Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
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