ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE COURSE ...

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE COURSE SYLLABUS TEXT BOOKS: G. Tyler Miller, Living in the Environment, Brooks/Cole Thompson Learning, 12th ed. William Molnar, AP Environmental Science Laboratory Investigations

COURSE DESCRIPTION: AP Environmental Science is a year long course designed to be the equivalent of a one semester, introductory college course in environmental science. The goal of the AP environmental science course as described by the College Board, “ is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.” Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study including biology, chemistry, earth science, social sciences, and politics. There will be a strong laboratory and field study component to this course. Students will be expected to participate in some activities outside of the normal classroom hours. Experiences both in the laboratory and in the field provide students with unique opportunities to explore how classroom learned concepts apply to the “ real world” .

COURSE THEMES: The following themes provide a foundation for the structure of the AP Environmental Science course: 1) Science is a process a. Science is the method of learning more about the world. b. Science constantly changes the way we understand the world. 2) Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes a. Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere. b. As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable. 3) The Earth itself is one interconnected system a. Natural systems change over time and space. b. Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances. 4) Humans alter natural systems a. Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years b. Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale of their impact on the environment. 5) Environmental problems have a cultural and social context a. Understanding the role of cultural, social, and economic factors is vital to the development of solutions. 6) Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems a. A suitable combination of conservation and development is required. b. Management of common resources is essential.

METHODS: Students enrolled in AP environmental science should expect a rigorous, involved, and interactive course of study. As this is an elected course, it is expected that all students enrolled are agreeing to participate in all aspects of the course to their fullest extent. AP environmental science employs a variety of classroom methods including lectures and notes, laboratory investigations, field investigations, student written and oral research projects, class discussions, group work, and active student participation.

COURSE PLAN: UNIT 1: 6 WEEKS College Board Course Description Curriculum requirement

Required Reading: Text Book Topics & Chapters Labs CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES: Fieldtrips, videos, Readings

II. A Ecosystem Structure II.B Energy Flow II.E Natural Biogeochemical Cycles IV. G Global Economics V.A. Energy Concepts VI.C Economic Impacts  CH 1 & 2: Environmental Issues Overview, Sustainability& Environmental History  CH 3: Science as a Process, Systems, Matter & Energy  CH 4: Ecosystem dynamics & Components  Brine Shrimp Survival Student Designed Lab  Quadrant Study: Shannon Weiner Biodiversity index  Tragedy of The Commons Simulation  Article: Jarod Diamond, “ The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race”  Video: The Lorax  Article: Robert D. Bullard, “ Environmental Justice for All”  Project: Profile of a Significant Figure in Environmental History  Problem Solving Worksheet: Energy Conversions Calculations  Problem Solving Worksheet: How much Space do we need?  Class Activity: Cats over Borneo sequencing of events  Class Activity: Carbon Cycle Game

UNIT 2: 3 WEEKS College Board Course Description Curriculum requirement Required Reading: Text Book Topics & Chapters

II.C Ecosystem Diversity II.D Natural Ecosystem Change 

 

LABS:



CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES: Fieldtrips, videos, Readings

    

CH 5: Evolution and Biodiversity CH 6: Biogeography: Climate, Biomes & Terrestrial Biodiversity CH7: Aquatic Biodiversity Island Biogeography & Evolution Climatograms Specific Heat & Climate Video: Evolution, PBS- (various segments) Video: Beneath the Atlantic Ocean Project: Aquatic Life Zones of the World research & power point presentations

 

Field Trip: Zoo Atlanta Video: Chasing El Nino

UNIT 3: 4 WEEKS College Board Course Description Curriculum requirement Required Reading: Text Book Topics & Chapters Labs


II.A. Ecosystem Structure III.A Population Biology Concepts III.B Human Population  CH 8: Community Ecology  CH9: Population Dynamics, Carrying Capacity, & Conservation Biology  CH 11: Human Population Dynamics  Cemetery Study  Isle Royal Population Study  Something’ s Fishy Mark-Recapture Population Study  Global Population Trends  Project: Exotic Species Most Wanted Poster  Worksheet: Ecological Succession  Worksheet: Capture/Recapture worksheet  Article: Garrett Hardin: “ Moral Implications of Cultural Carrying Capacity”  Worksheet: Age Sex distribution diagrams



I.A. Earth Science Concepts I.D. Soil and Soil Dynamics IV.A Agriculture IV.C Rangelands IV. F Fishing  CH 10, Geology: Processes, Hazards, and Soils  CH 12, Food Resources  CH 20, Pest Management  Physical analysis of soils  Chemical analysis of Soils  Ecological Footprint calculation based on food consumption  Field Trip: East Lake Commons Organic “ gaia” Farm  Video: Harvest of Fear  Research Project: Commercial Fishing Techniques brochure  Online Video: The Meatrix Series

**********************SEMESTER BREAK***********************



I.C. Global Water Resources and Use V.E Hydroelectric power VI.A Pollution Types: Water Pollution VI.B Impacts on the Environment and Human Health VI.C Economic Impacts  CH 16: Risk, Toxicology & Human Health  CH 13: Water Resources  CH 19: Water pollution  CH 21 Solid & Hazardous Waste  LD 50 Toxicity testing  Lead testing  National and Local Water Use Calculations  Water Quality Testing, from lake Clara Mear  Tap Water Quality Testing Self Designed Experiment  Energy & Recycling Calculations  Guest Speaker: Environmental Geologist  Field Trip: Atlanta Water works  Field Trip: Waste water treatment facility  Project: Journey of Trash  Worksheet: Water loss drop by drop  Webquest: Water Diversions

UNIT 6: 3 WEEKS College Board Course Description Curriculum requirement

IV.E Mining V.B Energy Consumption V.C Fossil Fuel Resources and Use V.D Nuclear Energy

Required Reading: Text Book Topics & Chapters Labs


V.E Hydroelectric power V.F Energy Conservation V.G Renewable Energy  CH 14: Nonrenewable Mineral & Energy Resources  CH 15: Energy Efficiency & renewable energy  Mining Simulation using Chocolate Chip Cookies  Energy Resource Comparison  Carbon Footprint Calculation  Homework Survey: Personal Energy Use Audit  Demonstration: Solar Cooker  Research Project Power Point: Alternative Sources  Class work: Energy Conversions Problems Worksheets



I.B. The Atmosphere VI.A Pollution Types: Air Pollution VII.A Stratospheric Ozone VII.B Global Warming  CH 17: Air & Air pollution  CH 18 Climate Change & Ozone Loss  CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning  Measuring Particulate Air Pollution  Effects of Acid Rain on Plant Germination  Global Climate Change Analyses  Video: An Inconvenient Truth  Project: Air pollutant Brochure

College Board Course Description Curriculum requirement

IV.B Forestry IV. D Other Land Use VII.C Loss of Biodiversity

Required Reading: Text Book Topics & Chapters Labs

UNIT 8: 4 WEEKS


       

CH 22: Sustaining Wild species CH 23: Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity CH 24: Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity CH 25: Sustainable Cities Research project: Nation Park Management Local Land Use Debate Endangered species power point presentation Land Use laws


IV. G Global Economics VI.C Economic Impacts VII. C Loss of Biodiversity: Laws and Treaties


     

CH 26: Economics & The Environment CH 27: Politics & the Environment CH 28: Environmental Ethics n/a Political Activism Letter Environmental Awareness Public Service Announcements