AP Environmental Sciencemrs. Doumacourse Outline

AP Environmental ScienceMrs. DoumaCourse Outline

FIRST SEMESTER COURSE OUTLINE

Textbooks:

Friedland, A., Relyea, R., Courard-Hauri, D., Environmental Science for AP, 1st Edition 2012, W.H. Freeman and Company

Withgott, J., Brennan S., Environnment The Science Behind the Stories, 4th Edition 2011, Pearson Benjamin Cummings

Introduction – Two Weeks

· Summer Work

o Nature Journal

o Adopt-a-Topic Assignment

o Ecological Footprint

o Chapter One – Studying the State of Our Earth

· Class Guidelines

o Syllabus, lab safety, goals, course outline, leadership survey

· History of Environmental Science

· Garrett Hardin- Tragedy of the Commons

· Earth Island Essay

· Most Significant Problem

Ecology – Four Weeks

AP Environmental Science College Board Criteria Covered:

II. The Living World (10-15%)

Content / Location
Ecosystem Structure (Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species; keystone species; species diversity and edge effects; major terrestrial and aquatic biomes) / Chapters 3, 5
Energy Flow (Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological pyramids) / Chapter 3
Ecosystem Diversity (Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services) / Chapter 6
Natural Ecosystem Change (Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession) / Chapters 3, 5
Natural Biogeochemical Cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter) / Chapters 3, 4

Major Concepts Covered

· Energy versus Matter in ecosystems

· Gross Primary Productivity versus Net Primary Productivity

· Ecological Pyramids – Energy, Numbers, Biomass

· Abiotic versus Biotic factors in the environment –all living things are connected to their abiotic and biotic environment

· Sunlight energy that comes to the Earth is transformed into chemical energy through primary producers to drive life functions; and to heat that maintains planet homeostasis through atmospheric and ocean currents.

· Limiting Factors; Range of Tolerance, Food Chains; Food Webs; El Nino Southern Oscillation

Classroom activities and simulations

· A Comparison of GPP and NPP

Students will examine the difference between Gross Primary Productivity and Net Primary Productivity in an aquatic ecosystem using oxygen production as an indirect indicator of productivity.

· Study Trip to Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve – September 17, 18, 2014

Hands-on Laboratory Investigations

· The Effects of Allelopathy

Students will conduct an inquiry based investigation into the effects of allelopathy on the germination and growth of plants using soil and dried leaf material from allelopathic plants. Time Frame: 8 hours over 3 weeks

· Grass Decomposition Investigation

Students will observe how varying amounts of moisture and oxygen affect the rate and process of decomposition. Time Frame: 4 hours over 2 weeks

Student Assessments

Biogeochemical cycles Quiz

Allelopathy Lab Report

Grass Decomposition Lab Report

Primary Productivity Lab

Biome PowerPoint Presentations

Ecology Unit Essay Test

Ecology Unit Multiple Choice Test

Population and Community Ecology

Two Weeks

AP Environmental Science College Board Criteria Covered:

II. The Living World (10-15%)

Content / Location
Ecosystem Structure (Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species; keystone species; species diversity and edge effects) / Chapters 3, 5

III. Population (10-15%)

Content / Location
Population Biology Concepts (Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship) / Chapter 6

Major Concepts Covered

· Struggle between the biotic potential of a species and the environmental resistance that it encounters - Niche

· Exponential versus Logistic Growth

· Carrying capacity; density-dependent versus density-independent control factors;

r-selected versus K-selected species; survivorship curves

Hands-on Laboratory Investigations

· Determining Significance In Various Duckweed Growth Scenarios

Students will observe the growth rate of duckweed (Lemna minor) over time and determine the growth rate that corresponds to the biotic potential. In addition, students will compare duckweed growth in various water conditions to determine whether or not there is a significant difference in the growth rate of duckweed from one condition to another. Time Frame: 6 hours over 4 weeks

Student Assessments

Animal Population Quiz

Duckweed Population Growth Lab Report

Population Unit Essay Test

Population Unit Multiple Choice Test

Human Population – two weeks

AP Environmental Science College Board Criteria Covered:

III. Population (10-15%)

Content / Location
Human Population
1. Human population dynamics (Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling times; demographic transition; age-structure 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 7

Major Concepts Covered

· The increase in the human population from less than a billion people to over seven billion over the past 200 years and the dramatic effect that is having on the Earth’s biosphere

· The impact of overconsumption by developed countries

· Ecological Footprints

· The Demographic Transition Model

· The human population shift from rural to urban

· Birth Rates, Death Rates, Fertility Rates, Growth Rates, and Doubling Times

· Age Structure Diagrams

Hands-on Laboratory Investigations

· Determining Significance In Various Duckweed Growth Scenarios

Classroom Activities and Simulations

· World Population Lab

· Ecological Footprints

· World Mapper Activity

· Classroom Age Pyramid

Student Assessments

Animal Population Quiz

Population Math Quiz

World Population Internet Discovery Assignment

Duckweed Population Growth Lab Report

Population Unit Essay Test

Population Unit Multiple Choice Test

End of Quarter One

Geology, Earth Dynamics, and Soil – Two Weeks

AP Environmental Science College Board Criteria Covered:

I. Earth Systems and Resources (10-15%)

Content / Location
Earth Science Concepts (Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and latitude) / Chapters 1, 2
Soil and Soil Dynamics (Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main soil types; erosion and other soil problems; soil conservation) / Chapter 8

Major Concepts Covered

· The Earth as a Dynamic Planet – plate tectonics, volcanism, earthquakes, wind and water erosion

· Weathering, Soil Formation, and the Characteristics of Soil

· Soil Composition – sand, silt, clay, organic matter, and living organisms

· Types of Soil Erosion

· Methods of Soil Conservation

Additional Concepts Covered

· The Rock Cycle –igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks; desertification; porosity and permeability; plate boundaries and fault types

Classroom activities and simulations

· Soil Porosity Activity

Students will use BB’s, small, round plastic beads, and marbles to determine the relationship between particle size and the water holding capacity of an aquifer.

Hands-on Laboratory Investigations

· Landfill Modeling

Students will build models of a landfill containing both green waste and non-green waste. Models will be monitored over the months and then dissected toward the end of the year.

· Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Soil Types

Students will analyze various local soil types for important physical and chemical characteristics. Time Frame: 4 hours over one week

· Soil Texture Lab

This lab investigates the importance of soil particle size in the germination and growth of plants. Time Frame: 4 hours over one week

Student Assessments

Plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes Quiz

Soil Analysis Lab Report

Methods of Soil Conservation PowerPoint Presentations

Geology and Soils Unit Essay Test

Geology and Soils Unit Multiple Choice Test

Agriculture and Pesticides- Two Weeks

AP Environmental Science College Board Criteria Covered:

IV. Land and Water Use (10-15%)

Content / Location
Agriculture
1. Feeding a growing population (Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture; Green Revolution; generic engineering and crop productions; deforestation; irrigation; sustainable agriculture)
2. Controlling pests (Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest management; relevant laws) / Chapters 10, 11
Fishing (Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties) / Chapter 11

Major Concepts Covered

· The Agricultural Revolution – A change in the relationship of human to the planet Earth

· The Impact of Agriculture on natural ecosystems

· The Impacts of a Meat-Centered diet

· Fisheries and Sustainable Yield

· Reducing the Impacts of Agriculture on the Natural Environment

· Types of Pesticides

· Impacts of Pesticides on the Environment

· Integrated Pest Management

· Alternatives to Pesticides

Additional Concepts Covered

· Types of Agriculture around the world; green revolution; malnutrition, under-nutrition, and over-nutrition; aquaculture; overgrazing; genetic engineering;

Hands-on Laboratory Investigations

· Salinization Lab

Students will ascertain the germination and growth rates for mung bean seeds placed in varying salt concentrations. Time Frame: 3 hour over two to three days

· Soil Nutrient Lab

Students will explore how the presence of or lack of certain nutrients in the soil affect plant growth. Time Frame: 6 hours over 4 weeks

Student Assessments

Pesticides Quiz

Salinization Lab Report

Soil Nutrient Lab Report

Agriculture and Pesticides Unit Essay Test

Agriculture and Pesticides Unit Multiple Choice Test

Land-Use, Biodiversity, and Species Extinction

Two Weeks

AP Environmental Science College Board Criteria Covered:

IV. Land and Water Use (10-15%)

Content / Location
Forestry (Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests) / Chapter 10
Rangelands (Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federal rangelands) / Chapter 10
Other Land Use
1. Public and federal lands (Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests, wetlands)
2. Land conservation options (Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration)
3. Sustainable land-use strategies / Chapter 10

VII. Global Change (10/15%)

Content / Location
Loss of Biodiversity
1. Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and extinct species.
2. Maintenance through conservation
3. Relevant laws and treaties. / Chapter 18

Major Concepts Covered

· Biodiversity

· Species Extinction – causes and mitigations

· The Importance of Habitat Preservation – wilderness, parks, refuges, and preserves

· The Public and Ecological Good versus Private Property Rights

· Deforestation, Forest Management, and Sustainable Forestry

· Ecological Roles of Species – symbiosis, predation

· Fire Ecology – the integral role that fire plays in the Earth’s ecosystems

Additional Concepts Covered

· Theory of Island Biogeography; generalist and specialist species; keystone and indicator species; resource partitioning; succession

Hands-on Laboratory Investigations

· Biodiversity Simulation Activity

Students will engage in a simulation that demonstrates the use of the Shannon-Weiner formula in determining biodiversity. Time Frame: 2 hours over one or two days

· Measuring Invertebrate Biodiversity In a Detritus Sample

Using a Berlese apparatus, students will measure invertebrate biodiversity in a detritus sample. Time Frame: 3 to 4 hours over two or three days

· Shannon-Weiner Diversity Lab

Students will use the Shannon-Weiner diversity formula to determine the biodiversity of a local ecosystem. Time Frame: 2 hours over one or two days

Student Assessments

Endangered Species PowerPoint Presentations

Invasive Species Project

Shannon-Weiner Species Diversity Lab Report

Land-use and Species Unit Essay Test

Land-use and Species Unit Multiple Choice Test

Risk Analysis and Toxicology – 1 week

AP Environmental Science College Board Criteria Covered:

VI. Pollution (25-30%)

Content / Location
Impacts on Environment and Human Health
1. Hazards to human health (Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose response 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) / Chapters 14 - 17

Major Concepts Covered

· Biomagnification versus Bioaccumulation

· Theories of Toxicology – Acute and Chronic exposure and dose response

· LD50 and LC50 Analysis

· Parts per Million, Parts per Billion, Part per Trillion concentration analysis

· Threshold versus No Threshold Effect

· Risk Analysis

Additional Concepts Covered

· Mutagens; teratogens; hormone mimics and blockers

Classroom Activities and Simulations

· Risk Assessment Activity

Students will explore the differences between perceived and actual risks and then determine their risk tolerance.

· Exploration Into the Differences Between PPM, PPB, and PPT

Students will discover the differences between parts per million, parts per billion, and parts per trillion by doing a serial dilution beginning with a one part per ten solution of Congo Red dye.

Hands-on Laboratory Investigations

· Determining the LC50 For Copper Sulfate On Daphnia magna

Students will determine the lethal concentration of Copper Sulfate that kills fifty percent of a Daphnia magna population. Time Frame: 3 hours over one or two days.

Student Assessments

LC50 Copper Sulfate Daphnia Lab Report

Risk and Toxicology Unit Essay Test

Risk and Toxicology Unit Multiple Choice Test

First Semester Final

SECOND SEMESTER COURSE OUTLINE

Water Resources and Water Pollution

three Weeks

AP Environmental Science College Board Criteria Covered:

I. Earth Systems and Resources (10-15%)

Content / Location
Global Water Resources and Use (Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use; surface and groundwater issues; global problems; conservation) / Chapter 9

VI. Pollution (25-30%)

Content / Location
Pollution Types
Water Pollution (Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; Groundwater pollution; maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage treatment/septic systems; Clean Water Act and other relevant laws) / Chapter 14

Major Concepts Covered

· Distribution of Water on Earth

· Major Classes of Water Pollution – cause, effect, and remediation

· Water purification and sewage treatment

· Effects of water diversion and the plight of aquatic species, i.e. Salmon

· DO (dissolved oxygen); BOD (biological oxygen demand); and COD (chemical oxygen demand)

Additional Concepts Covered

· Watersheds; confined and unconfined aquifers; personal water use and conservation; salinization

Classroom Activities and Simulations

· Field Trip to Sewage Treatment Plant

· Rubber Duckies

Students will research ocean currents following the paths of a container of plastic bath toys that were lost overboard during a storm.