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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