AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
General Information and Summer Work
Instructor: Bill Blythe
Email:
Course Description:
AP Environmental Science provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. This course includes methods for analyzing and interpreting information and experimental data, including mathematical calculations. This course teaches students how to identify and analyze environmental problems, to evaluate the ecological and human health risks associated with these problems, and to critically examine various solutions for resolving or preventing them. You will spend at least one class period per week engaged in laboratory and/or field work.
Course Pre-requisites:
The course pre-requisites for this class are one unit of Biology, one unit of Chemistry, and one unit of Algebra(Freshman Academy students will be ok). You must also know how to do math with decimals, scientific notation, and dimensional analysis WITHOUT a calculator!
Course Topics:
Earth Systems & Resources (10-15%)Energy Resources & Consumption (10-15%)
The Living World (10-15%)Pollution (20-30%)
Populations (10-15%)Global Change (10-15%)
Land & Water Use (10-15%)
AP Exam
3 hour test
Multiple choice: 90 minutes to complete 100 questions60% of grade
FRQ: 90 minutes to complete 4 FRQ’s 40% of grade
- One Data based (no calculator)
- One Document based
- Two Synthesis & Evaluation
Class Needs:
Things you will need for this class (tentative):
- An email address that you check DAILY. Often throughout the school year I will send email updates and important information.
- An understanding that you might get dirty or wet during class. We will be outside frequently.
- An extra set of clothing & shoes- just in case you get too dirty during class. Having a pair of rain boots would be good, too.
- Positive attitude and understanding that YOU must be able to work independently and complete assignments on time.
- 3 ring binder, colored pencils, calculator
- An APES Review Guide such as Barron’s, Kaplan, Princeton Review (Cracking the APES Exam), The Smartypants Guide. These usually run from $10-$20 each
- It would be great if you were able to use PowerPoint, Excel (graphs), Moviemaker/Photostory.
Summer Work
You have 2 assignments to complete before August 1st:
- Article Collection- Collect 20 articles related to environmental science. See the AP Environmental Science Course Topics for a list of subjects related to environmental science. You may save the articles digitally for now. We will use these next year. The articles should be recent- written within the last 1-2 years.
- Reading Assignment“ The World Without Us” by Alan Weisman
A.Book Reflection: Briefly summarize the entire book. In your reflection include answers to the following questions…
- How does this book relate to this class?
- How did you feel about the book, was it a good book?
- Do you agree with the author’s viewpoint? Why or why not?
- Is it well written, interesting, or boring? Why?
- Are you learning some things that you did not know before?
- Is it changing your viewpoint or thinking? How?
- What information affected you the most? Would you recommend it to others?
B.Formatting: This may be hand written (but must be LEGIBLE!) or typed. If you type, please use Times New Roman or Arial font, size 12.