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AP Environmental Science Course Overview
The course adheres to the objectives set forth in the Course Description
for AP
Environmental Science, which says it is “designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college
course in environmental science” that includes a laboratory and field investigation component. Emphasis is
placed on “the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of
the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate
the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or
preventing them.”
By the very nature of the topics and their relevance to current events, this course appeals to a wide diversity of
students who have interests in the environment and nature, science, engineering, social sciences, law,
economics, computers, literature, and drama. This diversity lends itself to lively discussions and interesting
presentations of scientific topics, concepts, and data. The implication of empowering a diversity of students
with scientific knowledge about the environment at the college level is an exciting prospect and provides hope
for a sustainable future.
Text
Friedland, Andrew and Relyea, Rick. Environmental Science for AP, 5th printing, W. H. Freeman and
Company. New York. 2012.
Course Planner
Summer Work – due on the first day of class.
1. Read Pages 1- 22 of your text, Environmental Science for AP
Take notes about what you are reading in any format you desire. You will have a multiple choice quiz on the
reading on the first day of class. The quiz will have a math problem similar to one on your summer worksheet.
A. Watch the following videos on metric system conversions and dimensional analysis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vcfLGWNtLU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZupGEJBxBI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKCZn5MLKvk (no talk, just sick beats!)
https://vimeo.com/72275890 (longer, but very informative)
B. Complete the APES Summer Math Sheet. (11 points)
C. Vocabulary (provide a picture & definition) for the following words: Ecological Footprint, Sustainable,
Hectare, Anthropogenic and Biodiversity (5 points)
Weeks 1-2 September 1 – September 12
• Summer Reading Quiz
• Definition of Environmental Science • Scientific Method and Critical Thinking
• Intro to Environmental Issues • Causes and Sustainability, and Environmental History
• Environmental Systems • Brief overview of Chemistry and Physics • Dimensional Analysis
• Chapters 1–2 (to page 55)
Week 3-3.5 September 15 – September 26
• Chapter 3 (56-82)
Ecosystem ecology • Energy flow • Biogeochemical Cycles • Ecosystem response to disturbances
Weeks 3.5-5 September 26 – October 6
Chapter 4 (86-114)
• Global Climates and Biomes • Atmosphere • Seasons • Wind & Air Currents
Weeks 5-6.5 October 7 – October 17
Chapter 5 (118-140 and 144-147)
• Biodiversity • Natural Selection • Extinctions
Weeks 6.5-8 October 20 – October 31
Chapter 6 (148-173)
•Population & Community Ecology • Exponential Growth vs Logistic Growth
•Reproductive Strategies • Species Interactions • Succession • Conservation Biology
Weeks 8-9.5 November 3 – November 14
Chapter 7 (178-199 and 202-205)
• Human Population • Growth and Age Structure • Global Economics
Take First Quarter Final which will cover chapters 1-7. Final will include multiple choice and free response
questions.
Weeks 9.5-11 November 17 – December 1
Chapter 8 (206-231)
•Earth Systems • Plate Tectonics • Earthquakes & Volcanoes • Rock Cycle • Soil • Mining
Weeks 11-12.5 December 2 – December 12
Chapter 9 (234-253 and 256-259)
•Water Resources • Groundwater • Water Usage • Water Conservation
Weeks 12.5-14.5 December 15 – January 5
Chapter 10 (260-279)
• Public and Private Land •Tragedy of the Commons • Maximum Sustainable Yield • Sprawl
1st Semester Final will cover chapters 1-10. Final will include multiple choice and free response questions.
Weeks 14.5-16 January 6 – January 15
Chapter 11 (282-305 and 310-313)
• Food Supply • Agricultural Revolution • Genetic Engineering • Aquaculture
Weeks 16-18 January 15 – January 22 Chapter 12 (314-339)
• Nonrenewable Energy Resources • Efficiency • Fossil Fuels • Nuclear Energy
1st Semester Final will cover chapters 1-12. Final will include multiple choice and free response questions.
Weeks 18.5-20 January 26 – February 6 Chapter 13 (342-372 and 376-379)
• Renewable Energy Resources • Energy Conservation • Hydroelectric • Solar
• Geothermal
1st Semester Final will cover chapters 1-13. Final will include multiple choice and free response questions.
Weeks 20.5-22 February 9 – February 18
Chapter 14 (381-403)
• Water Pollution • Non Point Sources • Eutrophication • Sewage Treatment • Heavy Metals • Sediments •
Thermal • Clean Water Act
Weeks 22.5-24 February 19 – February 27
Chapter 15 (408-431)
• Air Pollution • Ozone Depletion • Particulate Matter • Thermal Inversions • Smog
Weeks 24.5-26 March 2 – March 11
Chapter 16 (436-459) • Waste Generation & Disposal • Recycling • Landfills
Weeks 26.5-28 March 12– March 20
Chapter 17 (462-486 and 490-493)
• Human Health • Infectious Diseases • Toxicology • Biomagnification • Risk Analysis
3rd Quarter Final will cover chapters 14-17. The Final will include multiple choice and free response questions.
Weeks 28.5-30 March 23 – March 31
Chapter 18 (494-513)
• Conservation Biology • Genetic Diversity • Habitat Loss • Invasive Species • Overharvesting • Climate
Change
Review for AP Exam and take exam on May 5, 2014.
Weeks 30.5-32 April 1 – April 10
Chapter 19 (516-545)
• Global Change • Climate Change • Greenhouse Effect • Climate Modeling • Feedback Loops
Weeks 32.5-34 April 13– April 21
Chapter 20 (548-568)
• Economics • Sustainability • Regulations • Government Agencies • Stewardship
April 21 – May 1
Review for AP Exam and take exam on the morning of May 2, 2016. Good luck!
Final Exam for class will cover chapters 1-20 and will be multiple choice and free response questions.
May 6 – May 16
Use class time to prepare for any other AP exams and CSTs you are taking. No homework will be given after
May 5.
May 19 - May 23
• Animal Tracks Lab (2 days) • Local Wildlife Presentations (research 1.5 days, present 1.5 days)
May 26 – June 4
• Distillation Lab and Invasive Species Wanted Poster • Timber Harvesting Activity • Mark and Recapture Lab
to estimate the roly poly population
June 5 – June 16
• Risk Analysis and Micromorts (2 days in class research/3 days create survey and calculate risk)
Lecture - Because this course closely parallels a college course, I will lecture two to three times a week.
Late Work Policy – Work turned in 1-3 calendar days late will get a 10% penalty and no credit will be
awarded for work later than 3 days. Summer work turned in 1-3 days late will get a 50% penalty.
Labs - Labs will be given every two weeks and require students to adhere to all safety and ethical protocols.
Small-Group Activities
Problem solving, design projects, and text research are the basis for small-group activities, which provide the
opportunity for brainstorming, application, and synthesis of material from lectures and reading assignments.
The groups must also present their findings to the rest of the class. Occasionally role-playing activities are
employed to emphasize the many viewpoints and professional opinions involved in making environmental
decisions
Field Trips - To be determined, but may include the The Robert B. Diemer Treatment Plant and/or the Brea
Landfill after AP exams.
Student Evaluation
Grades will be determined in the following manner.
• Labs 20%
•Note taking during lectures and individual reading is expected but will not be graded.
• Class work 10% (worksheets, book work, and participation in discussions)
•Homework 5% (vocabulary and free response practice questions)
• Quizzes 5% are unannounced and given weekly to ensure that students are reading the text in a timely fashion.
• Exams 60% are administered after each major unit (two or more chapters). The chapter tests consist of 45 to
60 multiple-choice questions and 2 free response questions. Finals will be longer.
College Board AP Topic Outline
1. Earth Systems and Resources (science concepts, atmosphere, water, soil) Chapters 1-4 and 8 and 9.
Represent 10-15% of the AP test.
2. The Living World (ecosystems, energy flow, diversity, biogeochemical cycles) Chapters 3-6. Represent 1015% of the AP test.
3. Population (population biology concepts and human populations) Chapters 6 & 7. Represent 10-15% of the
AP test.
4. Land and Water Use (agriculture, forestry, rangelands, mining, fishing, economics) Chapters 8, 10, 11 and
20. Represent 10-15% of the AP test.
5. Energy Resource and Consumption (energy concepts, consumption, fossil fuels, nuclear energy,
hydroelectric power, conservation and renewable energy) Chapters 12 & 13. Represent 10-15% of the AP
test.
6. Pollution (water pollution, air pollution, ozone depletion, waste disposal and generation, human health and
environmental risks) Chapters 14-17. Represent 25-30% of the AP test.
7. Global Change (ozone, global warming and loss of biodiversity) Chapters 15, 18 and 19. Represent 10-15%
of the AP test.
APES Summer Mathematics Review 2015
Use a separate piece of paper, show every step of your work, and cancel of all units for full credit
Scientific Notation — All APES students should be able to work comfortably with numbers in scientific notation
Place the following numbers into scientific notation.
1. two billion
2. twenty two thousand
3. 70 million
Do the following calculations in scientific notation.
4. five hundred million times twenty five thousand
5. six thousand divided by 300 billion
6. one ten thousandth of four million
Unit conversions — All APES students should be able to convert from one system of units to another. Show
work as a dimensional analysis problem with units getting cancelled out to obtain full credit.
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Given: 1 square mile = 640 acres, 1 hectare = 2.5 acre, 1 km = 1,000 m, 1 m = 100cm
7. A 50 square mile area of national forest is how many acres? How many hectares?
8. If a tectonic plate moved 20 km in a million years, how cm does it move each year?
9. A hectare is an area 100m wide and 100m long. A square kilometer is 1,000m on each side. How
many hectares fit in a square kilometer?
10. Calculate the amount of water that falls on a cement parking lot that is 100m long and 200m wide after
a rainfall of 5cm.
Percentages — All APES students should be able to work comfortably with percentages.
11. A natural gas power plant is 60% efficient. If one cubic meter of natural gas provides 1000 BTUs of
electricity. How many BTUs of waste heat were produced?
12. A natural area is 500 hectares in size. Approximately 40% is to be developed. How many hectares
remain wild?
13. If the concentration of mercury in a water supply changes from 70 ppm to 7 ppm in a ten-year period,
what is the percentage change of the mercury concentration? The percent change formula = (final value
– initial value) x 100
Initial value
14. 10% of the energy is transferred from 1 trophic level to the next. Calculate the amount of energy that
moves from a primary producer like a patch of grass that has 400 joules of energy to a mouse which eats
the grass and then to an owl which eats the mouse.
Energy — The APES exam always has questions about energy use. Be prepared!

Given: 1 barrel of oil = 150 L, 1 kWh = 3,400 BTU
15. A city that uses 68 billion BTUs of energy each month is using how many kilowatt-hours of energy?
16. If a barrel of crude oil provides six million BTUs of energy, how many BTUs of energy in one liter of
crude oil?
17. For crude oil, if 150 pounds of CO2 is released per million BTUs of energy, how much CO2 is produced
by each barrel of crude oil? (use information from the previous problem)
18. Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum cans from raw
materials. How many aluminum cans can be made out of recycled aluminum with the same amount of
energy that it takes to make one aluminum can out of new material?
Population — The APES exam always has questions about population. Be prepared!
19. Calculate the percentage growth rate for a country with a population of 6 million: in a year in which it
had 100,000 births, 70,000 deaths, 30,000 immigrants, and 50,000 emigrants. Divide the new
population by the old population and multiply by 100.
20. If a town’s growth rate is 2% and the population size is 10,000, how long until the population to grows to
40,000? (Use the rule of 70 to calculate the doubling time. Take the number 70 and divide by the
growth rate. Do not change the growth rate into a decimal.)
21. If it took a country 20 years to double its population, what was its growth rate?
22. There are 300 million people in the U.S. and 7 billion people in the world. What percent of the world’s
population lives in the U.S.?
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