assignments.
This does not include major projects, research papers, tests, etc. where the deadline/date has been
posted in advance. The teacher has the discretion to grant a longer period of time to make up work if
there are extenuating circumstances. Long-term projects must be turned in on the previously scheduled
date. If a student is absent on that day, they must turn in the project the day they return to possibly
receive full credit.
Late daily assignments can be turned in. Assignments turned in late will incur a late
penalty. All late work must be turned in by the unit test. Once that unit test is over, no daily
(formative) assignments will be accepted.
A daily synopsis of class and any handouts given out in class will be posted on ItsLearning. We
will also utilize ItsLearning as a communication resource. Below are the following websites where these
resources can be found:
http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/schools/staff.asp?stID=2279
https://www.itslearning.com
Grading Calculations:
EOC Course Average = 40% (1st Sem. Course Work) + 40% (2nd Sem. Course Work) + 20% EOC
1st & 2nd Semester Course Work = 75% Summative + 25% Formative
Non-EOC Course Average = 50% (1st Sem. Course Work) + 50% (2nd Sem. Course Work)
1st and 2nd Semester Course Work = 75% Summative + 25% Formative
Concept of formative assessment: http://pareonline.net/getvn.asp?v=8&n=9
Grading Policy:
A = 90 – 100
B = 80 – 89
C = 70 – 79
Failing = Below 70
*Formative Assessments include, but are not limited to homework, class work, practice tests, rough drafts, and sections of projects/
research papers/presentations.
*Summative Assessments include, but are not limited to unit tests, final projects, final essays, final research papers, and final
presentations.