AP Environmental Science 2015-2016Student Syllabus

AP Environmental Science 2015-2016Student Syllabus

B-Day – Block 4

Instructor: Ms. Ziegler

Office Hours: Wednesdays, 2:45-3:45

e-mail:

Phone: 973-835-1900 x701

Room 212

Course Description

AP Environmental Sciencecombines ideas and information from Earth science, biology and chemistry, as well as from the social science fields of economics and political science. Topics of study include Earth systems and resources, ecosystems, population, land and water use, energy resources and consumption, pollution, global changes, and environmental ethics, economics and policy.

Laboratory, field and internet-based research and investigations are comparable to contemporary research, investigations and problem-solving techniques. Students analyze environmental problems, evaluate risks, collect and evaluate data, and investigate complex issues and solutions to prevent, resolve or mitigate environmental problems. Field investigations, field trips and problem-solving activities will focus on in-depth analysis of environmental topics and issues.

THE EXAM

The AP Environmental Exam will be administered on Monday, May 2, 2016. This means that we have only 74 days of class before the exam (early dismissal and snow days, notwithstanding!). This exam is 3 hours in length and consists of 2 parts: a multiple choice section comprised of 100 questions and forming 60% of the grade, and a free response section comprised of 4 open-ended questions and forming 40% of the grade. The exam is designed to yield average scores of 50% of the maximum possible scores for both types of questions. No penalty is given for a wrong answer on the multiple choice section of the exam.

The multiple choice section is designed to cover the breadth of your knowledge and understanding of environmental science and includes thought provoking problems and questions based on fundamental ideas from environmental science as well as questions based on the recall of basic facts and major concepts. The number of questions taken from each major topic is reflected in the percentage of the course as designated below:

Earth Systems & Resources- 10-15%
The Living World- 10-15%
Population- 10-15%
Land and Water Use- 10-15%
Energy Resources and Consumption- 10-15%
Pollution- 25-30%
Global Change- 10-15%

The free response section emphasizes the application of principles in greater depth; you will need to organize answers to broad questions, demonstrating reasoning and analytical skills, as well as the ability to synthesize material from several sources into coherent essays. There are three types of free response questions: data analysis (1 question), document-based (1 question), and synthesis and evaluation (2 questions).

THE USE OF CALCULATORS IS NOT ALLOWED ON EITHER SECTION OF THE EXAM.

AP CENTRAL INFORMATION –

Located at:

COURSE MATERIALS

Text (must be covered at all times):

Withgott, Jay and Scott Brennan. Environment – The Science behind the Stories, 2nd Edition, New York: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings. 2007.

Other reading materials will be provided or recommended as needed

Optional: Five Steps to a Five (for 2015), or some other AP Review Book

Supplies:

Lab composition notebook/journal to be left in the classroom

3-ring binder and loose leaf paper for handouts, notes, etc.

Pen and/or pencil

Calculator

PARTICIPATIION

You are expected to participate in all class sessions and assignments. Assigned readings and exercises must be completed before the due date. You are expected to participate fully in labs, field work, and other exercises, whether individual or team-based.

EXPECTATIONS

Show respect for everyone in the class – listen, be prepared, be positive, be on time (lates begin at the late bell).

2.Textbooks must be covered at all times.

3.Bring 3-ring binder (and lose-leaf paper), textbook, a pencil and a pen to class every day.

4.You must have a pass every time you leave the classroom. Be aware that every time you ask for a pass to leave the classroom, you disrupt the other students, so use your passes carefully.

All work is due when assigned, and will be accepted no later than the Friday it was due. Assignments are found on the board and on my faculty web page.
Cheating is unacceptable. You may share ideas during discussion periods, confer with your partner during labs, work on gathering information with your classmates, HOWEVER, all answers must be in your own words. Anyone suspected of cheating will be monitored closely and if found cheating, will receive a zero for the assignment (homework, lab, project, quiz or test). The person that permitted the cheating will also receive a zero for the assignment. Your parents will also be informed of the incident. Please refer to the district policy regarding academic dishonesty.
It is your responsibility to find out what you have missed if you are absent-

Get class notes from someone in class and see me.
Make up missed work as soon as possible.
When absent, you have the number of days you were absent to make up the missed work.
For a missed test or quiz, be prepared to take a missed test or quiz the day you return to class. Tests are announced about one week in advance, as a result, no excuses will be accepted as to why you are unable to make up a test or quiz when you return.

SAFETY

Fire Exit: follow the arrow above or near the door.

Note the location of the eyewash, fire extinguisher and fire blanket.

Food – including gum and drinks is prohibited in class, unless teacher approved or supplied.

Report any injuries to me immediately.

Unauthorized experiments are prohibited.

ASSESSMENTS

Tests:

Each major unit will be assessed with an 80 minute exam. The exam will consist of about 40 multiple choice questions and one or two free response questions.

Quizzes:

Each topic will be assessed with a 20 minute quiz. The format will vary according to the topic.

Home/Class Assignments and Projects:

Assignments will include home assignments, team and individual projects and research, journal entries, reading and written assignments. All work is expected to meet professional standards. Submitted work must be neat, accurate, well-organized and on-time. No late work will be accepted

Laboratory Investigations:

Laboratory and field investigations are designed to complement the lecture portion of the course by providing opportunities to learn about the environment through first-hand observation, testing concepts and principles introduced in class, exploring specific issues and problems in greater depth, and gaining an awareness of the importance of confounding variables which exist outside the laboratory. Investigations will be diverse and will include indoor and laboratory activities. The labs are designed to challenge students 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, and communicate accurately and meaningfully about observations and conclusions.

GRADING POLICY/PROCEDURE

Grades are based upon the following:

Tests – 50%

Labs/ Projects– 30%

Quizzes– 10%

Home/Classwork– 10%

Course grades will be calculated as follows:

Quarter 1– 22.5%

Quarter 2– 22.5%

Quarter 3– 22.5%

Quarter 4– 22.5%

Final Exam– 10 %

Please refer to the district policy for Final Exam exemption for those students taking the AP Exam in May.

COURSE SCHEDULE

In general, lecture/discussion will be intermingledwith labs and/or activities. You are responsible for all material – I will stress highlights, you must fill in the details.

Please note that the schedule outlined belowwill most likely change as the course progresses. Unit 1 is complete; the remaining units will be provided at the beginning of each unit. We have only 74 days of class before the AP Exam. You will come to class prepared with the chapter assignments thoroughly read (annotated outline) and the questions at the end of the chapter completed (choose 3 Testing Your Comprehension Questions – one easy, one difficult, one moderate). Homework assignments areitalicized.

UNIT 1 – ECOLOGY (12 days)

Week of / TOPIC/READINGS/LABS/ACTIVITIES/QUIZZES/TESTS
08/31 / INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Read Chapter 1 – annotated outline & 3 Testing Your Comprehension questions
Lab – Tragedy of the Commons (09/03)
09/07 / MOLECULAR BONDING, pH & SCIENTIFIC METHODS
Read Chapter 4 – annotated outline & 3 Testing Your Comprehension questions
Activity – Comparing Molecular Bonds (09/08)
Worksheet – Review of pH Calculations (09/08)
Activity –Dogs and Turnips (09/10)
Activity – The Scientific Process Critiqued (09/10)
Activity – Essay Component Practice (09/10)
Free Response Essay Question (09/10)
09/14 / QUIZ – Chapters 1 and 4 (09/14)
NUTRIENT CYCLES AND THERMODYNAMICS
Read Chapter 7 – annotated outline & 3 Testing Your Comprehension questions
Activity – Biogeochemical Nutrient Cycle Poster (09/14)
Lab – Habitat Choice (09/16)
Worksheet – Salt Tolerance for Radish Seed Germination (09/16)
09/21 / HABITAT SELECTION
Read Chapter 5 – annotated outline & 3 Testing Your Comprehension questions
Lab – Habitat Choice (09/21)
Free Response Essay Question (09/21)
Lab – Measuring Primary Productivity (09/24)
09/28 / Read Chapter 6 – annotated outline & 3 Testing Your Comprehension questions
SCIENTIFIC WRITING AND GRAPHING, EARTH HISTORY & EVOLUTION
Activity – Grading a Free Response Question (09/28)
Activity – Creating Scientific Graphs (09/28)
Lab – History of Earth (09/30)
Lab – Directional Selection Game (10/02)
10/05 / DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE / ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY
Activity – Island Biogeography Game (10/06)
Free Response Essay Question (10/06)
10/08 / UNIT 1 TEST – ECOLOGY

UNIT 2 – POPULATION DYNAMICS (7 days)

Week of / TOPIC/READINGS/LABS/ACTIVITIES/QUIZZES/TESTS
10/12
10/19
10/26
10/29 / UNIT 2 TEST – POPULATION DYNAMICS

UNIT 3 – WATER ISSUES (10 days)

Week of / TOPIC/READINGS/LABS/ACTIVITIES/QUIZZES/TESTS
11/02
11/09
11/16
11/23
11/30
12/02 / UNIT 3 TEST – WATER ISSUES

UNIT 4 – TOXICITY, AGRICULTURE & PESTICIDES (11 days)

Week of / TOPIC/READINGS/LABS/ACTIVITIES/QUIZZES/TESTS
12/04
12/07
12/14
12/21
12/28 / NO SCHOOL (WINTER BREAK)
01/04
01/11
01/12 / UNIT 4 TEST – TOXICITY, AGRICULTURE & PESTICIDES

UNIT 5 – ATMOSPHERE ISSUES (8 days)

Week of / TOPIC/READINGS/LABS/ACTIVITIES/QUIZZES/TESTS
01/11
01/18
01/25
02/01
02/04 / UNIT 5 TEST – ATMOSPHERE ISSUES

UNIT 6 – RESOURCES & ENERGY (13 days)

Week of / TOPIC/READINGS/LABS/ACTIVITIES/QUIZZES/TESTS
02/08
02/15
02/22
02/29
03/07
03/14
03/16 / UNIT 6 TEST – RESOURCES & ENERGY

UNIT 7 – BIODIVERSITY, POLITICS & ECONOMICS (12 days)

Week of / TOPIC/READINGS/LABS/ACTIVITIES/QUIZZES/TESTS
03/14
03/21
03/28
04/04
04/11 / NO SCHOOL – SPRING BREAK
04/18
04/25
04/27 / UNIT 7 TEST – BIODIVERSITY, POLITICS & ECONOMICS

AP EXAM

Day / TOPIC/READINGS/LABS/ACTIVITIES/QUIZZES/TESTS
04/29 / Review
05/02 / APES EXAM

Name: ______AP Environmental Science

Block: ______Date: ______

AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Student Contract

Student Name: ______(Please Print)

Mother/Guardian’s Name: ______(Please Print)

Father/Guardian’s Name: ______(Please Print)

Address: ______

______

Home Phone Number: ______

Student’s Cell Number: ______

Student’s Email Address: ______

Mother/Guardian’s Work Number: ______

Mother/Guardian’s Cell Number: ______

Mother/Guardian’s Email Address: ______

Father/Guardian’s Cell Number: ______

Father/Guardian’s Work Number: ______

Father/Guardian’s Email Address: ______

We ______have read and understand the requirements, rules, and procedures for AP Environmental Science and the determination of grades for the courses. We understand and agree to abide by these rules and procedures.

______

Student Signature Parent or Guardian Signature

______

Date Date