Welcome to APES!AP Environmental Science

Instructor: Mr. Kracht- Contact email:

Textbook and Materials

Miller, Living in the Environment (15th Edition), Thomson Learning, Inc.,

  • 3 ring binder (1”)

Course Description

AP Environmental Science is the core survey course to prepare students for in-depth study in Environmental Sciences. This course combines ideas and information from biology, chemistry and earth sciences, as well as the social science fields of economics and political science. Topics of study include water, energy, air and chemical cycles and systems, soil and biome processes, population and land development dynamics, human history and influences, community and ecosystem processes, natural resource exploitation and impacts, environmental economics and policy, and future choices.

Laboratory, field and internet-based research and investigations are emphasized to familiarize students with contemporary research, investigative and problem-solving techniques. Students analyze environmental problems, evaluate risks, collect data, prepare assessments, and investigate complex issues and solutions to prevent, resolve or mitigate environmental problems. Extensive field investigations, field trips and problem- solving exercises will focus on in-depth analysis of specific environmental topics and issues, such as river pollution causes, land use development mitigation, alternative energy resources, and air quality impacts.

What is expected of you?

This course is equivalent to a college level course, and you are expected to act as an adult at all times, whether in class, in the lab, or on a field trip. Disruption of class activities in any way will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary referrals as necessary. Cell phones must be kept turned off during school hours or they will be confiscated. Hall passes are available to make essential trips to the restroom, but overuse of this privilege will result in its termination. I expect all students to be responsible and courteous at all times.

Course Objectives

This course prepares students for the Environmental Science Advanced Placement Examination, and provides a strong foundation for future college level research and coursework. The primary course objective is student mastery of the methods, systems, principles, and applications of environmental science, with special emphasis on inter-disciplinary problem solving, technology applications, student creativity, independent thinking, and analysis and presentation of research findings. Skills and knowledge gained in this course will prepare students for further coursework in Environmental Science, as well as numerous related subjects.

Course Format

Classes are structured flexibly to accommodate different learning styles and teaching methods. Most classes will be organized as seminars to encourage group discussion, problem solving, web quests, and other activities. Laboratory exercises, fieldwork, and team-based projects will also be emphasized.

Grades:
fairly typical grade policy: 100-89.5=A, 89.4-79.5=B, 79.4-69.5=C, etc…. There will not be any available extra credit opportunities for the APES class.

Tests:
Tests will consist of approximately 25 multiple choice questions, 60% of total score, and one free response question(FRQ), 40% of total score. This will simulate the basic structure and value of the AP Test. Chapter reading assignments, class assignments, chapter quizzes and in class lecture will be assessed on unit tests.

Daily Quizzes:

Homework will primarily be checked via daily quizzes that will be based on the prior homework assignment. Daily quizzes will not be announced. Daily quizzes are based on either the homework or the material that was covered in the prior class. Students who were absent on only the prior class will be expected to be prepared for the daily quizzes. Students may only be excused from daily quizzes if they are absent for more than one day from school.

Current event:

APES students will be required to maintain a weekly journal in a three ring binder (1/2” or 1”) on current events. This is an integral part of the course in that it will keep you abreast of current happenings within the environmental community. This will be checked monthly as part of your assignments grade. The binder will be checked and graded on the first day of class every month!

Chapter Reading & Vocabulary:

APES is a term intensive subject- meaning there is a lot of terminology that is specific to the course and you need to be familiar with the vocabulary. You will be doing chapter vocab flash cards as well as weekly reading assignments. Make sure you keep up with both as they are integral for success in APES!

Attendance and Participation

You are expected to attend and participate in all class sessions and assignments. You should complete assigned reading and exercises before the date they are due, and you are expected to participate fully in labs, fieldwork, and other exercises, whether they be individual or team-based. Late work will not be accepted for credit. Assignment due during an absence should be submitted the day you return.

Class Assignments

Class assignments will include daily homework assignments, team projects and research, reading and written work. Scientists and environmental professionals are expected to present their work products in a timely, neat, accurate and well-organized fashion, and you are expected to do the same in this course. Work must be submitted on the day it is due, late work will receive no credit.

Exams and Grading

Major unit tests will be given at the end of each unit, and a cumulative final exam will be required at the end of the year. Lab reports and exercises, quizzes, team or individual projects, and homework will also be considered in determining your grade as follows:

Unit test & Finals50%

Laboratory Work & Projects30%

Homework10%

Quizzes10%

Unauthorized Collaboration, Cheating and Plagiarism

Your instructor has ZERO tolerance for cheating, copying, or unapproved collaboration of any kind. It is assumed that you will strictly abide by the Academic Honor Code. In particular make sure that you cite all references, including internet sites, in all submitted work.

Course Outline:

Units of Study / Unit Topics
Unit 1- Introduction to Environmental Science:
Chapters
  1. Environmental Problems, Their Causes & Sustainability
  2. Science, Systems, Matter & Energy
  3. Ecosystems: What are they and how do they work?
Test Date: Sept 24th /
  1. Intro to Course & Terminology
  2. Scientific Methods & Critical Thinking [C8]
  3. Experimental Design & Analysis [C9]
  4. Nature of Science
  5. The Nature of Ecology
  6. Ecosystem Components [C2]
  7. Bio-Diversity [C7]
  8. Review of Basic Chemistry [C8]
  9. Energy Flow in Ecosystems [C2] [C8]
  10. Matter Cycling in Ecosystems [C2]

Unit 2- Biodiversity
Chapters
  1. Evolution & Biodiversity
  2. Climate & Terrestrial Biodiversity
  3. Aquatic Biodiversity
Test Date: Oct 19th /
  1. Evolution, Natural Selection & Adaptation [C2]
  2. Ecological Niches & Adaptation [C2]
  3. Speciation, Extinction & Biodiversity [C2]
  4. Climate & Biomes [C1]
  5. Aquatic Environments [C2]

Unit 3- Population Ecology
Chapters
  1. Community Ecology
  2. Population Ecology
  3. Applying Pop Eco: The Human Population & Its Impact
Test Date: Nov 9th /
  1. Community Structure & Species Diversity [C2]
  2. Species Interactions [C2]
  3. Ecological Succession [C2]
  4. Population Ecology
  5. Population Dynamics & Carrying Capacity [C3]
  6. Reproductive Patterns [C3]
  7. Human Population Dynamics [C3]
  8. Human Population Growth [C3]
  9. Population Age Structure [C3]
  10. Human Population Impacts on Natural Systems [C3]

Unit 4- Sustaining Biodiversity
Chapters
  1. Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity:
  2. Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach
  3. Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity
Test Date: Dec 2nd /
  1. Human Impacts on Terrestrial Diversity
  2. Managing & Sustaining Forests [C4]
  3. Forest Resource & Management in the United States [C4]
  4. Tree Plantations & Old Growth Forests
  5. Sustaining Grasslands [C4]
  6. National Parks & Reserves [C4]
  7. Ecological Restoration [C4]
  8. Species Extinction [C7]
  9. Habitat Loss, Degradation & Fragmentation [C7]
  10. Population Growth, Pollution & Climate Change [C3]
  11. Protecting & Restoring Wetlands [C4]
  12. Legal & Economic Approaches to species protection [C10]

Unit 5- Food Resources
Chapters
  1. Food, Soil Conservation, and Pest Management
  2. Water
  3. Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources
Test Date: Dec 18th- Day Before Winter Break! /
  1. Food & Soil Conservation [C4]
  2. Sustaining Agriculture [C4]
  3. The Gene Revolution [C4]
  4. Aquaculture [C4]
  5. Global Food Security [C4]
  6. Pest Management [C4]
  7. Aquatic Resources
  8. Aquaculture [C4]
  9. Dams & Reservoirs [C1]
  10. Sustaining Water Resources [C10]
  11. Mineral Resources
  12. Geological Processes [C1]
  13. Rock Cycle [C1]
  14. Using Mineral Resources more Sustainably [C4] [C10]

Unit 6- Energy Resources
Chapters 16 & 17
  1. Nonrenewable Energy
  2. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Test Date: Jan 14th /
  1. Types of Energy Resources [C5]
  2. Fossil Fuels [C5]
  3. Nuclear Energy [C5]
  4. Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy[C5]
  5. Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency[C5]
  6. Hydro-Power[C5]
  7. Wind-Power[C5]
  8. Energy from Biomass[C5]
  9. Geothermal Energy[C5]
  10. Hydrogen [C5]
  11. Sustainable Energy Strategies [C5}

Sem 1 Final: Jan 22nd / Units 1-6 Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17.
Unit 7- Environmental Hazards & Human Health
Chapters 18, 19, 20
  1. Environmental Hazards and Human Health
  2. Air Pollution
  3. Climate Change and Ozone Depletion
Test Date: Feb 23rd /
  1. Risks & Hazards [C6]
  2. Biological Hazards [C6]
  3. Chemical Hazards [C6]
  4. Toxicology [C6]
  5. Air Pollution
  6. Structure & Science of the Atmosphere [C1]
  7. Acid Deposition [C7]
  8. Indoor/Outdoor Air Pollution [C7]
  9. Health Effects of Air Pollutants [C7]
  10. Reducing/Preventing Air Pollution [C7]
  11. Clean Air Act
  12. Effects of Air Quality on Human Health [C10]
  13. Climate Change & Ozone Depletion
  14. Paleoclimatology [C7]
  15. Greenhouse Effect [C7]
  16. Climate & Human Activities [C7]
  17. Factors Affecting Earth’s Temp [C7]
  18. Effects of Global Warming [C7]
  19. Dealing with Global Warming [C7]
  20. Ozone in the Troposphere [C7]
  21. Ozone in the Stratosphere [C7]

Unit 8- Environmental Quality
Chapters 21, 22
  1. Water Pollution
  2. Solid and Hazardous Waste
Test Date: March 18th /
  1. Water Pollution [C6]
  2. Sources, Types & Effects [C6]
  3. Pollution of Streams & Lakes [C6]
  4. Pollution of Groundwater [C6]
  5. Ocean Pollution [C6]
  6. Preventing & Reducing Surface Water Pollution [C6]
  7. Drinking Water Quality [C6]
  8. Effects of Water Quality on Human Health [C10]
  9. Clean Water Act
  10. Solid & Hazardous Waste [C6]
  11. Types of Solid Wastes [C6]
  12. Disposal & Reduction [C6]
  13. Dealing with Hazardous Waste [C6] [C10]

Unit 9- Environmental Economics
Chapters 23& 24
  1. Sustainable Cities
  2. Economics, Environment and Sustainability
Test Date: April 16th /
  1. Sustaining Human Societies
  2. Urbanization & Urban Growth [C4]
  3. Urban resources & Environmental Problems [C4]
  4. Transportation & Urban Development [C4]
  5. Urban Land-Use Planning & Control
  6. Economics & Environmental Sustainability [C3]
  7. Economic Systems & Sustainability [C6]
  8. Economic Tools for Improving Environmental Quality [C10]

Unit 10- Politics & Worldviews
Chapters 25 & 26
  1. Politics, Environment and Sustainability
  2. Environmental Worldviews, Ethics and Sustainability
Test Date: April 16th /
  1. Politics & Environmental Sustainability
  2. Environmental Policy [C10]
  3. Environmental Laws
  4. Global Environmental Policy [C7]
  5. Environmental Worldviews & Values

AP Test Date: May 11th