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Topics and Time Line: AP Environmental Science
Unit One: Environmental Science in a Social Context
Chapter 1: Environmental Interrelationships
Objectives:
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1 week
Environmental Problems are complex and interrelated and involve social, ethical, political, and economic issues
Acceptable solutions to environmental problems are not often easy to achieve.
All organisms have an impact on their surroundings
Different environmental regions have unique environmental problems, but the process for resolving them is
often the same and involves compromise
Topics:
A. The Interrelated Nature of Environmental Topics
B. A Ecosystem Approach
C. Regional Environmental Concerns
Chapter 2: Environmental Ethics
Objectives:
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1 week
Differentiate between ethics and morals and define personal ethics
Explain the connection between material wealth and resource exploitation
Describe how environmental leaders in industry are promoting more sustainable practices
Explain the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation
Topics:
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Views of Nature
Environmental Attitudes
Societal Environmental Ethics
Corporate Environmental Ethics
Environmental Justice
Individual Environmental Ethics
Global Environmental Ethics
Chapter 3: Risk Management and Cost: Elements of Decision Making
Objectives
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2 weeks
Describe the difference between risk assessment and risk management
Describe the issues involved in risk management
Explain the uses of cost-benefit analysis
Explain the concept of sustainable development
Describe environmental external costs and the economics of pollution prevention
Explain market approaches to solving environmental problems
Topics
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Risk and Economics
Characterizing Risk: Risk Assessment and Management
Economics in an Environmental Context
Economics and Sustainable Development
Economics, Environment and Developing Nations
*AP Supplemental Material –
1. Marginal Costs
Unit Two: Ecological Principles and Their Application
Chapter 4: Interrelated Scientific Principles: Matter, Energy, and Environment
Objectives
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1 week
Explain how information is gathered in a logical manner that requires impartial evaluation and continual revision
Recognize that each element is made of atoms that have a specific protons and electrons and that isotopes of
the same element may differ in the number of neutrons present
Recognize that matter may be solid, liquid, or gas, depending on the amount of kinetic energy contained by
the molecules
Realize that energy can be neither created nor destroyed, but when energy is converted into a less useful form.
Topics
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The Scientific Method
Limitations of Science
The Structure of Matter
Energy Principles
Environmental Implications of Energy Flow
Labs & Activities
1. SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND DATA INTERPRETATION
The student will be able to: understand the basic elements of the scientific method and apply this process to
solving problems. List limitations and challenges to the scientific method and relate scientific method to
environmental agencies and organizations. Students will also organize data and describe how it would best
be presented through the use of charts and graphs.
Chapter 5: Interactions: Environments and Organisms
Objectives
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1.5 weeks
Identify and list biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem
Describe the process of natural selection as it operates to refine the fit between organism, habitat, and niche
Describe predator-prey, parasite-host, competitive, mutualistic, and commensalistic relationships.
Define the roles of producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, scavenger, parasite, and decomposer
Describe energy flow through an ecosystem
Relate the concepts of food webs and food chains to trophic levels
Explain the cycling of nutrients such as nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus through an ecosystem
Topics
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Ecological Concepts
The Role of Natural Selection and Evolution
Kinds of Organism Interactions
Community and Ecosystem Interactions
*AP Supplemental Material
1. Sulfur Cycles
2. Conservation of Matter
Lab/Field Activity – Mapping Biotic Factors in the Environment
Students will study populations using the quadrant sampling method. Students will examine ecosystems and
identify living things that make up a community
Chapter 6: Kinds of Ecosystems and Communities
Objectives
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2.5 weeks
Recognize the difference between primary and secondary succession
Describe the process of succession from pioneer to climax community in both terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems
Associate typical plants and animals with the various types of biomes
Recognize the physical environmental factors that determine the kind of climax community that will develop
Differentiate the forest biomes that develop based on temperature and rainfall
Describe the various kinds of aquatic ecosystems and the factors that determine their characteristics.
Topics
A. Succession
B. Biomes
C. Major Aquatic Ecosystems
Labs & Activities
1. Ecosystems and Succession
This lab will enable the student to understand the parts of ecosystems and how biotic factors interact.
Students will create a food web and determine if the organisms are producers or consumers. The lab is
designed to demonstrate the importance of clean water in the lives of all living organisms. Students will
explore ecological succession, give some real world examples and explain how humans affect ecological
succession.
2. Aquatic Ecosystems
This lab will enable the student to create a balanced aquatic ecosystem in the laboratory and observe the
nitrogen cycle. Students will observe how an imbalance in the nitrogen cycle can effect an entire ecosystem
and observe the abiotic and biotic components of some local aquatic ecosystems. Students will also
investigate interrelationships among the aquatic organisms and their non-living environment
3. Field Activity
Students will engage in field work by collecting local marine aquatic samples to use in the implementation
of the aquatic ecosystems lab.
4. Primary Productivity, Marine Adaptation
By: Dr. Angela C. Morrow, University of Northern Colorado
Through the investigation of this lab students will have a better understanding the concept of primary
productivity and have used one or more methods to calculate primary productivity. Students will also
discover the concepts of marine primary productivity, net productivity vs. gross productivity, and the
importance of comparing dry weight versus wet weight.
Chapter 7: Population Principles
Objectives
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.5 weeks
Define the following characteristics of population: natality, mortality, sex ratio, age distribution, biotic
potential, and spatial distribution
Explain the significance of biotic potential to the rate of population growth
Describe the lag, exponential growth, and stable equilibrium phases of a population growth curve.
Describe how limiting factors determine the carrying capacity for a population
Recognize that humans are subject to the same forces of environmental resistance as are other organisms
Explain the implications of overreproduction
Explain how human population growth is influenced by social, theological, philosophical, and political
thinking
Topics
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Population Characteristics
A Population Growth Curve
Carrying Capacity
Reproductive Strategies and Population Fluctuations
Human Population Growth
Chapter 8: Human Population Issues
.5 weeks
Objectives
 Explain why the age distribution and role of women affect population growth projections
 Describe the implications of the demographic transition concept
 Recognize that rapid population growth and poverty are linked
Topics
*AP Supplemental Material –
A. World Population Characteristics and Implications
1. Human Nutritional Requirements
B. Factors that Influence Population Growth
C. Population Growth and Standard of Living
D. Demographic Transition Concept
E. Likely Consequences of Continued Population Growth
Unit Three: Energy
Chapter 9: Energy and Civilization: Patterns of Consumption
Objectives
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2 weeks
Explain why all organisms require a constant input of energy
Describe how per capita energy consumption increased as civilization changed
Correlate the Industrial Evolution with social and economic changes
Explain why energy consumption is growing more rapidly in developing countries than in the industrialized
world
Describe the role of OPEC in determining oil prices
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Topics
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History of Energy Consumption
How Energy is Used
Electrical Energy
The Economics and Politics of Energy Use
Energy Consumption Trends
Chapter 10: Energy Sources
Objectives
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2 weeks
Identify peat, lignite, bituminous coal, and anthracite coal as steps in the process of coal formation
Recognize that natural gas and oil are formed from ancient marine deposits
Explain why the amount of energy supplied by hydroelectric power is limited
Describe how wind, geothermal, and tidal energy are used to produce electricity
Recognize that energy conservation can significantly reduce our need for additional energy sources
Topics
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Energy Sources
Resources and Reserves
Fossil-Fuel Formation
Issues Related to the Use of Fossil Fuels
Renewable Sources of Energy
Energy Conservation
*AP Supplemental Material
1. Power
2. Units
3. Conversions
4. CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy)
Labs
1. Energy Resources
Students search recent publication to find the most up-to-date energy information to investigate to see how
government, private corporations and environmental organizations differ in their projections of energy use.
2. Lab Solar House
Students will research passive & active solar house designs, and build the model house from materials
provided and scrounged. Students will test the ability of their model house to maintain stable temperatures.
Chapter 11: Nuclear Energy: Benefits and Risks
Objectives
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Explain how nuclear fission has the potential to provide large amounts energy
Explain the steps involved in the nuclear fuel cycle
List concerns regarding the use of nuclear power
Describe how high-level radiation waste is stored
Explain the process of fusion
Topics
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The Nature of Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Fission Reactors
Investigating Nuclear Alternatives
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Nuclear Material and Weapons Production
Nuclear Power Concerns
The Politics of Nuclear Power
Unit Four: Resource Management
Chapter 12: Biodiversity Issues 12 wks
Objectives
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Recognize that humans significantly modify natural ecosystems
State the major cause of biodiversity loss
Identify causes of desertification
Describe the role of endangered species legislation and the biodiversity treaty
Describe the techniques that foster sustainable use of wildlife and fisheries resources
Topics
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Biodiversity Loss and Extinction
Describing Biodiversity
The Value of Biodiversity
Threats to Biodiversity
What is Being Done to Preserve Biodiversity
Chapter 13: Land-Use Planning
Objectives
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Explain why major cities are located on rivers, lakes, or the ocean
Describe the forces that result in farmland adjacent to cites being converted to urban uses
Describe the economic and social values involved in planning for outdoor recreation opportunities
List the steps in the development and implementation of a land-use plan
Describe methods of enforcing compliance with land-use plans
Topics
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The Need for Planning
Historical Forces That Shaped land use in North America
Migration from the Central City to the Suburbs
Factor That Contribute to Sprawl
Problems Associated with Unplanned Urban Growth
Land-Use Planning Principles
Mechanisms for Implementing Land-Use Plans
Special Urban Planning Issues
Federal Government Land-Use Issues
*Supplemental AP Material –
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Tree Plantations
Old growth forests
Forest Fires
Labs & Activities
1. Land Use: Past, Present, and Future
By: Dr. Edward Wells, Wilson College. In this laboratory exercise, students will gain an understanding of the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and be able to apply it to a (perhaps hypothetical) community
project. In the process, they will learn the methods of investigating an environmental history and integrate
this pursuit with sciences of ecology and geology along with environmental land use policy.
Chapter 14: Soil and Its Uses
Objectives
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Describe the geologic processes that build and erode the Earth’s surface
List the physical, chemical, and biologic factors and soil formation
Explain how texture and structure influence the soil atmosphere and soil water
Describe the various layers in a soil profile
Explain how contour farming, strip farming, terracing, windbreaks, and conservation tillage reduce soil erosion
Topics
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Geologic Processes
Soil and Land
Soil Formation
Soil Properties
Soil Profile
Soil Erosion
*Supplemental AP Material –
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Mineral Formation & Global Resrves
Rock Cycle
Geological Time Scale
Seasons
Solar Intensity and Latitude
ENSO
G. Soil Conservation Practices
H. Conventional Versus Conservation Tillage
I. Protecting Soil on Non Farm Land
Labs & Activities
1. Earth Science: Soil Structure and the Rock Cycle
Students will explore how earth’s natural processes create and destroy rocks through the investigation of the
rock cycle. Through this exploration students will also investigate soil properties and structure.
2. Earth Science: Plate Tectonics, Volcanism, Earthquakes
Students will explore the earth’s dynamic plates and the cause and affect of the movement. Students will also
examine the affects of volcanism on soil, farm lands and how it effects the population.
Chapter 15: Agricultural Methods and Pest Management
Objectives
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Explain how mechanization encouraged monoculture farming
List the advantages and disadvantages of monoculture farming
Explain how fertilizers alter soil characteristics
List four problems associated with pesticide use
Explain why integrated pest management depends on a complete knowledge of the pest’s life history
Recognize that genetically modified crops are created by using genes from one species to another
Topics
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The Development of Agriculture
Fossil Fuel Versus Muscle Power
The Impact of Fertilizer
Agricultural Chemical Use:
Problems with Pesticide Use
Why Are Pesticides So Widely Used?
Alternatives to Conventional Agriculture
Chapter 16: Water Management
Objectives
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Explain how water is cycled through the hydrologic cycle
Explain the significance of groundwater, aquifers, and runoff
Explain how land use affects infiltration and surface runoff
List the various kinds of water use and the problems associated with each
List the major sources of water pollution
Differentiate between point and nonpoint sources of pollution
Differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary sewage treatments
Explain how various federal laws control water use and prevent misuse
Explain the problem of salinization associated with large-scale irrigation in arid areas
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Topics
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The Water Issue
The Hydrologic Cycle
Human Influences on the Hydrologic Cycle
Kinds of Water Use
Kinds and Sources of Water Pollution
Water- Use Planning Issues
*AP Supplemental Material –
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Ocean Circulation
Atmospheric-Ocean Interactions
Labs & Activities
1. Watershed Assessment
Students will explore how science must inform policy if land use and zoning regulations are to be sustainable.
This lab integrates water resources, soil resources and environmental policy.
2. Studying an Algal Bloom
Students investigate how algae are affected by pollutants, determine how pollutants contribute to problems.
Students analyze the effect of different concentrations of common pollutants on the growth of algae.
Unit Five: Pollution and Policy
Chapter 17: Air Quality Issues
Objectives
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2 weeks
Recognize that air can accept and disperse significant amounts of pollutants
List the major sources and affects of the six criteria air pollutants
Describe how photochemical smog is formed and how it affects humans
Explain how acid rain if formed
Describe the kinds of changes that could occur as a result of global warming
Describe the link between chlorofluorocarbon use and ozone depletion
Topics
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The Atmosphere
Pollution of the Atmosphere
Categories of Air Pollution
Control of Air Pollution
Acid Deposition
Ozone Depletion
Global Warming and Climate Change
Addressing Climate Change
Indoor Air Pollution
Labs & Activities
1. Acid Deposition Lab
Lonnie Miller, El Diamante High School, Visalia Unified School District, Visalia, CA
Students will describe and discuss the impacts of various fossil fuels on acid deposition and how gaseous
pollutants acidify rain. Through the exploration of this lab students will have a better understanding of the
pH of the local area’s precipitation and how it compares to other areas.
2. Monitoring Air Quality
Students describe and discuss several air pollutants and methods for detecting them. Students will also
investigate the chemical reactions behind how several monitoring systems function .
Chapter 18: Solid Waste Management & Disposal
Objectives
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2 weeks
Explain why solid waste is a problem throughout the world
Understand the management of municipal solid waste is directly affected by economics, changes in technology,
and citizen awareness and involvement
Describe the various methods of waste disposal and the problems with each method, including incineration
Explain the difficulties in developing new municipal landfills
List some benefits and drawbacks of recycling
Topics
A. Kinds of Solid Waste
B. Municipal Solid Waste
C. Methods of Waste Disposal
Labs & Activities
1. Landfill and Recycling Facilities
This lab will familiarize the student with: the problems associated with the increases in solid waste. Students
will explore some of the environmental problems associated with landfills, solid waste and recycling
programs. Students will also observe the methods available for reducing the amount of material reaching
landfills and the benefits of reusing/recycling products.
Chapter 19: Regulating Hazardous Materials
Objectives
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2 weeks
Distinguish between hazardous wastes and hazardous substances and hazardous substances and toxic substances
Explain the difference between persistent and nonpersistent pollutants
Describe how hazardous substances are managed, and list five technologies used in their disposal
Topics
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Hazardous and Toxic Materials and our Environment
Hazardous and Toxic Substances- Some Definitions
Defining Hazardous Wastes
Issues Involved in Setting Regulations
Environmental Problems Caused by Hazardous Waste
Health Risks Associated with Hazardous Wastes
Hazardous- Waste Dumps- A Legacy of Abuse
Hazardous Waste Management Program Evolution
Lab & Activities
1. Sewage Treatment
This lab will enable the student to understand: the importance of water quality to environmental health.
Students will investigate the chemical, physical and biological processes involved in water treatment.
Students will discover the importance of water as a resource and part of ecosystems and the problems
associated with various water contaminants.
Chapter 20: Environmental Policy and Decision Making
Objectives
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2 weeks
Explain how environmental laws are created and enforced in the United States
Describe the forces that led to changes in environmental policy in the United States during the past 2 decades
Explain why there is concern about environmental regulations
Topics
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New Challenges for a New Century
The Development of Environment Policy in the United States
Environmental Policy and Regulation
The Greening of Geopolitics
Terrorism and the Environment
International Environmental Policy
Lab & Activities
1. Designing a Professional Environmental Impact Study
Students will choose an area in the environmental field and create and perform their own study. When the
environmental study is complete they will present the impact study to the class
AP Exam Review:
2 weeks