Download APES IBESS SYLLABUS 2016

AP Environmental Science /IB Environmental Systems and Societies
At Central Academy
DMACC Credit Given
Introduction:
IB/AP Environmental Science is a rigorous, inter-disciplinary course focusing on the application
of scientific concepts and principals to the understanding and methodologies regarding solution
of environmental problems and issues. An equivalent to a college-level class, this course
includes lecture, laboratory and field components through which students will learn about
environmental issues while developing and applying critical thinking, problem solving and
communication skills. Students can sit for the AP exam, the IB exam or both. This course
receives dual credit through DMACC.
Goal:
The goal of this AP Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific skills
needed to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze causes
for and risks associated with natural and human-made environmental problems, and to examine
the alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them.
Units and Lab Procedures:
I: Earth Systems and Resources
Unit 1: Intro to Geology –
A. Earth Science Concepts
(Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity)
B. The Atmosphere
(Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect;
atmosphere–ocean interactions; ENSO)
Unit 2: Geologic Resources –
A. Global Water Resources and Use
(Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use; surface and
groundwater issues; global problems; conservation)
B. Soil and Soil Dynamics
(Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties)
II: The Living World
Unit 3: Ecosystem Dynamics –
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
Unit 4: Population and Impacts –
A. Population Biology Concepts
(Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship)
B. Human population dynamics
(Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling times;
demographic transition; age-structure diagrams)
C. Population size
(Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies)
D. Impacts of population growth
(Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction)
IV: Land and Water Use
Unit 5: Land Use and Management:
B. Forestry
(Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests)
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; ecosystem impacts)
3. Public and federal lands
(Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests; wetlands)
4. Land conservation options
(Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration)
5. Sustainable land-use strategies
Unit 6: Natural Economics –
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; laws)
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
Unit 7: Energy Resources –
A. Energy Concepts
(Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermo dynamics)
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; CAFE 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
Unit 8: Pollution Types –
A. Pollution Types
1. Air pollution
(Sources—primary and secondary; major air pollutants; measurement units; smog; acid
deposition—causes and 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)
Unit 9: Hazards and Impacts on the Environment –
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; cleanup of contaminated
sites; biomagnification; relevant laws)
C. Economic Impacts
(Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability)
VII: Global Change
Unit 10: Global Atmospheric Interactions –
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
Earning College/University Credit
 AP Exam: Students are expected to take the AP Exam in May 2014. This test is the driving
force for the curriculum taught throughout the year.
 Dual Enrollment: Students can also earn college credit through dual enrollment. Dual credit will
be offered through Des Moines Area Community College. It is important to sign up for this credit
AP Environmental Science /IB Environmental Systems and Societies
At Central Academy
DMACC Credit Given
CONDUCT:
Courtesy and respect, first, last, and always! (The main RULE!!)
CLASSROOM REQUIREMENTS:
Students must be present in class with the following:
1. WRITING UTENSILS to include paper, pens, and pencils. Be cautious of water spills and ink when
in laboratory.
2. A THREE-RING BINDER (Required) with loose leaf paper to be used for keeping assignments,
class and reading notes, laboratory results and demonstration notes. This will be
referred to as a JOURNAL
3. SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR (Required) no calculator allowed on AP exam
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
The grade in this course will be a professional judgment of what the student has mastered from
what has been presented in the course. Each of the following components will be assigned a point value.
The judgment will be based upon the following:
1. EXAMS: Exams will follow each unit of covered material. All exams will be announced well
ahead of their administration by a unit schedule. Exams could be composed of multiple choice, short
answer, problems, and essay questions. Exams will usually be 50-100 points each.
2. JOURNAL: Organization is ESSENTIAL for success in this class. It also leads to more efficient use
of time. We will require students to keep a Journal for each of the units. This Journal will serve as a:
 log of discussions in class notes and assigned reading notes
 assigned unit problems and review questions (homework)
 personal observations and feelings about topics (for our eyes only)
 laboratory data, results, and write-up
Journals will be collected and assessed periodically. Usually these will be done at the end of a unit.
Materials must be saved each semester.
3. QUIZZES: Quizzes might be given over assigned and discussed material. These quizzes will be
announced by the unit schedule. Quizzes will be worth 10-25 points.
4. HOMEWORK: All students are expected to do homework. This is the “Practice” required to learn a
new skill. A discussion will take place after the first unit as to how homework will be handled for the rest
of the year.
5. LABORATORY: Laboratories will be an integral part of this course. Students are expected to
follow the basic laboratory write up in finishing the laboratory. Some laboratories will be graded as part
of the Journal while other laboratories will be graded on their own. The student will be made aware of
the method of grading. Individual laboratories scoring will vary.
Safety is an integral part of laboratory behavior. We will establish some safety rules to follow in lab.
These rules must be strictly adhered to when in the lab. A Safety Contract will be signed by each student
and one of their parents and kept on file. The student will be provided another copy of this contract to
keep with their records. Safety goggles must be worn (protecting the eyes) whenever one is in the lab
area. This is a state law by Iowa Code. Goggles will be provided for all students. Safety goggles must
completely cover the eyes and be ANSI approved (Z87.1). Check with your instructor BEFORE
purchasing your own goggles to see if they meet safety code.
CLASSROOM POLICY:
We want to inform the student of the following issues concerning the classroom:
1. LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Due dates for assignments will be given on the Unit schedule. We move at
a very fast clip so it is essential that the student keep up with the material. Any assignment ( homework,
labs, problem sets, etc.-not tests) not turned in on the due date (or adjusted date for excused absences,
based on the district policy) may be turned in anytime during the semester until ten days before finals to
earn a maximum of 50% credit. All make up EXAMS must be completed within TEN school days of the
day the exam was given in class. Students have a maximum of 20 school days to makeup the exam. If the
exam is not completed within this timeframe the student will receive a zero for that exam. The instructor
must approve all exceptions.
2. MAKE-UP for absences: A student may miss class on occasion due to particular circumstances.
Unit assignment sheets are provided for each unit to outline the topics, readings, and due dates. It is
expected the student will always look ahead (at least one day) for material that they must be prepared for
in class. The student is expected to be PREPARED for their day of return even if they missed the
previous day. It is the student’s responsibility to check for any material or handouts missed. Making up
work and finding the time to do it is difficult because of the Academy schedule. It is the student’s
responsibility to find the time and arrange approval of the instructor. Make-up exams are arranged with
the instructor and must be completed in a timely fashion.
3. CLASSROOM and LABORATORY BEHAVIOR: We move at a fast pace. It is expected that the
student will be on his/her best behavior in the classroom and laboratory. This behavior includes, but is
not confined to, attendance, initiative, responsibility, and interactions with other students. Inappropriate
behavior could have an impact on a student grade that is on the borderline between two grades.
Inappropriate behavior in the laboratory could impact other students and will not be tolerated. Follow
safety rules at all times. Inappropriate behavior will result in the student being immediately confined to
their seat for the day with appropriate loss of points for the laboratory homework (no makeup allowed).
Repeated inappropriate behavior will be dealt with on an individual basis.
GRADE DETERMINATION:
All work will be assigned points and the student can calculate their grade at any time. It is the
responsibility of the student to maintain complete and accurate records of their grade. We will assign
grades based on the following percentages:
100.0%
85.0%
A
84.99%
75.0%
B
74.99%
65.0%
C
64.99%
55.0%
D
Below 55.0%
F
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The student MUST keep up with the reading material, notes in class, and
most importantly the homework. This class is not like many other classes. New material typically
BUILDS upon the prior learned knowledge. Get your questions asked in class as soon as possible. We
are available outside of class for help if prior arrangements are made. You could also submit a written
question or e-mail any questions. We have provided multiple methods of contacting us for extra help.
Scott Schoneberg
255-2313 (Home Phone) 9am-9pm
[email protected]
School Phone for all teachers 242-7888