Download 2016-17 Advanced Placement Environmental Science

Advanced Placement Environmental Science Syllabus/Pacing Guide
Course Description
The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college
course in environmental science. Unlike most other introductory-level college science courses, environmental
science is offered from a wide variety of departments, including geology, biology, environmental studies,
environmental science, chemistry, and geography. Depending on the department offering the course, different
emphases are placed on various topics. Some courses are rigorous science courses that stress scientific
principles and analysis and that often include a laboratory component; other courses emphasize the study of
environmental issues from a sociological or political perspective rather than a scientific one. The AP
Environmental Science course has been developed to be most like the former; as such, it is intended to enable
students to undertake, as first-year college students, a more advanced study of topics in environmental science
or, alternatively, to fulfill a basic requirement for a laboratory science and thus free time for taking other
courses
Required References
Textbook: Environmental Science, The Science Behind the Stories, 4th Edition, AP Edition by Jay Withgott and
Scott Brennan. 2011. Pearson.
Online Book and Assignments: Mastering Environmental Science
Link to AP Learning Objectives:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap-environmental-science-course-description.pdf
Time
One
Week
Main
Topic/Unit
Objective Topics
Introduction to
Environmental  Introduction to AP Science Practices
Science
A. Earth Science Concepts (Geologic time
scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes,
volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and
latitude)
B. The Atmosphere (Composition; structure;
weather and climate; atmospheric
circulation and the Coriolis Effect;
atmosphere–ocean interactions; ENSO)
Three
Weeks
Unit I: Earth
C. Global Water Resources and Use
Systems and
(Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation;
Resources
agricultural, industrial, and domestic use;
surface and groundwater issues; global
problems; conservation)
Soil and Soil Dynamics (Rock cycle;
formation; composition; physical and
chemical properties; main soil types;
erosion and other soil problems; soil
conservation)
Corresponding Chapters


Chapter 1 Science and
Sustainability: An
Introduction to
Environmental Science
Chapter 2 Earth’s Physical
Systems: Matter, Energy,
and Geology

Chapter 9 Soil and
Agriculture

Chapter 15 Freshwater
Systems and Resources

Chapter 16 Marine and
Coastal Systems and
Resources

Chapter 17 Atmospheric
Science and Air Pollution
The Living World
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)
Three
Weeks
Unit II: The
Living World
and
Populations
E. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
(Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur,
water, conservation of matter)
Populations
A. Population Biology Concepts
(Population ecology; carrying capacity;
reproductive strategies; survivorship)
B. Human Population
1. Human population dynamics
(Historical population sizes;
distribution; fertility rates; growth
rates and doubling times;
demographic transition; agestructure diagrams)
2. Population size (Strategies for
sustainability; case studies; national
policies)
3. Impacts of population growth
(Hunger; disease; economic effects;
resource use; habitat destruction)

Chapter 3 Evolution,
Biodiveristy, and
Population Ecology

Chapter 4 Species
Interactions and
Community Ecology

Chapter 5 Environmental
Systems and Ecosystem
Ecology

Chapter 8 Human
Populations
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; relevant laws)

Chapter 10 Agriculture,
Biotechnology, and the
Future of Food

Chapter 12 Forests, Forest
Management, and
Protected Areas

Chapter 13 The Urban
Environment: Creating
Livable and Sustainable
Cities

Chapter 23 Minerals and
Mining
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
Three
Weeks
Unit III: Land
and Water 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
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)
A. Energy Concepts (Energy forms; power;
units; conversions; Laws of Thermod
ynamics)

Chapter 19 Fossil Fuels,
Their Impacts, and Energy
Conservation
B. Energy Consumption

Chapter 20 Conventional
Energy Alternatives

Chapter 21 New
Renewable Energy
Alternatives
1. History (Industrial Revolution;
exponential growth; energy crisis)
2. Present global energy use
3. Future energy needs
Three
Weeks
Unit IV:
Energy
Resources and
Consumption
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)
Three
Weeks
Three
Weeks
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; ground- water
pollution; maintaining water quality;
water purification; sewage
Unit V:
treatment/septic systems; Clean Water
Pollution
Act and other relevant laws). 4 . Solid
waste (Types; disposal; reduction)
B. Impacts on the Environment and
Human Health 1 . Hazards to human
health (Environmental risk analysis;
acute and chronic effects; doseresponse 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)
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
Unit VI: Global
the greenhouse effect; impacts and
Change
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







Chapter 6 Environemntal
Ethics and Economics:
Values and Choices
Chapter 14 Environmental
Health and Toxicology
Chapter 22 Managing Our
Wastes
Chapter 7 Environmental
Policy: Decision Making
and Problem Solving
Chapter 11 Biodiversity
and Conservation Biology
Chapter 18 Global Climate
Change
Chapter 24 Sustainable
Solutions
AP Environmental Science Exam May 1, 2017 at 8 a.m.
Comprehensive Final Exam May 25 or 26, 2017
AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CALENDAR SPRING 2017
**ALL DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE**
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
January 9
Orientation
16
23
Unit 1
30
Unit 1
6
Unit 2
13
Unit 2
10
Intro
17
Unit 1
24
Unit 1
31
Unit 1
7
Unit 2
14
Unit 2
11
Intro
18
Unit 1
25
Unit 1
February 1
Unit 1
8
Unit 2
15
Unit 2
12
Intro
19
Unit 1
26
Unit 1
2
Unit 1
9
Unit 2
16
Unit 2
13
Intro
20
Unit 1
27
Unit 1
3
Unit 1
10
Unit 2
17
Unit 2
20
21
22
23
24
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
27
Unit 2
28
Unit 2
March 1
Unit 2
2
Unit 2
3
Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
6
7
8
9
10 (END OF 9 WEEKS)
Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
13
14
15
16
17
MLK HOLIDAY
- - - - - - - - - SPRING BREAK - - - - - - - - - -
20
21
22
23
24
Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
27
Unit 4
April 3
Unit 4
10
Unit 4
17
28
Unit 4
4
Unit 4
11
Unit 4
18
Unit 5
25
Unit 6
29
Unit 4
5
Unit 4
12
Unit 4
19
Unit 5
26
Unit 6
3
Labs
10
Labs
17
Labs
24
Review
30
Unit 4
6
Unit 4
13
Unit 4
20
Unit 5
27
Unit 6
4
Labs
11
Labs
18
Labs
25
31
Unit 4
7
Unit 4
14
EASTER BREAK
24
Unit 6
May 1
AP EXAM!!!
8
Labs
15
Labs
22
Review
2
Labs
9
Labs
16
Labs
23
Review
FINALS (1/2 DAY)
GOOD FRIDAY
21
Unit 5
28
Unit 6
5
Labs
12
Labs
19
Labs
26
FINALS (1/2 DAY)