AP ENVIRONNMENTAL SCIENCE SYLLABUS2015-2016

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Ann Nemeck

678.494-7844 ext. 470

COURSE PREREQUISITES;

The prerequisites for AP Environmental Science include one unit of Biology, one unit of Algebra and one unit of Chemistry or concurrent with Chemistry

COURSE DESCRIPTION;

The goal of this course, AP Environmental Science, is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. Students will also be able to identify and analyze environmental problems, both natural and man-made, to evaluate the risks associated with these problems and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.

Environmental Science is interdisciplinary as it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study. There are several unifying themes that cut across the many topics included in the study of environmental science. The following themes provide a foundation for the structure of the AP Environmental Science course.

  1. Science is a process
  2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes
  3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system
  4. Humans alter natural systems
  5. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context
  6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems

TEXT & MATERIALS:

Environmental Science; Earth as a Living Planet – 6th Edition by Botkin & Keller

Student companion website for your book:

At this time you will need a 3-ring binderand colored pencils . I will be asking for various household items, throughout the semester to help us accomplish some of our labs. (Please start saving empty 2 liter soda bottles. We will need 3 per lab group for an ecology lab).

METHODS:

Lectures, hands-on labs/activities, document analysis, demonstrations, discussions, current events, research projects, in-class assignments and homework are all methods of instruction that will be utilized. The AP Environmental Science Complete Laboratory Package from Carolina Biological Company will also be used. This class will meet every other day for 90 minutes a class period.(C11)

EXPECTATIONS;

  1. Grading:
  1. Unit Tests (45%)—Will be multiple choice and essay; practice AP tests will be used as well.
  2. Quizzes (20%)
  3. Labs/Activities (15%)—lab write ups are required & must follow format, wear proper attire
  4. Daily (10%)—classwork, homework
  5. December Mid Term Exam (10%)—will be multiple choice and essay, cumulative for semester

Spring Final Exam is worth 10% and is cumulative for the entire course.

  1. No late work accepted without penalty of 20% per day late. No make-up work for unexcused absences.
  1. Come to class prepared with textbook, notebook, homework, writing utensils.
  1. No personal items out during class—cell phones, i-pods, photographs, magazines, make-up, etc
  1. Follow all school rules—see handbook.
  1. Be considerate and respectful of others.
  1. If you are absent for any reason it is your responsibility to find out and complete your make-up work. PLEASE do not miss LABS. If you miss a lab/activity, you will be required to write a report on the subject matter deemed by the instructor or make it up after school.
  1. Academic Honesty: I expect you to respect your fellow students and yourself by strictly adhering to a code of academic honesty. Any academic dishonesty (i.e. cheating, plagiarism, use of cell phone during test, etc.) will automatically result in a zero on the assignment and a meeting with your parents.
  1. This is a college level course and as a result, you should expect this course to be challenging. I expect each student to act with the maturity and responsibility of a college student when handling all aspects of the course.
  1. Parents: You may contact me at any time using the email address printed under contact information. Information from the college board “for parents” can be found at

UNIT OUTLINE

Unit 1: Introduction to Environmental Problems (chapters 1-4)

  1. Environmental issues, causes, sustainability—(C8, C7)
  2. Environmental Ethics and Philosophy
  3. Measurements & uncertainty
  4. Systems, feedback & uniformitarianism
  5. Human population, population growth, bio-population
  6. Labs: tragedy of the commons lab, age pyramid, adopt a country

Unit 2: Earth’s Geosphere

Unit 3: Life on Earth I (Chapters 5-6) (C1)

  1. Biogeochemical cycles, plate tectonics, rock cycle
  2. Ecosystems & ecosystem management
  3. Labs: biogeochemical activity, plate tectonic mapping, ecosystem column

Unit 4: Life on Earth II (chapter 7-10, 14) (C2)

  1. Biological diversity, evolution, natural selection, niches
  2. Biogeography, biomes
  3. Bioproductivity & energy flow, food webs, trophic levels
  4. Ecological restoration, succession, climate shift
  5. Endangered species, wildlife management
  6. Labs: natural selection, food web activity, biodiversity lab, non-native species project

Unit 5: Food, Agriculture & Land Use (chapter 11-14) (C2)

Feeding a growing population

  1. Types of agriculture, pest management
  2. Soils
  3. Fisheries
  4. Rangelands
  5. Labs: soil testing,

Unit 6: Energy Resources and Use (chapter 17-20) (C3)

Energy sources, consumption & conservation

  1. Fossil fuels & environmental impact
  2. Alternative energies
  3. Nuclear energy
  4. Labs: Personal energy audit, oil spill lab, cost of energy, alternative energy project

Unit 7: Atmospheric Dynamics (chapters23-26)(C6)

  1. Air pollution
  2. Atmospheric composition, weather & climate
  3. Ozone depletion
  4. Indoor air
  5. Labs: ozone lab, albedo lab, global warming activity, coriolis effect lab, air analysis, carbon footprint activity, air & water currents

Unit 8: Minerals & the Environment (Chapters 27-28)(C6, C7)

  1. geologic time scale
  2. mineral resources & consumption
  3. environmental economics
  4. environmental laws
  5. labs: cookie mining, environmental law project

Unit 9: Water Supply & Water Pollution (chapters 21-22) (C5)

  1. Water supply, use & conservation
  2. Wastewater treatment
  3. Clean water act
  4. Labs: water quality lab, wastewater treatment lab, stream analysis

Unit 10: Waste Management (chapter 30) (C6)

  1. Solid waste disposal & reduction
  2. Recycling
  3. Composting
  4. Labs: Whose trash is it? lab, recycling webquest.

Extra: Urban Environments (chapter 29) (C6)

  1. Planned developments
  2. Environmental impacts
  3. Labs: urban development lab, environmental impact statement activity

Extra: Health Risks & Toxicology (chapters 15-16) (C4)

  1. Environmental risk analysis, dose response
  2. Introduction to pollution, noise pollution
  3. Hazardous chemicals
  4. Natural disasters
  5. Labs: salinity lab, natural disaster project

LONG TERM PROJECTS;

Students will be asked to analyze environmental news articles throughout the semester. Articles and the analysis are due two times per month beginning August 11-12th. This analysis will be graded and will count as a double lab grade at the end of each semester. The outline for article analysis will be handed out in class and posted on my blog.