Download AP Environmental Science

AP Environmental Science
Course Syllabus
Deer Creek High School—Mrs. Kaytlyn Goodwin—Room F118
Course Description: Emphasis is placed on a variety of natural science fields
(e.g.
environmental science, ecology, environmental studies, geology, chemistry, geography)
and several social science disciplines (e.g. economics, politics, ethics). These concepts and
principles are what govern the functioning of natural systems and are needed to develop
potential solutions to the inevitable natural resources and environmental problems created
by the ever-expanding human population. The course is formatted as an inquiry style
lecture and lab. Inquiry encourages students to participate and collaborate with peers in
meaningful ways, which promotes environmental science literacy. This will better prepare
students to make decisions about issues that impact the environment. Due to the rigorous
nature of this course, as a college level credit, students will be expected to perform work
outside of class, including reading the textbook, analyzing other reading material,
designing experiments, and collecting data.
Teacher Schedule: 1st Hour – Planning
2nd Hour – Pre-AP Biology
3rd Hour – Pre-AP Biology
LUNCH – B Lunch 11:45-12:15
4th Hour – Environmental Science
5th Hour – AP Environmental Science
6th Hour – Environmental Science
7th Hour – Pre-AP Biology
Teacher Website: My teacher website will contain a testing calendar, class notes,
assignments and other Internet resources. Please make sure to check it frequently. My
teacher website can be found by going to the HS website and clicking on my name found
under the faculty tab. Also, please sign up to receive my Remind. Remind is a text
messaging/email notification system that will be used to send out important messages
throughout the school year. Please see my teacher website under class paperwork for
details. If you have questions please contact me at [email protected]
Student Expectations:
1. Be respectful of everyone and everything. Have a positive attitude.
2. Be prepared to listen, learn, and participate constructively everyday. Also, being
prepared requires you to bring your notebook, pen/pencils (blue or black ink),
paper, and assignments.
3. Be responsible. Come to class on time!
4. No food is allowed. You may have a drink as long as there is a screw on lid, if
not you have to dump it in the sink and throw the cup away.
5. Feel free to bring your own electronic devices to class. However, the use of
electronic devices should be for educational purposes only and will be confiscated if
used for texting, gaming etc…
Book Information: Living in the Environment, Author: G. Tyler Miller and Scott E.
Spoolman, Publisher: Cengage Learning 2015, Cost: $ $126.00.
Since this is an inquiry-based class, you should expect your student to be reading at
home. This book will be available digitally and will not be checked out as a hard copy
unless a student does not have access to a digital book.
Class Materials: 2” size 3 ring binder with pockets
Section Dividers
Spiral notebook with quad ruled (graph) paper**
Loose leaf paper
Writing utensils (pencils preferred)
**plastic covers would work best (office depot or staples are the best place to find**
these), as this will be your lab notebook, you may also use a composition
book if you prefer
You MUST bring your binder to class each day. This binder must be dedicated solely to AP
Environmental Science. It should contain your syllabus, class notes, lab notebook,
homework assignments and quizzes.
Grading Procedures: There are 4 categories in our class. The computer calculates
your grade based on the following weight:
1. Daily Assignments – 25%
2. Labs – 30%
3. Regular Exams – 35%
4. Semester Exam – 10%
Assignments: (25%) will be taken on a regular basis. This includes in-class work
as well as homework. Assignments will usually be problems/questions, and
classroom discussions pertaining to the material we are covering. Students must
actively participate in classroom discussions to receive full points. Assignments
are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise stated. No homework will
be assigned during Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break or Spring Break
(Board policy IKB).
Labs: (30%) will include formal and informal lab reports as well as student notes.
Formal and informal lab reports will be prepared at the conclusion of most lab
experiences. Cooperation and participation are critical to a lab group’s success, so
you must fully participate in your group to receive full credit. Each member of the
group will turn in his/her own work. Your answers to lab questions should
NEVER duplicate those of other group members (see Student Handbook under
Academic Honor Code). Remember that you alone are ultimately responsible for
your grade in lab. Safety procedures will be strictly enforced. Some of the
equipment we will be using is quite valuable and must be treated accordingly.
Irresponsible behavior will result in a zero on lab. Laboratory experiences are a
privilege and repeat offenses will result in alternative assignments (these will not be
as fun as lab activities). See your laboratory safety contract for all laboratory
expectations.
Regular Exams: (35%) will include scheduled content exams and quizzes. You
will be given at least four days notice for these regular exams. I also reserve the
right to administer a pop quiz at any time to determine the current mastery level of
the class, so be sure you are reading the assigned textbook material.
Semester Exam: (10%) will be comprehensive. Your cumulative semester
grade will be calculated by dividing the total points you have earned by the total
points possible and multiplying by 100 to obtain a percentage. A student may be
exempt from his/her semester exam if he/she meets certain criteria as outlined in
the Student Handbook (p. 20). Per district policy, the final semester grade is
calculated using the cumulative semester grade as 90% of the semester grade and
the grade earned on the comprehensive semester examination as the remaining
10%.
Extra Credit: Maximum of 50 points/semester. Will be given at the teacher’s
discretion and will not be given individually to any one student. A list of
opportunities will be provided to you at the beginning of each semester. All extra
credit assignments are due on/before December 1, 2015 for the fall
semester, and on/before April 12, 2016 for the spring semester. Do not rely on
extra credit to recover your grade.
Students: Your parents will be able to check your grades online this semester at any
time. My grading will be kept up to date. Make sure your assignments are kept up (see
late work policy).
Deer Creek High School Grading Scale:
A = 100-89.5
B=89.4-79.5
C=79.4-69.5
D=69.4-59.5
F=59.4 and below
Assignment Policy and Procedures: All assignments are to be turned in during the
first five minutes of class, unless you are tardy. After that they are considered late. All
assignments should be in pencil or blue/black ink. Illegible assignments may not be
graded. I DO NOT accept messy work. All assignments will need to be identified by your
name (first and last), hour and date. Students have five school days to claim NO NAME
paper, which will be recorded as a zero. At the end of the five days, the assignment will
be thrown in the trash.
Late Work Policy: Students are expected to turn in their work on time; if not, they
must turn in a yellow late work form on the expected due date. Late work will be
deducted 30% and then graded. Late work will be accepted for all assignments until
the content is tested for, but not labs or exams. Please read your student handbook
concerning make up work, school absences, medical absences and family emergencies.
Projects that are assigned at least one week in advance will not be accepted late. Projects
must be turned in by the due date to receive credit.
Make-up Work Policy: LAB SCIENCE IS HARD TO MAKE UP!!!!!!!
If you know you are going to be gone you will need to get your work before your
absence. This includes school events. If you know you have a deadline for an assignment
the day you will be gone for a school activity, the assignment is still due that day (you will
need to schedule a time with me BEFORE your absence to turn it in, or present), failure to
do so will result in a zero on the assignment. For absences in which you did not expect to
be gone, you will need to request all make up work on the day you return. Work due to
excused absences must be made up within two (2) school days for the first day of
absence and one (1) day for each subsequent day. Missed labs or tests will require you to
come in after/before school or at lunch, but you MUST schedule a time with me. As
stated above, exams are announced several days in advance. If you miss class the day
before an exam and return on the exam day, YOU WILL TAKE THE EXAM ON THAT DAY
UNLESS OTHER ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE. If you have an exam on the day of a
school activity you will need to schedule a time to take the exam before you leave on the
activity.
Academic Dishonesty Policy: Students are expected to do their own work. Students
who cheat on any work in class will be referred to the office (see student handbook for
disciplinary actions), given a zero on the assignment and parents will be notified. When
turning in labs, students can work together to perform the experiment and collect data in
class, but are expected to put the entire laboratory report, calculations or analysis
questions in their own words. Students are encouraged to collaborate with each other on
assignments, but are expected to put their answers in their own words.
Classroom Pet Policy: As you have probably noticed, we have classroom pets. This is
a privilege, as most classrooms do not have live animals on display for student/parent
enjoyment. The animals in Mrs. Goodwin’s room are extra special and should be treated
with respect. During your time in room F118, you will have the pleasure of viewing both a
Boa constrictor or “red tailed” boa named Abbi, and a Morelia viridis or green tree python
named Eli.
1. Students are not allowed to handle the animals without Mrs. Goodwin present.
2. Students should under no circumstances tap on the enclosures.
3. Students should always wash their hands before and after contact with animals.
4. Students are not allowed to open enclosures or remove animals from enclosures.
5. Students should never tamper with any component of the animal enclosures.
Violation of these rules will result in immediate consequences. 1st offense: detention with
Mrs. Goodwin, 2nd offense: Referral
1st Semester
Course Outline:
Unit 1:
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Ecosystem Diversity
o Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services
Ecosystem Structure
o Biological populations and communities; ecological niches;
interactions among species; keystone species; species diversity and
edge effects; major terrestrial and aquatic biomes
Energy Flow
o Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic
levels; ecological pyramids
Population Biology Concepts
o Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies;
survivorship
Unit 2:
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Unit 3:
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Unit 4:
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Earth Science Concepts
o Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism;
seasons; solar intensity and latitude The Atmosphere
o Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric
circulation and the Coriolis Effect; atmosphere–ocean interactions;
ENSO) Global Water Resources and Use
o Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial,
and domestic use; surface and groundwater issues; global
problems; conservation
Soil and Soil Dynamics
o Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical
properties; main soil types; erosion and other soil problems; soil
conservation
Stratospheric Ozone
o Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes of
ozone depletion; effects of ozone depletion; strategies for reducing
ozone depletion; relevant laws and treaties
Global Warming
o Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and
consequences of global warming; reducing climate change; relevant
laws and treaties
Loss of Biodiversity o Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered
and extinct species
o Maintenance through conservation
o Relevant laws and treaties o Management/Conservation Strategies
Human population dynamics
o Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates
and doubling times; demographic transition; age-structure diagrams
Energy Conservation
o Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass
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transit
Population size
o Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies
Economic Impacts
o Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability
Impacts of population growth
o Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction
2nd Semester
Unit 5:
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Pollution Types
o 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
o Noise pollution
 Sources; effects; control measures
o Water pollution
 Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication;
ground- water pollution; maintaining water quality; water
purification; sewage treatment/septic systems; Clean Water Act
and other relevant laws o Solid waste
 Types; disposal; reduction
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Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
o Hazards to human health  Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; doseresponse relationships; air pollutants; smoking and other risks
o Hazardous chemicals in the environment  Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous
waste; cleanup of contaminated sites; biomagnification;
relevant laws
Economic Impacts
o Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability
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Unit 6:
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Land and Water Use
o Agriculture
 Feeding a growing population
 Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture;
Green Revolution; genetic engineering and crop
production; deforestation; irrigation; sustainable
agriculture
 Controlling pests
 Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use;
integrated pest management; relevant laws
o Forestry
Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest
management; national forests
Rangelands
 Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland
management; federal rangelands
Mining
 Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws
and treaties
Fishing
 Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and
treaties
Other Land Use
 Urban land development  Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization
 Transportation infrastructure
 Federal highway system; canals and channels; roadless
areas; ecosystem impacts
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Unit 7:
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Energy Resources and Consumption
o Energy Concepts
 Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics
 Present global energy use  Future energy needs o Energy Conservation
 Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass
transit
o Renewable Energy
 Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind
energy; small-scale hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy;
geothermal; environmental advantages/disadvantages
o 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
o 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
o Hydroelectric Power
 Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts
Return to Mrs. Goodwin
I,
_______________________ have read this syllabus
carefully and understand what is expected of me by Ms.
Goodwin. It is my intention to do my best to follow these
rules and policies in order that Mrs. Goodwin’s class run
efficiently and learning may occur.
(please print)
X ___________________________
I, (please print)_______________________ the parent/guardian of
the above student, have read and understand the policies of
this syllabus and will do my part in aiding Mrs. Goodwin in the
education of my child.
X____________________________
Parent/Guardian E-mail: ______________________
Parent/Guardian Phone: ______________________
Comments (anything special I might need to know about your
child?):