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Rockwood Sample Syllabus AP Environmental Science Note: This is not a required syllabus for the four high schools in the Rockwood School District. College Board requires each AP Science teacher to submit a syllabus which is approved through College Board. This sample simply reflects collaborative discussions between our district AP Environmental Science teachers and is a sample syllabus representative of the expectations set forth by College Board. Course Overview: AP Environmental Science is a college level lab-based science course to prepare students for indepth study in Environmental Sciences. The goal of this course is to integrate scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies from the field of environmental science. Using these principles and disciplines, students will be able to understand interrelationships of the natural world, analyze and identify environmental problems, and evaluate those problems to determine solutions for resolving those natural and human induced problems. Instructional Context: • • • AP Environmental Science is offered as a junior or senior-level blocked science course. AP Environmental Science requires a Zero Hour component. Students must have successfully completed a biology course and College Board recommends that students complete two years of high school laboratory science—one year of life science and one year of physical science (i.e., biology and chemistry). Instructional Resources: • • • Miller, T. and Spoolman. (2014). Living in the environment. Cengage Learning. MindTap Course Mode with Fast Track 5 AP Exam Prep AP Fast Track, Living in the Environment Methods: Instruction involves a variety of techniques to ensure that every student is reached. This includes lecture, Socratic seminars, discussions, debates, demonstrations, and homework. In-class discussion will encourage and teach students to identify and analyze environmental problems. Hands-on student activities include research projects, homework, fieldwork, and weekly laboratory work. Unifying Course Themes: • • • • • • Science is a process. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes. The Earth itself is one interconnected system. Humans alter natural systems. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems. Topic Outline: I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. Earth Systems and Resources The Living World Population Land and Water Use Energy Resources and Consumption Pollution Global Change Laboratory and Fieldwork: The laboratory and field investigation component of the AP Environmental Science course should challenge the students’ abilities to: • • • • • • • • critically observe environmental systems develop and conduct well-designed experiments utilize appropriate techniques and instrumentation analyze and interpret data, including appropriate statistical and graphical presentations think analytically and apply concepts to the solution of environmental problems make conclusions and evaluate their quality and validity propose further questions for study communicate accurately and meaningfully about observations and conclusions Tests: This is an Advanced Placement course that prepares the student to take the Advanced Placement Exam. Students are expected (although not required) to take the Advanced Placement Exam in May. This course may involve some zero hour work. AP Environmental Science Sample Course Outline: The course description and outline is provided in the Environmental Science Course Description Guide provided through College Board. Chapter 1: Environmental Problems, Their Causes and Sustainability Chapter 2: Science, Systems, Matter & Energy • Energy concepts: forms, power, units, conversions, Laws of Thermodynamics • Energy flow: photosynthesis and cellular respiration, food webs and trophic levels, ecological pyramids Unit 1 Introduction to Environmental Activities: • (ACTIVITY) Tragedy of the Commons Science • (ACTIVITY) The Lorax • (PROJECT) Carbon Budget 5 days Unit 2 Earth Systems and Resources Unit 3 Ecology Chapter 14: Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources Chapter 7: Climate & Biodiversity Chapter 8: Aquatic Biodiversity • Earth Science Concepts (Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and latitude) • The Atmosphere (Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis effect; atmosphere-ocean interactions; ENSO) • Natural Biogeochemical Cycles: carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter Activities: • (PROJECT) Plate Tectonics, Molnar • (DEMO) Tectonics Model • (LAB) Volcanic Ash Lab • (LAB) Alaskan Earthquake Activity and Quake! Activity • (LAB) Specific Heat and Climate, Molnar • (PROJECT) Formation of Deserts, Molnar • (PROJECT) Moon and Tides, Molnar • (VIRTUAL LAB) Climate in the Troposphere • (VIRTUAL LAB) IRIS Earthquake Browser Chapter 3: Ecosystems: What are they and how do they work? Chapter 4: Evolution and Biodiversity Chapter 5: Biodiversity, Species Interactions, and Population Control • Ecosystem Structure (Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species; keystone species; species diversity and edge effects; major terrestrial and aquatic biomes) • Energy Flow (Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological pyramids) • Ecosystem Diversity (Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services) • Natural Ecosystem Change (Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession) Activities: • (QUANTITATIVE) Eating at a Lower Tropic Level, Molnar • (PROJECT) Endangered and Extinct Species • (VIDEO) Cane Toads • (VIDEO) Planet In Peril • (RESEARCH) Hot Spots! • (LONG TERM RESEARCH) Winogradsky Column 5 days 10 days Unit 4 Population Dynamics Chapter 5: Biodiversity, Species Interactions, and Population Control Chapter 9: Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach • Population Biology Concepts (Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship) • Loss of Biodiversity o Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and extinct species o Maintenance through conservation o Relevant laws and treaties 6 days Activities: • (LAB) Population Distribution and Survivorship, Molnar • (LAB) Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index, Molnar • (LAB) Duckweed Population Growth • (PROJECT) Research Land Management Agencies • (FIELD RESEARCH) Quadrat Sampling • (LAB) Rocky Mountain Elk Management Plan, Miller Unit 5 Human Population Chapter 6: The Human Population and Its Impact Chapter 17: Environmental Hazards and Human Health • Human Population o Human population dynamics (Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling times; demographic transition; age-structure diagrams) o Population size (Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies) o Impacts of population growth (Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction • Impacts on the Environment and Human Health o Hazards to human health (Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships; air pollutants; smoking and other risks) Activities: • (QUANTITATIVE)World Population Growth, Molnar • (PROJECT) Global Population Trends, Molnar • (LAB) Toxicity Lab, Miller • (RESEARCH) Population Issues in China and India • (LAB) Risk Assessment Survey • (VIDEO) NOVA: Population Paradox • (TED TALK) Hans Rosling 13 days Unit 6 Water Chapter 8: Aquatic Biodiversity Chapter 13: Water Resources Chapter 20: Water Pollution • Global Water Resources and Use (Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use; surface and groundwater issues; global problems; conservation) • Water pollution (Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; ground-water pollution; maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage treatment/septic systems; Clean Water Act and other relevant laws) 9 days Activities: • (LONG TERM LAB) Water Quality Survey, Vernier Lab Probes • (LONG TERM LAB) Eco Columns • (LAB) Dissolved Oxygen/Waste Lab • (ACTIVITY) Mapping Analysis (Groundwater Pollutant) Unit 7 Soil and Land Use Chapter 12: Food, Soil, and Pest Management Chapter 10: Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach • Soil and Soil dynamics: rock cycle, formation, composition, physical and • chemical properties, main soil types, erosion and other soil problems, soil conservation • Agriculture: Feeding a Growing Population (nutritional requirements, • Green Revolution, genetic engineering, deforestation, sustainable agriculture) and Controlling Pests (pesticides, cost and benefits, IPM, laws) • Forestry: tree plantings, old growth, fires, management, national forests • Rangelands overgrazing, deforestation, desertification, federal rangelands • Other Use (Urban land development: planned, suburban sprawl, urbanization; Transportation infrastructure: federal highway system, canals • Public and Federal Lands: management, national parks, wildlife refuges, forests, wetlands; Land conservation options: preservation, remediation, mitigation, restoration; Sustainable Land-Use strategies) Activities: • (LAB) Soil Survey, Vernier Lab Probes • (LAB) Toxicity of Pesticides • (PROJECT) Research National Park • (RESEARCH) Grocery Store Scavenger Hunt • (LAB) Organic Food Taste Test 10 days Unit 8 Air Unit 9 Energy Chapter 18: Air Pollution Chapter 19: Climate Change and Ozone Depletion • The atmosphere: composition, structure, weather and climate, atmospheric circulation and Coriolis Effect, ENSO • Air Pollution: primary and secondary, pollutants, units, smog, acid deposition, heat islands, laws • Noise Pollution: sources, effects, control measures • Stratospheric Ozone: formation, UV radiation, causes and effects, reducing depletion, laws and treaties • Global Warming: greenhouse effect and gases, impacts and consequences, reducing, laws and treaties Activities: • (LAB) Air Pollution Lab Activity • (VIDEO) Inconvenient Truth • (VIDEO) Strange Days On Planet Earth: One Degree Factor • (RESEARCH) Stratospheric Ozone Depletion • (ACTIVITY) Lifestyles: The Carbon Dioxide Diet • (LAB) Ozone Detection • (ACTIVITY) Graphing the Atmosphere • (ACTIVITY) Weather Map Analysis Chapter 14: Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources Chapter 15: Nonrenewable Energy Chapter 16: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy • Mineral formation: extraction, global reserves, laws and treaties • Energy Consumption: history, present use, future energy needs • Fossil Fuel Resources and Use: formation of FFs, extraction/purification, demand, advantages/disadvantages • Nuclear energy: fission, fuel, electricity, reactors, advantages/disadvantages, wastes, radiation and human health • Hydroelectric power: dams, flood control, salmon, silting • Energy Conservation: efficiency, CAFE standards, hybrid • Renewable Energy: solar, hydrogen fuel cells, biomass, wind energy, hydroelectric, ocean and tidal energy, geothermal, advantages/disadvantages Activities: • (LAB) Energy Audit • (LAB) Rock and Mineral Lab • (ACTIVITY) Solar Oven • (LAB) Specific Heat (Molnar) • (RESEARCH) Photostory Alternative Research 14 days 13 days Unit 10 Waste Chapter 21: Solid and Hazardous Waste • Solid Waste: types, disposal, reduction • Hazardous chemicals: types, treatment/disposal, cleanup, biomagnifications, laws • Economic Impacts: cost-benefit analysis, externalities, marginal costs, sustainability Activities: • (LAB) Personal Solid Waste Inventory, Miller Chapter 23: Economics, Environment, and Sustainability Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Politics, Environment, and Sustainability Chapter 25: Environmental World Views, Ethics and Sustainability • Global Economics: Globalization, World Bank, Tragedy of the Unit 11 Commons, laws/treaties Sustainability Activities: • (LAB) Green City Design, Miller 5 days 5 days