AP Environmental Science



AP Environmental Science

Text

Living in the Environment by G. Tyler Miller, Jr. 15th edition, 2007, Brooks / Cole Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0-495-01598-7

Other Resources

In addition to the textbook, students will be utilizing lab manuals, periodicals, reading/case studies and the Internet.

Course Description

The AP Environmental Science course is a full-year course designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science. The course covers a wide variety of science topics including biology, chemistry, physics, geology, geography and ecology. The AP Environmental Science course has been developed to be like a rigorous science course that stresses specific principles and analysis that includes a laboratory component; as such, it is intended to enable students to undertake, as a first year college student, a more advanced study of topics in environmental science or , alternatively, to fulfill a basic requirement for a laboratory science and thus free time for taking other courses. In both breadth and level of detail, the content of the course reflects what is found in many introductory college courses in environmental science. The goal of the course is to provide students with 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, to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them, and to develop and focus their own political perspective.

Overview

Classes are run in block scheduling with 90 minute periods on alternating days. Students are evaluated through their lab notebook as well as textbook reading quizzes every class (see reading schedule), activities (chapter outlines they fill in as they read), projects and exams.

All AP Environmental Science labs are discovery and Inquiry based. The scientific principles and disciplines are an integral part of the course. Students are encouraged throughout the course to consider the scientific principles and disciplines when completing activities and laboratories and/or fieldwork. Laboratory work is done within the classroom as well as outside on school grounds and in the open high desert biome in which we are located. Field trips to a local wetland, the Truckee River, cemetery, geothermal energy plant and arboretum are also part of the Environmental Science laboratory component. This component allows them to integrate the scientific principle and disciplines with the use of the scientific method for data analysis and making predictions. Students are expected to maintain a laboratory notebook throughout the duration of the course

|Unit 1 | |

| |Topics: |

|Chapter 1 Environmental Problems, Causes & Sustainability | |

| |A. Sustainability, Stewardship & Sound Science |

|Readings | |

|Pg. 6-16 Quiz |B. General Chemistry Review, Matter and Energy Flow and Cycling |

|Pg. 16-26 Quiz | |

| |C. The Nature of Ecology, Dynamics, Food Chains and Webs |

|Chapter 2 Science Systems, Matter and Energy | |

| | |

|Readings |Activities: |

|Pg. 28-38 Quiz | |

|Pg. 39-48 Quiz |Chapter 1 Outline |

| |Chapter 2 Outline |

|Chapter 3 Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work? |Chapter 3 Outline |

| | |

|Readings | |

|Pg. 50-60 Quiz |Labs:[C-11] |

|Pg. 60-70 Quiz | |

|Pg. 70-80 Quiz |Tragedy of the Commons: Students “fish” for goldfish crackers as part of|

| |a community and must understand the rules of a “Commons” area if they |

| |are to survive. [1/2 block] |

| | |

|C-2: The course provides instruction in The Living World. |Solar Insulation and Heat Transfer in the Earth.: |

| |Students map angle of incidence to determine the change in seasons and |

|C-8: The course provides students with the scientific principles, |heat different mediums to understand thermal mass. [1 block] |

|concepts and methodologies required to understand the | |

|interrelationships of the natural world. |Understanding the Difference between Gross Primary Productivity and Net |

| |Primary Productivity. [1 block] |

| | |

| | |

| |Videos: |

| | |

|3 Weeks Total |The Lorax |

| | |

| |Gaia Hypothesis |

| | |

| |The Story of Stuff: Stuff |

| | |

|Unit 2 |Topics: |

| | |

|Chapter 4 Evolution and Biodiversity |A. Macro and Microevolution, Adaptation, Natural Selection, Speciation |

| |and Extinction |

|Readings | |

|Pg. 82-91 Quiz |B. Genetic Engineering and Modification |

|Pg. 91-98 Quiz | |

| |C. Biotic & Abiotic Factors, Biomes, Ocean and Air Currents |

|Chapter 5 Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity | |

| | |

|Readings |Activities: |

|Pg. 100-112 Quiz | |

|Pg. 112-124 Quiz |Chapter 4 Outline |

| |Chapter 5 Outline |

| |Chapter 6 Outline |

|Chapter 6 Aquatic Biodiversity | |

| | |

|Readings | |

|Pg. 126-135 Quiz |Labs:[C-11] |

|Pg. 136-142 Quiz | |

| |Climatograms: Student build a series of climatograms and determine which |

|C-1: The course provides instruction in Earth Systems and Resources.|biome is represented by each. [1/1 block] |

| | |

| |Ecological Footprint: Internet activity that allows students to measure |

| |carrying capacity, natural capital and their personal ecological |

| |footprint. [ongoing] |

| | |

|4 Weeks Total |Modeling Evolution: Students use dice to determine the fate of their |

| |organism and how they are or are not selected through random |

| |environmental changes. [1 block] |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Videos: |

| | |

| |Blue Planet: Coral Reefs |

| | |

| |PBS-Evolution |

| |Topics: |

|Unit 3 | |

| |A. Community Structure, Species Diversity and Symbiotic Relationships. |

|Chapter 7 Community Ecology | |

| |B. The Importance of Biodiversity, Managing, Protecting and Sustaining |

|Readings |Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes |

|Pg. 144-152 Quiz | |

|Pg. 152-160 Quiz |C. HIPPO |

| | |

|Chapter 10 Biodiversity: Ecosystem Approach | |

| |Activities: |

|Readings |Chapter 7 Outline |

|Pg. 191-199 Quiz |Chapter 10 Outline |

|Pg. 199-210 Quiz |Chapter 11 Outline |

|Pg. 210-220 Quiz |Chapter 12 Outline |

| | |

|Chapter 11 Biodiversity: Species Approach | |

| |Labs:[C-11] |

|Readings | |

|Pg. 223-236 Quiz |Biodiversity Index: Shannon-Weiner /Simpson Index Students determine the |

|Pg. 237-246 Quiz |biodiversity of cars in the school parking lot using 2 methods. |

| |[1 block] |

|Chapter 12 Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity | |

| |Predator-Prey Simulation: Students graph population changes between a |

|Readings |predator and its prey. [1/2 block] |

|Pg. 250-261 Quiz | |

|Pg. 261-268 Quiz | |

| |Videos: |

| | |

|C-2: The course provides instruction in The Living World. |The Cove |

| | |

|C-9: The course includes methods for analyzing and | |

|interpreting information and experimental data, including | |

|mathematical calculations. | |

| | |

|4 Weeks Total | |

|Unit 4 |Topics: |

| | |

|Chapter 8 Population Ecology |A. Population Dynamics, Carrying Capacity and Reproductive Patterns |

| | |

|Readings |B. Human population Growth History, Age Structure |

|Pg.161-165 Quiz | |

|Pg. 165—170 Quiz |C. Environmental Impacts: Population Numbers v. Affluence |

| | |

|Chapter 9 Human Population | |

| |Activities: |

|Readings |Chapter 8 Outline |

|Pg. 171-182 Quiz |Chapter 9 Outline |

|Pg. 182-190 Quiz | |

| |Human Population Packet (Population Pyramids, Doubling Time, % increase, |

| |Survivorship Curves, internet component) |

| | |

|C-3: The course provides instruction in populations. |Labs:[C-11] |

| | |

|C-9: The course includes methods for analyzing and |Lincoln-Peterson Index –Capture Release methodology using beans. [1 block] |

|interpreting information and experimental data, including | |

|mathematical calculations. |Cemetery Demography – learning to use real life data to construct |

| |survivorship curves. Students visit the local cemetery to collect data. |

| |[ field work + 1 block] |

|3 Weeks Total | |

| |Videos: |

| | |

| |World In Balance: Part 1 The People Paradox |

| | |

| |Topics: |

|Unit 5 | |

| |A. Soil Structure, Food Production, Erosion, Desertification, Salinization |

|Chapter 13 : Food, Soil Conservation and Pest management |and Sustainable Farming. |

| | |

|Readings |B. Water Resources, Use , Misuse and Overuse, Maintaining Freshwater |

|Pg. 270-277 Quiz |Supplies. |

|Pg. 278-286 Quiz | |

|Pg. 286-303 Quiz |C. Water Pollution: Sources, Types, Effects and Reduction. |

| | |

|Chapter 14: Water |Activities: |

| | |

|Readings |Chapter 13 outline |

|Pg. 305-316 Quiz |Chapter 14 outline |

|Pg. 316-332 Quiz |Chapter 21 outline |

| |Soil and Water Percolation Activity / Demo |

|Chapter 21: Water Pollution | |

| |Labs:[C-11] |

|Readings | |

|Pg. 493-503 Quiz |Soil Composition: Analysis by Hydrometer, the Bouyoucos Method and Chemical|

|Pg. 504-517 Quiz |Analysis. |

| |[1 block] |

| | |

|C-4: The course provides instruction in Land and Water use. |BOD (biological oxygen demand) and Eutrophication Students examine the |

| |effects of fertilizer in an aquatic ecosystem. |

|C-6: The course provides instruction in pollution. |[ 1 block] |

| | |

| |Water Quality Analysis of Swan Lake and Truckee river |

| |[field work + ongoing] |

|4 Weeks Total | |

| |Sewage Treatment Design: Students research how water treatment facilities |

| |work and create their own miniature water treatment facility. |

| |[ field trip + ongoing] |

| | |

| |Videos: |

| |Food Inc |

| |The Story of Stuff: Bottled Water |

| |Gimme Green |

| |Earth Revealed: Wind Dust and Deserts |

| | |

| |Earth Revealed: Groundwater |

|Unit 6 |Topics: |

| | |

|Chapter 22: Solid, Hazardous Waste |A. Types and Sources of Hazardous Waste |

| | |

|Readings |B. Waste Management and Recycling |

|Pg: 519-533 Quiz | |

|Pg. 533-545 Quiz |C. Epidemiology, Toxicology and Risk |

| |Analysis |

|Chapter 18 Environmental Hazards, | |

|Human Health |Activities: |

| | |

|Readings: |Chapter 22 outline |

|418-428 Quiz |Chapter 18 outline |

|429-438 Quiz | |

| | |

| |Labs: [C-11] |

|C-6: The course provides instruction in pollution. | |

| |Personal Solid Waste Collection: Students |

| |collect and analyze their own garbage |

|C-10: The course teaches the students how to identify |(packaging) over a 48 hr period. |

|and analyze environmental problems, to evaluate the |[ 1 block] |

|ecological and human health risks associated with | |

|these problems. |Toxicology- Testing LD50: Students test |

| |several solutions to determine the lethal |

|3 Weeks Total |dose of 50 percent for Brine Shrimp. |

| |[ 1 block] |

| | |

| |Videos: |

| | |

| |Garbage Warrior |

| |Trashed |

| |The Story of Stuff: Electronics |

|Unit 7 |Topics: |

| | |

|Chapter 19 Air Pollution |A. Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution, Acid Deposition |

| | |

|Readings: |B. Causes and Solutions of Global Climate Change |

|Pg. 439-452 Quiz | |

|Pg. 452-463 Quiz | |

| |Activities: |

|Chapter 20 Climate Change, Ozone Depletion | |

| |Chapter 19 outline |

|Readings: |Chapter 20 outline |

|Pg. 464-471 Quiz | |

|Pg. 471-479 Quiz |Labs:[C-11] |

|Pg. 479-491 Quiz | |

| |Cars, CO2 and You: Students will calculation gas consumption and CO2 for several|

| |types of vehicles. |

| |[ 1 block] |

|C-1: The course provides instruction in Earth Systems and | |

|Resources. |Ground Level Ozone Testing Students prepare their |

| |own Schoenbein paper to test Ozone levels at different |

|C-6: The course provides instruction in pollution. |locations. |

| | |

| |[1 ½ blocks.prep/test/analysis] |

|C-7: The course provides instruction in Global Change. | |

| |Videos: |

| |Race to Save the Planet:: Do We Really Want to Live |

| |This Way? |

|3 Weeks Total | |

| |An Inconvenient Truth |

| |Carbon Nation |

| |The Story of Stuff: Cap and Trade |

| |Topics: |

|Unit 8 | |

| |A. Earth’s Geological Cycles, Plate Tectonics and Minerals |

|Chapter 15 Mining | |

|Readings |B. Types of Nonrenewable Energy and their Environmental Effects |

|Pg. 334-344 Quiz | |

|Pg. 345-354 Quiz |C. Energy Efficiency and Forms of Renewable |

| |Energy. |

|Chapter 16 Nonrenewable Energy | |

|Readings | |

|Pg. 355-365 Quiz |Activities: |

|Pg. 365-371 Quiz |Chapter 15 Outline |

|Pg. 371-382 Quiz |Chapter 16 Outline |

| |Chapter 17 Outline |

| | |

|Chapter 17 Renewable Energy | |

|Readings |Labs:[C-11] |

|Pg. 384-394 Quiz | |

|Pg. 394-403 Quiz |Cookie Mining: provides and introduction to the economics of mining, using |

|Pg. 403-414 Quiz |three types of chocolate |

| |chip cookies. |

|C-1: The course provides instruction in Earth Systems and Resources. |[ ½ block] |

| | |

|C-5: The course provides instruction in Energy Resources and |Biodiesel Lab: Students convert used cooking oil |

|Consumption. |into a useable form of Biodiesel. |

| | |

|4 Weeks Total |[2 blocks] |

| | |

| |Alternative Energy Build: Students construct varying forms of mechanics to |

| |capture natural energy and |

| |convert it into electrical power. |

| | |

| |[field trip +ongoing] |

| | |

| |Videos: |

| | |

| |Who Killed The Electric Car? |

| | |

| |Gasland |

| |Topics: |

|Unit 9 | |

| |A. Urbanization and Suburban Sprawl |

|Chapter 23 Sustainable Cities | |

| |B. Urban Land-Use Planning and Control |

|Readings | |

|Pg. 548-558 Quiz |C. Jobs, Poverty and the Environment |

|Pg. 558-568 Quiz | |

| | |

|Chapter 24 Economics, Environment | |

|and Sustainability |Activities: |

| |Chapter 23 Outline |

|Readings |Chapter 24 Outline |

|Pg. 569-580 Quiz | |

|Pg. 581-590 Quiz | |

| |Labs:[C-11] |

|C-7: The course provides instruction in Global Change. | |

| |Solar Water Heater Design and Construction: Students |

| |design and construct their own solar water heater |

|2 Weeks Total |using passive solar energy. |

| | |

| |[Ongoing] |

| | |

| |Tree Volume: Students build their own clinometers to determine the volume and |

| |number of board feet in |

| |several trees and determine how many trees of that |

| |certain size it take to build a 2,000 square foot home. |

| | |

| |[field trip +1 block] |

| | |

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C-11 The course includes a laboratory and/or field investigation component.

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