Download Principles of Technology 04-05

AP Environmental Science
Welcome to APES!
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary study that integrates ideas from the natural sciences and social
sciences such as economics, politics, and ethics. This course provides students with the scientific principles,
concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. During your
lifetime, important decisions will be made. Both large and small, these decisions will affect you and your
environment. From the food you eat, the cars we drive, the purchases you make, and the chemicals that we put in
our air and water, the answers are not always straight forward. These decisions will affect: the position of your
country in the world; your feelings of who you are on how you relate to “your” world; the quality of life you have.
This class is a lab and field-based course designed to help you learn about your world and to be able to make
decisions on how to use the energy, resources, and the environment. This course is intended to be the equivalent of
a one semester college level ecology course, which is taught over an entire year in high school. Our key in life is to
leave it better than when we came for future generations.
Many topics in environmental science do not lend themselves to short-term memorization of facts. The emphasis of
this course is placed on understanding systems and processes, and your ability to make connections between
various topics. You will be asked to integrate information from a number of contexts into a reasoned analysis,
analogous to a scientist’s approach of devising and implementing solutions to real-world problems. You should be
able to relate just about everything you will learn in this class and how your daily life’s decisions and actions make
you a part of this globalization. There will be a large number of labs and field activities in this class. This means
less class time for instruction making your role as an independent learner most important!
Textbook and class info
Environment – The Science Behind the Stories --- Withgott, Laposata 5th ed
Google Drive, class website/blog (www.sciencecandoit.edublogs.org)
Supplies needed
 3 ring binder with dividers for organization
 One wash cloth or hand towel
 Lab notebook (composition notebook)
 AP Environmental Science Exam Study Guide – Princeton, Barron, Kaplan, …
Required Service Hours
Each Student will be required to log 10 community service hours that pertain to the course work by May 21st.
Of the 10 hours –5 hrs must be related to a campus improvement project(s), the other 5 hrs are flexible meaning
they can be part of a campus improvement project or any off campus event (Earth Day events, Humane Society…)
Grading
--Each six weeks, homework/class work, labs/quizzes, tests, and projects will all count toward their grade.
However, labs will each be worth 2 grades and tests and projects will each be worth 3 grades.
--Students will be given progress notices after 3 weeks of each grading period. Parents, please keep an eye for
them. Those that have a 70 average or below must have their progress report signed by a parent.
No late work will be accepted unless progress report is signed by your parent or guardian.
Late work / Make up work
The class learning comes from predominantly from lab based on hands group work. It is important to have as few
absences as possible.
Any assignment that is turned in after it’s assigned due date will be assessed a late penalty of 30%; therefore, after
one day the max grade will be a 70%. After 2 days, the maximum grade is a 50%. After 5 days, no late work will be
accepted unless a progress report is signed and shall still be deducted 50%. A truant absence will result in an
automatic 30 % deduction for any assignment that was due the day of the absence or assignment that was
performed that day. If the student has an excused or unexcused absence, the student will be allowed a 2-day grace
period for each day they are absent.
Make up Tests and Labs
Must be arranged by the student on the day they arrive back to school. The test/lab (or an assignment to
replace lab) will be made up within 4 school days, after 5 days they will drop to a max grade of a 70 or they
will receive a zero for no test/lab. Some labs cannot be made up due to difficulty or time issues. You may not
be responsible for doing the lab, but you will be responsible for its content and purpose.
Field Trips
There will be multiple field trips this year. Your presence is required as a part of on hands learning as prescribed by
the AP Board. Some occur on Saturdays. You will be given plenty of notice to plan ahead. Some trips may have
fees attached to them (Entry fees, etc.)
West Texas A&M University Department of Environmental Science, WYAM aquaponics system, Amarillo
Zoo, local golf courses, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, The City of Amarillo Landfill, Amarillo wastewater
treatment plant, organic farm…subject to change
Movies
Please be aware that the APES class will view movies and documentaries to present curriculum and events in the
real world context. Some of these movies may be graphic in nature, brief nudity and/or some crude language. If you
have any questions about this, please feel free to contact me.
AP Exam
ALL students are expected to take the AP exam on Monday, May 4, 2015 at 7:30 a.m.
(subject to change)
Student Expectations
 Be present and involved. No more than 5 abs per semester, or there is a possibility of abs failure.
 Complete daily assignments, actively participate in class discussions and labs, and study for quizzes and
tests. Lack of involvement leads to lack of learning.
 Respect and treat myself and other as you would want to be treated.
 Cheating will not be tolerated. When cheating is confirmed, I will take up that assignment and the
student/s will be given a zero as a grade or an alternate assignment. In turn they will be reported to their
house principal.
Consequences for not Meeting Expectations
 Warning
 Lunch Detention/recovery chores
 Office Referral
I am a very forgiving person. If you get an office referral, you must have really pushed your luck.
Print Student Name ___________________________________
Student Signature
Date
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
____
____
Cut on Line and keep
for your information
AP Environmental Science
Jessica Day
Conf. Period: 4th
[email protected] (best way to get in touch with me)
Room 111
Caprock High School
Tutoring: My times are Monday and Thursday at 4:00 pm and lunch by appointment only.
APES Scope and Sequence
st
2nd Semester
1 Semester
Environment, Policy, Ethics, and Economics
Ch 1, 6,7
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Stewardship
History of environmental movement
Global Issue Connections
Tragedy of the commons
Sustainability
Government Policies
Globalization
Cost vs. Benefit
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Human Populations, Toxicology and Human
Health
Ch 8, 14
 Human Population sizes and distribution
 Fertility rates
 Growth rate and Doubling time
 Population Histograms
 Demographic transition
 Global economics
 Toxicology – causes and effects on health
 Exponential Growth
Community and Population Ecology
Ch 3,4,5,11
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Species interactions
Energy flow and pyramids
Biogeochemical cycles
Sustaining biodiversity
Population dynamics / Carrying capacity
Biomagnification
Game management
Invasive species
Climate and Biome Biodiversity
Ch 4,12
Biomes (Land/ Water)
Habitat loss
Land management
Public and Federal lands
Weather and Climatology
Forestry
Relevant laws and treaties
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Water / Water Pollution
Ch5, 15,16
Water Cycle
Surface and Ground water issues
Eutrophication
Conservation
Water ecology
Sewage treatment
Relevant laws and treaties
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Food, Agriculture, and Soil
Ch 9, 10
Forestry, agriculture, and rangeland
Types of pesticides and herbicides
Food production and health
Relevant laws and treaties
Erosion
Soil Conservation
Soil types, formation and composition
Biomagnification
Geology / Mineral Resources
Ch 2,23
Geologic time scale
Plate tectonics and Geography
Rock Cycle
Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Mining
Relevant laws and treaties
Air / Air Pollution / Climate Change
Ch 17,18
Biochemical Cycles
Greenhouse gasses
Acid deposition
Human health risks /
Indoor air quality
Environmental degradation
Ozone Depletion
Relevant laws and treaties
Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy
Ch 19,20,21
Energy forms, units, and conversions
History and Global energy use
Fossil fuel resources and uses
Nuclear energy
Renewable energy
Energy conservation
Economic impacts
Relevant laws and treaties
Waste Management
Ch 22
Solid waste disposal and reduction
Waste reduction ( 5 R’s)
Hazardous chemicals and waste
Environmental hazards
Human health / toxicology
Relevant laws and treaties
APES Labs and Activities
1st Semester
Goals
Environment, Policy, Ethics, and Economics
1.
Tragedy of the Commons
1.
Learn what a common is and how humans can harm it
2.
Global Issue Connections
2.
Demonstrate the interrelationship of all topics
1.
World Populations Lab
2.
Histogram Lab
3.
4.
Too many People Activity
Comparing Populations in China and India
5.
Daphnia – Estimating Populations
6.
Duckweed Population growth
7.
Herbicides and LD50
Populations and Toxicology
1. To view histograms and dynamic histograms of different
countries and interpret them.
2. Practice interpreting histograms
3. To graph population data, interpret population trends and
evaluate the impact of populations on resources
4. To see the different ways the two largest countries in the
world have approached population issues
5. To learn to estimate population size by removal sampling
techniques
6. To monitor over time the increase in duckweed as an
example of exponential growth
7. To determine a true kill proportion
Community and Population Ecology
1.
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4.
Eco-Column
Species Diversity
Owl Pellet Dissection
Endangered/Extinct Species Brochure
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Zone of Tolerance
5.
To study the interrelationship between land and water
Demonstrate the variations in diversity and math involved
To dissect and identify what the owl ate and how many
Research the ESA and justify the importance with
examples
Relate DO and temperature and its effects on a goldfish
6.
Parking Lot Biodiversity lab
6.
Demonstrate the variations in diversity and math involved
Climate and Biome Biodiversity
1.
2.
National Park Brochure
Aquatic Biodiversity and Field Study
3.
4.
Soils Permeability
Weather and Climate Lab
5.
Terrestrial Transect
6.
Nature Field Trip
7.
Hot Spots!
1. Research, design and present information on a NP
2. To test the water at a local pond for chemical
characteristics, and life biodiversity
3. To learn how to calculate the permeability of a soil sample
4. Learn the patterns of weather systems and how geography
effects weather
5. Learn to do transect counts and calculate density
6. Explore a local nature preserve and examine the physical
and chemical characteristics of the location by collecting
samples to be analyzed in the field and back in the lab.
7. Locate a “hotspot” and collect info as to why it is of major
importance
Water / Water Pollution
1.
Water, Water Everywhere
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2.
Water Filter/Sewage Treatment Lab
2.
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Water Chemical Lab
3.
To learn the different water issues occurring around the
world
Learn the step that occur in treatment plants and to
construct their own filter system
To collect samples from around the area and test each for
specific chemicals
APES Labs and Activities
2nd Semester
Goals
Air / Air Pollution
1.
How much is a pound of CO2?
2.
Air Particulates Lab
1.
Pesticide Label Lab
2.
Toxicity of Herbicides Lab
3.
4.
Soils Texture Lab
Soil Chemical Lab
5.
Soil Porosity and Permeability
1.
Earthquake Activity
2.
Rock Cycle and Formation Activity
3.
Geological Timeline
4.
Cookie Mining
Food, Agriculture, and Soil
1. To help create a visual when calculating a carbon budget
and carbon footprint
2. To collect data on indoor and outdoor air particulates and
compare different locations for each
1.
2.
Geology / Mineral Resources
Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy
1.
Solar Panel Lab
2.
How many Kilowatts?
3.
Coal Comparison
1.
Waste Management
Land Fill Field Trip
2.
Build an Indoor Compost Bin
6.
Oil Spill Remediation
3.
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5.
1. To learn how to read seismographs, locate epicenters and
look at temperature gradients in the earth
2. To determine the relative ages of fossils to define the ages
of rocks and understand radioactive decay
3. To scale geological time and put present time into reference
4. To discuss the impact of our use of fossil fuels and how that
use affects the environment
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7. Recycling Plant field trip
To learn the environmental and human effects of some
common household pesticides
To evaluate different herbicides to determine their toxicity
and effect on a plant due to s specified dosage
To learn how to determine the texture of a soil sample
To determine the amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and
Potassium in a sample of soil and decide the best choice of
fertilizers for that sample
To calculate the permeability of soil sample
To calculate the percent efficiency solar panel for
converting a light bulb to solar power electricity
To determine the average use of electricity use by
household appliances and how much money is spent over
time using the current KW rate for a local power provider
To compare and contrast different types of usable coal
using characteristics such as heat output, air pollution and
burn time.
To learn how landfills work, laws and requirements for
landfills
To learn how to build an indoor and an outdoor compost
bin, and learn how they can reuse renewable waste
Learn about major oil spills in history and strategies to
remediate a spill
To understand the scope of recycling in the area, the
volume of saving from a landfill and the economic and
environmental benefits