Download Course Description Text Methods Course Competencies

Advanced Placement Environmental Science 2014-2015 Syllabus
Mrs. Evans
Course Description
The AP Environmental Science course is a full-year course designed to be the equivalent of
a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science. There is also a lab
component with an average of 1 lab/week. The goal of this course is to provide students
with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies to understand the
interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems
both natural and human-made, and to evaluate the risks associated with these problems
and examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.
Text
Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections and Solutions, 16th Edition
Brooks/Cole/Thomson Learning
Methods
Instruction consists of lectures, discussions, debates, demonstrations, and written
Assignments—including research projects, in-class assignments, and homework.
Approximately one period per week is devoted to hands-on laboratory experiences
or fieldwork. All lab and fieldwork requires a written report.
Grading
A
B
C
D
F
90 – 100
80 – 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
below 60
Materials Required
A binder with filler-paper and graph paper is required. These materials are required on a
daily basis. You may also want to get dividers and a pouch to hold your pencils, pens,
colored pencils and ruler.
Course Competencies
1. Demonstrate a working knowledge of lab safety rules and procedures.
2. Apply the steps of the scientific method to laboratory and field.
3. Outline the flow of energy and the cycling of matter within the natural Earth’s system.
4. Explain the relationships among plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanism.
5. Outline the rock cycle and its relationship to soil formation.
6. Construct a food web showing interrelationships among organisms in an ecological
community.
7. Describe and analyze population growth, including the dynamics of human populations.
8. Explain the factors that lead to the endangering of species and the loss of biodiversity.
9. Describe the problems associated with agriculture and food production in today’s world.
10. Identify renewable and nonrenewable resources, including distribution, ownership, use,
and degradation.
11. Discuss the state of the atmosphere in terms of weather, climate, air pollution, ozone,
and greenhouse gases.
12. Analyze the environmental quality of air, soil, and water.
13. Explain how usable energy is generated from fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, and alternative
sources and the tradeoffs associated with their use.
14. Outline the processes involved in water and sewage treatment.
15. Identify the problems associated with the disposal of solid and toxic wastes.
16. Identify global changes and their consequences.
17. Explain environmental problems in relationship to scientific, social, legal, cultural, and
economic factors.
18. Relate course topics to local problems faced by Florida residents
19. Demonstrate an awareness of careers related to environmental science.
20. Discuss the effects of environmental quality on human health.
Course Outline:
Topics
Introduction to APES:
Summer assignments, Scientific Methods,
Lab standards
Environmental problems, their cause and
sustainability, Systems, matter and
energy
Unit 1: Ecology Unit
Ecosystem Structure
Energy Flow
Ecosystem Diversity
Natural Ecosystem Change
Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
Unit 2: Population Dynamics Unit
Population Biology Concepts
Human Population
Unit 3: Water Issues Unit
Global Water Resources and Use
Labs
Ecocolumn labs
Field quadrant lab
Line-transect lab
Primary productivity lab
Natural selection lab
Carrying capacity lab
Mark and recapture lab
Invertebrate stream analysis
Salinization lab
~Days
23
14
Fishing
Water Pollution
Unit 4: Toxicity, Agriculture and
Pesticides Unit
Solid waste
Agriculture
Impacts on the Environment and Human
Health
Unit 5: Atmosphere Issues Unit
The Atmosphere
Air pollution
Stratospheric Ozone
Global Warming
Unit 6: Resources and Energy Unit
Earth Science Concepts
Soil and Soil Dynamics
Mining
Energy Concepts
Energy Consumption
Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
Nuclear Energy
Hydroelectric Power
Energy Conservation
Renewable Energy
Noise pollution
Unit 7: Biodiversity, Politics and
Economics Unit
Land Use
Rangelands and Forestry
Loss of Biodiversity
Environmental history
Economic Impacts
Global Economics
Review for AP Exam
Field trip to desalinization plant
Water testing –stream analysis
Build a water treatment plant
reading Silent Spring
LD50 labs
infectious disease lab
compost or landfill lab
field trip to solid waste facility
20
21
Monitoring Air Quality lab
Tropospheric ozone lab
Acid deposition experiment
Design a Soil testing lab
Non-renewable energy debate
Build a wind turbine
15
25
Congressional “cocktail party”
Make an infomercial
Cost/benefit analysis lab
AP Exam is TBA May
24
Remaining
time
Notes: The first semester exam is a requirement of ALL students.
There will be a mandatory practice exam and review given on a Wednesday
afternoon or Saturdays in April. Your grade will drop significantly should you
not show up to these.
This syllabus and schedule is subject to change.