AP Environmental Science Syllabus: Fall 2015
Ms. Anne Rizzacasa Room 528
Tahquitz High School
Textbook: Environment, the Science Behind the Stories, 4th ed., Withgott, Brennan, et al, Pearson, 2011.
Course Description, Focus and Outcome:
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 includes a wide variety of subjects, including geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography. Activities in this class include journal reading, classroom discussion, laboratory investigations and class projects.
Lastly, please note this is a laboratory-based course and when studying science, and especially ecology, the outdoors is usually where we will be collecting data. This means that you are expected to come prepared for any outside activities on our campus, field trips off campus and/or outside field investigations.
Materials Required
1. Blue or Black Pen and pencils: I realize that much of your other coursework stresses neatness and therefore other instructors may ask you to write in pencil, neatly erase and rewrite when you make an error. In this class, as in science, you simply draw a neat single line (e.g., error) in the event that you make a mistake. We will discuss why this is standard procedure in any scientific investigation. Pencil will be used for drawings.
2. Two Bound Notebooks: One notebook will be used for agendas, notes, vocabulary and other assignments. The second notebook will be your lab notebook.
3. Calculator: Not used daily, but you will find it very helpful for data crunching and practice problems. A graphing calculator is preferred (i.e., TI-83,84), though not required. Keep in mind that on the AP exam, calculators are not allowed.
Course Expectations
•This is a college-level course that is designed to function as a preparatory journey for both the success in passing the AP Exam and to expose you to the rigor required in an authentic college course. This course is tough, so please take it seriously and come prepared to learn everyday, having completed both your homework and assigned reading. NO EXCUSES.
•On days when we will have a discussion or presentation, you are expected to meaningfully contribute to our conversations. This means being informed, opinionated and respectful of everyone’s thoughts, ideas and opinions.
•Constantly learn and inform yourself of the issues we discuss, learning the details of the topic, but always seeing the big picture. Keep an open mind, and be inquisitive, questioning evidence and asking for more. Learning to see the proverbial forest (pun intended) for the trees in very important in studying environmental science.
•Lastly, as an extra reminder, conduct yourself in an honest and respectful manner at all times. You are academics and you will be expected to rise and excel this expectation. For example, when involved in a heated discussion (which will often happen when discussing global issues in environmental science), keep the discussion factual and support your answers with evidence (from the text or data) rather than personal attacks of opinion, political views or someone’s personal demeanor. All political, religious, and other views will be respected in an argument, regardless of how you feel about them personally.
The Exam:
The AP Exam is 100 Multiple Choice questions in 90 minutes and four essays in 90 minutes. The essays include one document-based question (DBQ), one data set (quantitative) question, and two more general synthesis and evaluation questions. Test date: Monday, May 2, 2016.
Late work Policy:
Late work will be accepted at 80% up to the unit test date but the course is a rigorous fast paced. If a student has an excused absence on the due date of any test, assignment, project, etc., the assignment is due the next day the student is in school. The same policy applies to exams and tests- again, they MUST be made up on the very next day a student returns after an excused absence.
Grading: Grading will be calculated using the following scale
Labs/ Projects / 25%Assignments / 25%
Exams / Quizzes / 50%
Extra Help and Support: My biggest goal as your teacher is to see you succeed in learning to communicate scientifically, collect data and evidence, as well as utilize and engage in scientific analysis to formulate and revise theories, ideas and thoughts, but also have fun doing it. You will learn very quickly I am very passionate about this subject matter, so if you are having trouble with assignments, projects, etc., it is your responsibility to come see me and seek help. I am available before, during and after school, or by appointment to help. There are also a number of other help opportunities, including Assets tutoring afterschool in the library. See me sooner, rather than later with any needs, help or concerns.
Year at a Glance
Unit 1 Why Environmental Science? Week 1-4 August 10 – Sept 4
Chapter 1
______
Unit 2 Living World Week 5-11 Sept 8- Oct 23
Chapter 3, 4, 11, 18, 5, 8
______
Unit 3 Earth Systems and ResourcesWeek 12-18Oct 26 – Dec 18
Chapter 2, 17 (p460-468), 16, 15, 9, 23, 10
______
Unit 4 Global Resources and Sustainable UsageWeek 19-24Jan 4- Feb 12
Chapter 6, 19, 24, 20, 21
______
Unit 5 Global Change and the FutureWeek 25- 32Feb 22- April 22
Chapter 7, 13, 22, 14, 17 p468-486, 12
______
Review Week 33April 25 – 29
Exam Day May 2nd 8:00 am
AP Environmental Science Schedule 2015-16
(10V = 10 vocab words;Ch work = Testing you Comprehension and Calculating Ecological Footprints)
Week # / Chapter / Date1 / Introduction & Syllabus / August 10th
Review for Prerequisite and Lab Safety Test
Due: Summer Work / August 12th
Prerequisite and Lab Safety Test / August 14th
2 / Advance Placement Textbook Tutorial / August 17th
Notebook Set Up and Vocabulary (10V) / August 19th
Lab: Duckweed Lab Set up
Notebook Check / August 21st
3 / Ch. 1 p1-10(10V) Reading Quiz / August 24th
Ch. 1 Easter Island / August 26th
The Lorax / August 28th
4 / Ch. 1 p11-20 (10V) Reading Quiz / August 31st
Ch. 1 Review Questions Corrections (Ch work)/ Ntbk Check / September 2nd
Unit 1 Exam / September 4th
5 / Labor Day No School / September 7th
Ch. 3 Lecture/ Reading Quiz (20 V) / September 9th
Ch. 3 Lecture (10V and Ch work) / Notebook Check / September 11th
6 / Ch. 4 Reading Quiz (10V) / September 14th
Ch. 4 (10V) / September 16th
Ch. 4 (10 V and Ch work) / September 18th
7 / Ch. 5 Reading Quiz (10V) / September 21st
Ch. 5 (10V) / September 23rd
Ch. 5 (10V and Ch work) / September 25th
8 / Ch. 11 Reading Quiz (10V) / September 28th
Lab: Invasive Species (Part B) / September 30th
Lab: Invasive Species Presentations / October 2nd
9 / Ch. 11 (10V and Ch work) / October 5th
Ch. 8 Reading Quiz (10V) / October 7th
Ch. 8 (10V) / October 9th
10 / Ch. / October 12th
Ch. 10 The Evolution of Disease (con’t) / October 14th
Ch. 11 Homeostasis / October 16th
11 / Ch. 11 Homeostasis (con’t) / October 19th
Ch. 11 Homeostasis (con’t) / October 21st
Ch. 12 Circulation and Respiration / October 23rd
12 / Ch. 12 Circulation and Respiration (con’t) / October 26th
Ch. 12 Circulation and Respiration (con’t) / October 28th
** Exam 2 Ch 7-12 ** / October 30th
13 / Ch. 13 The Nervous System / November 2nd
Ch. 13 The Nervous System (con’t) / November 4th
Ch. 13 The Nervous System (con’t) / November 6th
14 / Ch. 14 Infectious Disease and the Immune System / November 9th
Veterans Day No School / November 11th
Ch. 14 Infectious Disease and the Immune System (con’t) / November 13th
15 / Ch. 15 Nutrition, Activity and Wellness / November 16th
Ch. 15 Nutrition, Activity and Wellness (con’t) / November 18th
Ch. 16 Ecology / November 20th
Thanksgiving Break No School / Nov 23rd – 27th
16 / Ch. 16 Ecology (con’t) / November 30th
Ch. 17 Biodiversity and Human Affairs / December 2nd
Ch. 17 Biodiversity and Human Affairs (con’t) / December 4th
17 / Ch. 18 Human Population Growth / December 7th
Ch. 18 Human Population Growth (con’t) / December 9th
** Exam 3 Ch 13-18 ** / December 11th
18 / Review Day / December 14th
Review Day / December 16th
** FINAL EXAM ** / December 17th
** I reserved the right to change this syllabus and the class schedule at anytime **
Tentative Lab Schedule
Week # / Lab / Date1 / Introduction to Lab Safety
-Observation/Teamwork / August 11th
Sketch Outside / August 13th
2 / Duckweed research and planning / August 18th
Duckweed Experiment proposal / August 20th
3 / Waste Stream / THS Recycle program / August 25th
Scientific Method / August 27th
4 / Environmental Case Study / September 1st
Exam 1 Review Day / September 3rd
5 / Discover Life in the Soil (Day 1) / September 8th
Discover Life in the Soil (Day 3) / September 10th
6 / Stream Macro invertebrate Sampling / September 15th
Habitreking / September 17th
7 / Improving Wildlife Habitat in the Community / September 22nd
Improving Wildlife Habitat in the Community Presentations / September 24th
8 / Invasive Species Project (Part A) / September 29th
Invasive Species Project (Part C) / October 1st
9 / Species Census and Biodiversity / October 6th
Human Population / October 8th
10 / Wildlife Issues: Community Survey / October 13th
Wildlife Issues: Data Collection and Analysis / October 15th
11 / Wildlife Issues: Data Collection and Analysis / October 20th
Exam 2 Review / October 22nd
12 / October 27th
Reaction Times / October 29th
13 / - Ubiquity Results
- Protists / November 3rd
-Ouchtemology
-Paternity Testing / November 5th
14 / Owl Pellets / November 10th
TBD / November 12th
15 / Animal Diversity / November 17th
Clade Race / November 19th
NO SCHOOL THANKSGIVING BREAK
16 / Water Pollution / December 1st
Video: The Human Footprint / December 3rd
17 / LAB PRACTICAL 2 / December 8th
LAB PRACTICAL 2 / December 10th
18 / Final Review – Study Groups / December 15th
No Lab: Lecture Final December 17th
Useful Study Resources:
Science