Download apes curriculum 11 2010-1 - New Albany

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
COURSE DESCRIPTION
ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE COURSE: This course is built on the
following foundation themes found in the College Board Environmental Science Course
Description: Science is a process and is a method of learning more about the world. Energy
conversions underlie all ecological processes and it cannot be created; energy must come from
somewhere. The Earth itself is one interconnected system. Natural systems change over time and
space. Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances. Humans alter natural
systems. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context. Human survival depends on
developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
PREREQUISITES: Students should have taken Environmental Science One (or comparable
curriculum), Chemistry, Biology and Algebra. Students are also required to have completed
summer reading and analysis assignments.
RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS: Students are required to participate in the ongoing biotic and
abiotic monitoring of the New Albany School's 35-acre mitigated wetland (vernal pools, shallow
basins, deep water basins), 10-acre marsh, riparian / creek green space, and 30-acre deciduous
forest preserve.
OUTLINE OF TOPICS:
INTRODUCTORY UNIT: The Introductory Unit is an analysis of human's historic impact on the
environment. In addition, students will be "re-exposed" to the natural features and habitats of the
campus nature preserve facilities. We will survey the different habitats of the preserve for species,
practice field notebook data recording techniques and review the mission of our program. Skills
(see assignments below): Data collection, data interpretation, field observations, field log formats
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1) Discussion and review of student's analysis of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. This is a
discussion of the student's summer assignment, which included reading Silent Spring and
writing free response type answers to questions over the major themes in the book.
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2) PBS documentary on the life of Rachel Carson and the impact of Silent Spring. This
special outlines Carson's personal and professional life and discusses the writing of Silent
Spring and the influence the book had on the field of environmental science.
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3) Outdoor field study comparing biodiversity of nature preserve areas and mowed and
chemically treated campus courtyard areas. In this lab, students will conduct plot surveys
where they identify and count species present in each habitat. Their analysis includes a
discussion of what impacts human influence has had on biodiversity.
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4) View "Earth and the American Dream" and take class poll on the American Dream and
effects of over consumption. This movie traces the ramifications of non-native explorers and
settlers on North America, specifically the area of the United States. It traces human impact
from 1492 to the present and explores in depth the ecological results of a society built on
mass consumption.
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5) Ecological Footprint. Comparison of individual and national per-capita ecological
footprints.
EARTH SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES UNIT:
Revised 11/2010
GEOLOGIC TIME - geologic time periods and major events * plate tectonics-look at major and
minor plates and their movements, earthquakes and volcanoes - identify ring of fire and activity
monitoring for both events * latitude and sun impact - look at why the polar, temperate and tropical
regions differ in biomes present
Skills: (see assignments below):
Making models, using number relationships
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ATMOSPHERE - go over the different layers of the atmosphere and the physical and
chemical properties of each * weather - relationship between temperature, precipitation and
biological community present * circulation - jet stream and the redistribution of atmospheric
energy Skills: (see assignments below): Interpreting data, forming hypothesis
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WATER AS A RESOURCE - amount of water available to people in developed and
developing countries * political and economic ramifications of water shortages *
freshwater/saltwater, direct and indirect use of water * surface/groundwater issues including difficulties in remediating each of those water sources * conservation - investigate
where individuals, communities and nation's can have the greatest reduction in water usage
Skills: (see assignments below): Observing, predicting, measuring, inferring,
collecting data, interpreting data, identifying and controlling variables, field notebook format
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SOIL AND SOIL DYNAMICS * rock cycle - look at igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary
* physical / chemical properties - formation of these properties and how they determine the
vegetative communities * soil types - compare habitat and biome differences in soil
*erosion - look at sediment loss as the number one non-point pollution source in the United
States * conservation of soil
Skills: (see assignments below): Observing, classifying, collecting data, interpreting data,
experimenting, communication, using number relationships.
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EARTH SCIENCE CONCEPTS 1) Geologic time analogies (1 letter = 1 million years, 1
meter = 1 billion years). Modeling includes activities where students build time lines tracing
the history of the earth on 4.5 meters of adding machine tape.
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2) Platetechtonics webquest (Glencoe and USGS websites). This activity helps students
identify where the geologic "hot spots" are, as well as helping them to investigate the
geologic activity in our own locations
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3) Volcano reports. Each student will select a famous volcano and research the geological
events surrounding the volcano eruption and the impact of those events on biological,
economical, sociological, and human health components of the relevant society.
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4) Climatograms. Students graph temperature and rainfall and become familiar with various
representative biomes.
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ATMOSPHERE 1) Origin of the earth's atmosphere PowerPoint. This presentation traces
the chemical evolution of the atmosphere before and after the origin of photosynthesis to
the present influence and changes caused by human activities.
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2) El Nino and La Nina webquest. Students conduct research on various sites that illustrate
the cyclical behavior of ocean currents and weather patterns and their influence on the
biological and meteorological societies.
3) "Human Impact on the Biosphere" Great Pacific Media Basics of Ecology. This DVD
introduces the concept of biological magnification before looking at the various types of air
Revised 11/2010
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pollution and their relationship to phenomena such as smog, acid rain, destruction of the
ozone layer and global warming. The program then examines the pollution of water by
biodegradable and non-biodegradable pollutants, pathogens, drugs and thermal pollution
sources. Deforestation, desertification and other habitat destruction are then addressed
along with the impact of such destruction on threatened and endangered species.
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GLOBAL WATER RESOURCES 1) Outdoor salinity lab - use salinity meters to measure
parking lot run off and intrusion into campus ponds. Compare aquatic salinity levels at
various distances from the point source. Early data from this study has helped convinced
the district to reduce salt usage on campus parking lots and that has resulted in lower
salinity levels in the retention ponds on campus. For the first time in 11 years (since
biological monitoring was instituted), we have recorded the presence of fish species in the
retention ponds.
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2) Trace drop of water activity (drop of water off coast of North America, where does it end
up? how long does it take to get there? what are the effects on the circulation patterns from
melting ice fields in arctic?)
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3) Field trip to Black Hand Gorge - Agricultural and industrial influence on hydrology of ____
River. This river cuts through both extensive agricultural areas and industrial areas. We hike
along the riverbank and through various geologic features exposed by the weathering of the
river.
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SOIL AND SOIL DYNAMICS 1) Mineral and rock type identification lab. This lab gives
students a dichotomous key to key out samples of minerals and rocks based on chemical
and physical properties.
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2) Soil erosion lab outside - inspection of erosion control fences, sediment ponds. Our k-12
grade campus has gone through extensive growth over the last ten years (from 60
graduating seniors to 300). This growth has required the building of various academic and
extra-curricular structures. Students in the environmental science program have been able
to use the building sites as labs for sediment control procedures and equipment.
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3) Soil properties lab - soil moisture, pH, macronutrient levels, soil texture, permeability
rates, Munsell Chart comparison of samples from four areas - wetlands, mowed field,
meadow, forest.
THE LIVING WORLD UNIT:
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ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE Content: Biotic populations and communities - species to
populations to communities to biosphere * ecological niches - compare strategies of
generalists and specialists and what makes some species particularly susceptible to
becoming endangered *inter- and intra- specific interactions - investigate animal behavior
between members of the same species - like geese and behavior between species like
geese and ducks * keystone species - Spotted Owls - grizzly bears - alligators - bats - flying
foxes - gray wolves - sea otters * edge effects - how wetlands, coral reefs, the edge of
forests, etc can be the hotels and breadbaskets of bigger ecosystems *major terrestrial and
aquatic biomes - tundra, taiga, prairies, deciduous forests, tropical forests, desert, and
freshwater and marine habitats
Skills: (see assignments below): Observing, classifying, quantifying, measuring, inferring,
communication, using number relationships
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ENERGY FLOW Content: Photosynthesis and respiration *food webs - , first level, second
Revised 11/2010
level, tertiary level *trophic levels - 10 percent rule * ecological pyramids - quantitative
relationships between producers Skills: (see assignments below): Observing, making
models, defining operationally, collecting data, identifying and controlling variables,
experimenting
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ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY Content: Biodiversity - biological hot spots, message from E.O.
Wilson * natural selection - mechanism for evolution *evolution - driving force for life
Skills: (see assignments below): Inferring
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NATURAL ECOSYSTEM CHANGE Content: climate shifts - historical record *species
movement- northern cardinal, example of shift from 1800's * ecological succession - field to
meadow to young forest to climax forest
Skills: (see assignments below): Observing, quantifying, measuring, inferring,
communication, using number relationships, collecting data interpreting data
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NATURAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES Content: Carbon - natural cycle and
anthropomorphic influences *nitrogen - additions and subtractions *phosphorus, sulfur,
water Skills: (see assignments below): Using Number Relationships, interpreting data
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ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE 1) Ecosystem teams - investigate soil, wind, sunlight, plant,
animal, wind and temperature at various, differing land lab locations
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2) Presentation on Spotted Owl Research in Oregon and Washington
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ENERGY FLOW 1) Closed ecosystem projects - teams devise, construct and seal twogallon glass battery jars with biotic and biotic components
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2) Gall fly - Goldenrod Relationship Fieldwork Lab (Looking at the interactions between
Canada goldenrod (Solidago Canadensis) and the gall fly insect (Eurosta solidaginis)
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ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY 1) Evolution reading: Chemical evolution
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2) An End to Evolution Reading - (reading on the Endangered Species Act)
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3) PBS series: EVOLUTION
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NATURAL ECOSYSTEM CHANGE 1) Closed Ecosystem Project (see Energy Flow above)
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2) Succession lab - abiotic characteristics and species diversity in mowed/maintained
habitat, 3-year old field, 10-year old forest / field, 50-75 year old forest
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NATURAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES 1) Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water
cycles PowerPoint
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2) Project A.I.R.E. "Action = Savings in CO2 + Money" Activity
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3) "How Ecosystems Work: Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycles" Great Pacific Media Basics of
Ecology
POPULATION UNIT:
POPULATION BIOLOGY Content: Population ecology - positive and negative growth
factors * carrying capacity - factors affecting capacities * reproductive strategies - r
Revised 11/2010
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selected and k selected * survivorship curves
Skills: (see assignments below): Observing, collecting data, interpreting data, identifying
and controlling variables, forming hypothesis, experimenting
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HUMAN POPULATION Content: Human population dynamics * fertility rates - developed
country versus undeveloped, importance of education of females *growth rates - steadily
increasing doubling rates * demographics- histograms, population size, national policies of
China and India, Impacts of population growth
Skills: (see assignment below): Using number relationships
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POPULATION BIOLOGY 1) LD50 lab with daphnia
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2) Population problems worksheet (capture - recapture, plot survey estimates)
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3) "Lesson of the Kaibab" activity
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4) Population simulation using "EcoBeaker" wolves activity
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5) Duckweed population growth lab - collect duckweed from wetlands on campus and
monitor for growth rates with various nutrient levels
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HUMAN POPULATION 1) Demographic "Facts of Life " activity for various countries
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2) Death of a Continent Activity - Africa's struggle with sustainability
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3) Watch Nova special on the "Baka" people - compare a low impact society with a high
impact society
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4) Essay reading: "The Influence of Affluence"
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5) "World in the Balance - The Population Paradox" NOVA
LAND AND WATER USE:
• AGRICULTURE Content: Green revolution - mechanization, chemical industry *
deforestation - rates, causes and solutions * sustainable agriculture- organic farms * pest
control - costs and benefits *pest management techniques - chemically intensive, organic
Skills: (see assignments below): Using number relationships, interpreting data, forming
hypothesis
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FORESTRY Content: Forest management techniques - clear cut, selective cutting,
rotations * national forests - original charge, management, locations
Skills: (see assignments below): Predicting, measuring, collecting data, interpreting data,
forming hypothesis, experimenting
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RANGELANDS Content; Overgrazing -examples in US, tropical forests and Africa *
desertification - cause and effects * federal rangelands - Bureau of Land Management
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PUBLIC LANDS Content: Urban land development - urban green spaces *wetlands federal mitigation process, * wilderness areas - Bob Marshal, Wilderness Act, Alaskan
Wilderness areas, Arctic National Wildlife Controversy * national parks - Yellowstone and
Teddy Roosevelt, challenge of today = keeping the parks from being loved to death *
wildlife refuges - multiple use land * forests - Under direction of Department of Agriculture
means the national forests have historically be production oriented
Revised 11/2010
Skills: (see assignments below): Communication
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CONSERVATION OPTIONS Content: Preservation * remediation - comparison to natural
areas * conservation - United States history of conservation
Skills: (see assignments below): Making models, defining operationally, collecting data,
interpreting data, communication, presentation
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MINING Content: Resource acquisition - Time for new mining laws in the US?
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FISHING Content: Techniques - longline, trawling, gill nets, sport fishing * over fishing production records, decline of the North Bank fishing area * aquaculture - pros and cons *
marine laws
Skills:
(see assignments below): Research, communication
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GLOBAL ECONOMICS Content; Tragedy of the commons - examples: historic England,
today's oceans, global atmosphere
Skills: (see assignments below): Inferring
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AGRICULTURE 1) Food for Thought Activity from the Population Reference Bureau: This
activity is a spatial graphing activity that uses the participants as part of the graph. The
activity helps students develop a feeling for the similarities and differences between
populations. Many measures are used for comparison including population, population
density, population growth rates, life expectancy, energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and
more.
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FORESTRY 1) PowerPoint presentation on forestry techniques
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2) Dendrochronology lab in campus Nature Preserve - Swickard Woods - Using tree borers
to date trees and predict previous climate
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3) Field trip to Hocking Hills State Park
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PUBLIC LANDS 1) National Park and Wilderness Areas Project
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2) "Champions of the Land - Rediscovering America - Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold,
Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, Gifford Pinchot. Discovery School
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CONSERVATION OPTIONS 1) Swickard Woods Trail Development Project with Village of
______
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2) Rose Run Creek Dam removal project with OSU and Village ______
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MINING 1) Exxon Valdez Presentation
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FISHING 1) Impacts of over fishing on coral reefs project
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GLOBAL ECONOMICS 1) Tragedy of the Commons
ENERGY RESOURCES AND CONSUMPTION:
ENERGY CONCEPTS Content: Forms of energy * conversions - BTUs, calories, mph, *
Laws of Thermodynamics
Skills: (see assignments below):Inference
Revised 11/2010
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ENERGY CONSUMPTION Content: Historical - biomass to coal to oil and gas *present
and future energy use - supply and demand
Skills: (see assignments below): Communication
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FOSSIL FUEL RESOURCES AND USE Content: Effects and impacts of a fossil fuel based
society
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NUCLEAR ENERGY Content: fission and fusion - realities and possibilities * environmental
advantages and disadvantages * safety issues - redundant systems, Chernobyl, Three Mile
Island, France's program
Skills:
(see assignments below):
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HYDROELECTRIC POWER Content: Costs and benefits
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ENERGY CONSERVATION Content: Politics of energy, most effective conservation
strategies, "Green architecture"
Skills: (see assignments below): Background research, Communication, making models
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RENEWABLE ENERGY Content: Passive and active solar power, biomass, wind, tidal,
geothermal
Skills:
(see assignments below): Observing, forming hypothesis, fieldwork
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ENERGY CONCEPTS 1) Reading analysis from Miller book
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ENERGY CONSUMPTION 1) Alternative fuels webquest
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FOSSIL FUEL RESOURCES AND USE 1) Reading: Debate brews: Has oil production
peaked? ‘Peak oil' advocates say brief gas shortages, soaring pump prices could become
permanent way of life By David J. Lynch USA TODAY 12/16/05
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ENERGY CONSERVATION 1) Energy efficient housing project : Student teams design and
present energy efficient homes
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RENEWABLE ENERGY 1) Field trip to Glacier Ridge Metro Park - site of test project on
wind generated electricity
POLLUTION UNIT:
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AIR POLLUTION Content: Primary and secondary sources, measurement, smog, acid
deposition, heat islands, temperature inversions, indoor air pollution, Clean Air Act
Skills: (see assignments below): Observing, predicting, quantifying, measuring, inferring,
communication , using number relationships, collecting data, interpreting data, identifying
and controlling variables, forming hypothesis, experimenting
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NOISE POLLUTION Content: Sources, effects, controls
Skills: (see assignments below): Predicting, quantifying, measuring, inferring,
communication, forming hypothesis, experimenting, controlling variables
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WATER POLLUTION Content: Types, sources, causes effects eutrophication,
groundwater, water treatment, sewage treatment, septic systems, Clean Water Act
Skills: (see assignments below): Making models, defining operationally, collecting data
interpreting data, identifying and controlling variables, forming hypothesis, experimenting
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SOLID WASTE Content: Types, disposal, reduction
Skills: (see assignments below): Predicting, quantifying, measuring, inferring
Revised 11/2010
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HAZARDS TO HUMAN HEALTH: Content: Environmental risk analysis, acute vs. chronic
Skills: (see assignments below): Research, communicating
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HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT Content: Types of hazardous waste,
treatment and disposal, remediation, biomagnification
Skills:
(see assignments below): Communicating
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ECONOMIC IMPACTS Content: Cost - benefit analysis, sustainability
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AIR POLLUTION 1) Acid Rain Role Playing Activity: Chemist, biologist, health scientist, and
economist
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2) Air sampling lab using GasTec glass tube - measuring carbon dioxide, ozone, oxygen,
and hydrocarbon levels indoors and outdoors
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3) Airborne particulate lab - measuring macro and micro particulate matter inside and
outside 4) Field trip : to EPA Air Quality Monitoring Station
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NOISE POLLUTION 1) Noise level monitoring lab using decimeters in nature preserve adjacent to and removed from highway
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WATER POLLUTION 1)Stream volume / water quality lab in local creek
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2) Surface water testing lab for atrazine and E. coli contamination - four locations: stream,
vernal pools, deep water basins, and retention pond
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3)Clean Water Act - web assignment
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4) Road salt lab
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5) Organic lawn care project
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SOLID WASTE 1) Campus nature preserve stewardship / litter audit - Teams collect trash
and analyze sources and percent contributions from various sources - Discuss "high waste"
and "low waste" societies
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2) Municipal Waste Webquest
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HAZARDS TO HUMAN HEALTH 1) Bird Flu research paper
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HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT 1) MSDS activity
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ECONOMIC IMPACTS 1) Real and perceived risk PowerPoint
GLOBAL CHANGE:
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OZONE Content: Formation of ozone : chemical reaction, effect and production of CFC's,
CFC alternatives * UV - electromagnetic spectrum, effects on DNA * ozone depletion monitoring, polar holes, thinning
Skills:
(see assignments below): Risk analysis, Data collection, Interpretation
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GLOBAL WARMING Content: Greenhouse effect - scientific consensus * causes methane, carbon dioxide, fossil fuel burning * impacts -melting ice caps, changing ocean
currents, insect vector range extensions, shifting agricultural centers, mass extinction
Revised 11/2010
*remediations - Kyoto, possible technologies, relationship to rain forests
Skills: (see assignments below): Communication, modeling
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LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY Content: Habitat loss - phylum analysis *conservation ecotourism, wildlife groups, government programs * laws : ESA
Skills: (see assignments below):Background research, communication
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STRATOSPHERIC OZONE 1) Ozone chemistry lab 2) Skin Cancer Presentation
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GLOBAL WARMING 1)Marjorie Mulhall presentation: The Latest On Global Warming
Science and the Impacts on the Southeast - Influence on Katrina storm 2)Kyoto readings
and accompanying free response questions 3) An Inconvenient Truth
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LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY 1)BBC Presentation on "Planet under Pressure" 2)Major
Environmental laws Activity 3) Environmental Dilemmas Activity - Choices we face 4)
"Journey to Planet Earth - On the Brink" Journey to Planet Earth
Revised 11/2010