Download The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to

AP Environmental Science
Michael Zito
[email protected]
Yorktown High School
703-228-5378
Course Overview
The goal of AP Environmental Science 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
and/or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of
topics from different areas of study. The curriculum draws upon various scientific disciplines
including:
 Earth Systems and Resources
 The Living World
 Population Dynamics
 Land and Water Use
 Energy Resources and Consumption
 Pollution
 Global Change
In addition the course will provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and
methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world including:
 Analyzing and interpreting information and experimental data, including mathematical
calculations.
 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.
 A laboratory and/or field investigation component. A minimum of one class period per
week will be spent engaged in laboratory and/or field work.
The following themes will be introduced and revisited throughout the course as they represent
unifying themes in the study of environmental science:
1. Science is a process.
 Science is a method of learning more about the world. .Science constantly changes the
way we understand the world.
2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
 Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere.
 As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable.
3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
 Natural systems change over time and space.
 Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances
4. Humans alter natural systems.
 Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years
 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.
 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.
Course Structure and Prerequisites
Students enrolling in AP Environmental Science must have completed course work in either
Biology OR Earth Science as well as a course in Introductory Chemistry. The class meets 90
minutes a day, 5 days a week. This time frame provides ample time to investigate environmental
topics in depth using a variety of methodologies including lecture, lab and field activities, video
with pre- and post-viewing activities, primary source readings with seminar style discussion,
simulations and case studies.
Textbooks
Environmental Science: The Science Behind the Stories (3rd Ed), Withgott and Brennan
Keeping Things Whole: Readings in Environmental Science, The Great Books Foundation
Current Events
Environmental science is a rapidly changing field; there are daily news reports and scientific
findings adding to our collective knowledge. Over the course of the year you will be asked to
read and comment on relevant articles from sources listed on the YHS APES Wiki.
General scope and sequence for the course:
Unit
Month
Topic
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May-June
Introduction: Themes, economics, ethics and policy
Populations: Animal, plant and human
Water: Aquatic ecosystems, water resources and pollution
Biodiversity and land management
Air: Atmosphere, climate, biomes and pollution
Geological processes, Mining, Soil and agriculture
Energy: Renewable and non-renewable
Toxicology, Risk, Pesticides and Waste
Sustainable Solutions and Post Exam Projects
Text
Chapters
1, 6, 7
3,8
2, 5, 15, 16
3, 4, 11, 12
17, 18
2, 9, 10, 23
19, 20, 21
14, 10, 22
13, 24
Assessment
Student grades reflect student achievement and not student behavior. Students receive an exam
grade and a lab grade both of which carry the extra AP quality point. There is a cumulative final
exam at the end of the year which will count for 20% of the final grade if higher than the average
of the 4 quarterly grades or 10% if lower. Seniors with straight A’s will be exempted from the final
exam.
The exam grade is based on 2-3 exams per quarter (60%) , online chapter quizzes (15%), draft
free response questions (FRQs) (10%) and case study/simulation/video/reading discussions
(15%). Exams consist of multiple choice questions (60%) and a FRQ (40%). Students will be
given access to 3-5 relevant FRQs at the beginning of each unit. Self graded drafts of each free
response will be turned in the day of the exam. One of those questions will be rewritten in class
as the free response on the exam.
The lab grade is based on laboratory reports and mathematical analysis questions. Lab reports
often require mathematical analysis of data, graphing and written conclusions and/or answers to
analysis questions.
Late work Policy
Any assignment not attempted will be scored as a zero. Online quizzes are open book and may
be attempted as many as 5 times. When making multiple attempts each item is scored as
100%/(# choices – 1) to prevent random guessing. Quizzes completed after the Unit Exam date
will receive 50% credit. Draft FRQs turned in after the day of the Unit Exam will receive 50%
credit. Late simulation, video and discussion preparation questions are not accepted for credit
and receive a zero. Late lab assignments will be accepted for full credit up until scored
assignments are returned. Once scored assignments are returned 50% credit will be awarded for
work if that assignment is attempted and turned in.
APS Grading Scale (Quarterly grades will round up when the percentage is .5 or higher.)
APS GRADING SCALE
Letter Grade
Percentages
Quality Points
AP & IB
Quality Points
A
90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100
4.0
5.0
B+
87, 88, 89
3.5
4.5
B
80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86
3.0
4.0
C+
77, 78, 79
2.5
3.5
C
70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76
2.0
3.0
D+
67, 68, 69
1.5
2.5
D
60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66
1.0
2.0
E
0-59
0.0
0.0