APES (A.P. Environmental Science)      Syllabus

current info from the AP course College Board web site

TEXTBOOK: Wright, Richard T. Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005.

FIRST SEMESTER

FIRST SIX WEEKS

• Collect summer assignment
• Course guidelines and general information
  • AP exam information
  • Formal lab report guidelines
• General AP Environmental Science information
  • The Themes and "Big Ideas" of APES
  • Environmental Quote discussion (quotes from scientists, politicians, writers, activists, etc.)
  • Scientific Method and Experimental Design Review
  • American Environmental Movement Timeline
  • Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning
  • Tragedy of the Commons
  • Principles of Ecosystem Sustainability
• Math Review,Chem, and Physics topics pre-test
• Chapter 1: Introduction: Toward a Sustainable Future
  • Ch. 1 notes
• Chapter 2: Ecosystems: What They Are
  • Ch. 2 notes
  • Food Chain-Food Web Mini-Lab
  • Ch. 2 homework: essay questions
• Formal Lab: Environmental Skills
• Chapter 3: Ecosystems: How They Work
  • Ch. 3 notes
  • Predation Lab
  • Carbon Cycle game
  • Chemistry Review Notes: matter and energy, chemical names and formulas, thermochemistry
  • Ch. 3 homework: essay questions
  • Ch. 2-3 Test
• Chemistry Lab: Molecular Models of Hydrocarbons and other organic molecules
• Chapter 4: Ecosystems: How They Change
  • Ch. 4 notes
  • Cats of Borneo activity
  • Moose and Wolves of Isle Royale activity
  • Genetics Review
  • Carrying Capacity Mini-Lab
  • Ch. 4 homework: essay questions
• Biome (or Biogeochemical Cycles) Project assigned and presented

SECOND SIX WEEKS

• Ch. 4 Test
  • Tragedy of the Commons Lab
• Chapter 5: The Human Population: Dimensions
  • Ch. 5 notes
  • Formal Lab: Sustainable Island
  • Ch. 5 homework: essay questions
• Chapter 6: Population and Development
  • Ch. 6 notes
  • Age Pyramid Mini-Lab
  • Estimating Population Size Lab
  • Ch. 6 homework: essay questions
  • Ch. 5-6 Test
• Chapter 9: The Production and Distribution of Food
  • Bioengineered and Irradiated Foods activities
  • Famine Activity - simulation and discussion
• Chapter 8: Soil: Foundation for Land Ecosystems
  • Ch. 8 notes
  • Soil Texture Triangle Activity

THIRD SIX WEEKS

• Chapter 8, continued
  • Ch. 8 homework essay questions
  • Salinization Lab
  • Physical/Chemical Characteristics of Soil Lab
  • FRQ practice
  • Ch. 8 Test (two days: multiple choice and FRQs)
• Chapter 7: Water: Hydrologic Cycle and Human Use
  • Ch. 7 notes and discussion
  • Home Water Use Survey
  • "50 Ways to Save Water" Activity
  • Tampa Bay Desalination Plant issues
  • Estuary Activity
• Chapter 17: Water Pollution and Its Prevention
  • Ch. 17 notes and discussion
  • Water Quality Testing Lab
  • Domestic Wastewater
  • Ch. 17 homework essay questions
  • FRQ practice

• Chapter 20: The Atmosphere: Climate, Climate Change, and Ozone Depletion
  • Ch. 20 notes and discussion
  • Ch. 20 homework essay questions
  • Acid Rain Plant Lab
  • Acid Rain Simulation - Lima Bean Lab
• Chapter 21: Atmospheric Pollution
  • Ch. 21 notes and discussion
  • Acid Rain Chalk Mini-lab demo
  • Ch. 21 homework essay questions
  • FRQ practice
  • Tropospheric Ozone (O₃) Lab
  • Ch. 20-21 Test (two days: multiple choice and FRQs)
• Chapter 12: Energy from Fossil Fuels
  • Ch. 12 notes
  • CO₂ Audit: your contribution to global warming
  • Cookie Mining Lab
  • Ch. 12 homework essay questions
• Chapter 13: Energy from Nuclear Power
  • Ch. 13 notes
  • Isotope Half-Life Lab
  • Power Plant field trip (virtual)
  • Chernobyl and Three Mile Island discussion
  • Ch. 13 homework essay questions

FIFTH SIX WEEKS

• Chapter 14: Renewable Energy
  • Ch. 14 notes and discussion
  • Solar Car video; discussion
  • Alternative Energy / Nuclear Energy videos; discussion
  • Ch. 14 homework essay questions
  • FRQ practice
  • Ch. 12-14 Test (two days: multiple choice and FRQs)
• Chapter 15: Environmental Hazards and Human Health
  • Ch. 15 notes and discussion
  • Risk Assessment & Risk Management discussion
  • Risk Perception and RIsk Reality Mini-Lab
• Ch. 15 homework essay questions
• Lab: Air Pollution and Combustion of Materials
• Chapter 16: Pests and Pest Control
  • Ch. 16 notes and discussion
  • IPM discussion
  • Ch. 16 homework essay questions
  • FRQ practice
  • Ch. 15-16 Test (two days: multiple choice and FRQs)
• Chapter 18: Municipal Solid Waste: Disposal and Recovery
  • Ch. 18 notes and discussion
  • Recycling Activity
  • Testing Plastics - Lab
  • Water Treatmant Plant field trip - virtual or physical
  • Ch. 18 homework essay questions

SIXTH SIX WEEKS

• Chapter 19: Hazardous Chemicals: Pollution and Prevention
  • Ch. 19 notes and discussion
  • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) discussion
  • Total Environmental Releases of Chemicals: U.S., Florida, Pinellas County
  • Ch. 19 homework essay questions
  • Ch. 18-19 Test

Chapter 10: Wild Species and Biodiversity
Chapter 11: Ecosystem Capital: Use and Restoration

Chapter 22: Economics, Public Policy, and the Environment
Chapter 23: Sustainable Communities and Lifestyles

---

Activities and resources:

• Notes with discussion and supplements
• Case studies
• Science current event articles from newspapers, magazines and online
• Vocabulary
• Book assignments
• References to classic and contemporary literature: Ishmael, Silent Spring, The Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle, etc.
• Labs and mini-labs: teamwork involving hypothesizing, measuring, graphing, inferring, simulations, models, equipment, etc. These come from many sources: the AP curriculum, books, internet, workshops, colleagues, and my own archives.
• Formal labs and lab reports
• Ongoing AP test practice and test-taking tips
• Tests and quizzes
• Presentations
• Topic video, if available
• Internet research
• Field trips: physical and/or virtual
• Supplementary graphic organizers such as concept maps and foldables
• Making posters or drawings
• Word root - prefix - suffix analysis
• Peer teaching / coaching