AP Environmental Science
Mr. Miedlar
AP Environmental Science Syllabus
Contact Information
Instructor Name: Michael Miedlar
E-Mail: miedlarm@fultonschools.org
Phone: Phone: 404.847.1980 ext. 283
Available Hours: Every Wednesday mornings from 8:00-8:30. Upon giving me
a 24-hour notice, I am available all other mornings between the hours of 8:008:30, and most afternoons until 5:00.
Supplies
* Field Equipment- Journal (http://www.forestry-suppliers.com)
Bug Spray, Long Pants, Old Tennis Shoes or Boots
Textbook
The text used in the course is Living in the Environment 15th ed. by G. Tyler
Miller, Jr., and is priced at $100.00.
~Students are responsible for the proper care of distributed textbooks and
materials, including the following: providing texts and materials on book check
days; paying for lost, damaged, or intentionally destroyed textbooks; and
returning textbooks and materials at the end of the year/term/upon withdrawal
from Riverwood International Charter School. Students also forfeit the right to
another free textbook until all fines have been paid.
Prerequisites
AP Environmental Science is open to any student who has completed Biology I,
Chemistry, Physics or Physical Science, and Algebra II with at least an 85%
average or above in all. Also students must have a teacher recommendation in
order to enroll in the class.
Academic Integrity
All students are expected to abide by the Riverwood Academic Integrity Policy as
outlined in the student handbook.
Room 703
AP Environmental Science
Mr. Miedlar
Grading Determination and Scale
The following represents potential grades collected during a school quarter:
Classwork/Daily Work: 15%
Labs/Projects: 30%
Exams: 40%
Final Exam: 15%
A = 90 and above
B = 80 - 89
C = 70 - 79
F = 69 and below
Extra Credit
Extra credit can be allowed, but depends on student performance and
participation. If the student has more than 1 incomplete grade in the class and
has lacked participation in classroom discussions and assignments, than the
student forfeits the right for extra credit. Extra Credit is a privilege, not a
right!
APES Exam Format
I. Multiple Choice
1.5 Hours Long
60% of Final Grade
100 Questions
Types of questions:
1. Options First – glorified matching, definition, easiest
Questions 12-14 refer to the following prcesses.
(A) Nitrification
(D) Ammonification
(B) Denitrification
(E) Nitrogen Fixation
(C) Assimilation
12. Ammonia is converted to nitrite, then to nitrate.
13. Plant root absorb ammonium ions and nitrate ions for use in making
molecules such as DNA, amino acids, and proteins
14. Nitrate ions and nitrite ions are converted into nitrous oxide gas and nitrogen
gas.
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AP Environmental Science
Mr. Miedlar
2. Negative Stem – all of answers are right except one
Factors contributing to the rise in world hunger include all of the following
EXCEPT
(A) Unequal distribution of available food supplies
(B) loss of or decline in arable land
(C) increasing rate of population growth
(D) increasing poverty in developing countries
(E) increasing consumption of vegetable protein in place of meat protein
3. Roman Numeral Questions-
Reasons that the population size of an exotic species often grows rapidly when
the species is introduced in a new environment include which of the following?
I.
The exotic species is resistant to pesticides.
II.
There is a large, underutilized food source in the new environment.
III.
The exotic species has few natural predators in the new
environment.
(A) I only
(B) II only (C) I & II only
(D) II & III only
(E) I, II, &
III
4. Least/Most Likely – not just one right answer, pick the best
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be an effect of global warming?
(A) Loss of fertile delta regions for agriculture
(B) Change in global patterns of precipitation
(C) Extinction of some species that have narrow temperature
requirements
(D) Decreased rate of photosynthesis in vegetation
(E) Increased frequency of hurricanes
5. Data Interpretation and Analysis
A country currently has a population of 100 million and an annual growth rate of
3.5%. If the growth rate remains constant, what will be the population of this
country in 40 years.
(A) 150 million
(B) 200 million
(C) 300 million
(D) 400
million
II. Free Response Questions (FRQ)
1.5 Hours long
40% of Final Grade
4 Questions
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AP Environmental Science
Mr. Miedlar
Types of questions:
1. Data Set Question (1) – mathematical calculations
2. Synthesis and Evaluation (2) – possible simple calculations
3. Document Based Question (1) – article intro, must demonstrate
knowledge gained from course.
**UGA requires a score of 4 or higher for 4 hours of college credit,
while GA Tech requires a 5 for college credit**
Unit 1
Ch. 1 Environmental Problems
Lecture: “The State of the World Address” A lecture and discussion of our
current environmental situation.
WS: Basic Chemistry and Measurement Review
Activity: Opinion Paper on Summer Reading Assignment
Video/Activity: The Lorax
Activity: Power of Doubling
Lab: Determine Ecological Footprint
Video: 11th Hour
Reading: Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac.
Ch. 2 Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy
Lecture: “Basics of Science: Scientific Method, SI, and Research Design”
Reading/Activity: Hardin, Garrett. Tragedy of the Commons
Lab: Leaves of Steel
Unit 2
Ch. 3 Ecosystems
Lecture: Ecosystems
WS: Eating at a Lower Trophic Level
Lab: Soil Screen Sieves
Activity: The Nitrogen Game
Video: Blue Planet: Seasonal Seas
Ch. 4 Evolution and Biodiversity
Lecture: “Evolution and Environment”
Activity: Frogs In The Pond
Video: Walking With Caveman, Exploring Biodiversity
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Mr. Miedlar
Ch. 5 Biogeography
Lecture: “Weather and Biomes”
Activity: Student Videos over assigned Biomes
Demo: Air Mass and Convection
Activity: Climatograms
Ch. 6 Aquatic Ecology
Lecture: “Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems”
Lab: Pond or River Field Study
Unit 3
Ch. 7 Community Ecology
Lecture: “Community Interactions”
Activity: Dichotomous Choice
Lab: Leaf Litter Lab/Simpson’s Index
Video: Life In The Undergrowth – Intimate Relationships
Ch. 8 Population Ecology
Lecture: “Populations”
WS: Kaibab Deer Population & Turkey Trouble
Activity: Rabbit and Coyote
Lab: Worm Slurry
Activity: Mark-Recapture
Video: Bill Nye: Asexual vs. Sexual Reproduction
Ch. 9 The Human Population and Its Impact
Lecture: “The Human Presence: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”
Video: Dot Video
WS: Calculating Double Time
Video: World in the Balance: The People Paradox
Activity: “Reading and Constructing Age Structure Diagrams”
Video: Pennies A Day
Unit 4
Ch. 15 Geology
Lecture: “Plate Tectonics, Rock Cycle, and Soil Formation”
Activity: Volcanoes and Plate
Article: Toxic Sludge
Video: Baraka Excerpt
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Mr. Miedlar
Lab: Copper Extraction
Ch. 16 Non-Renewable Energy Resources
Lecture: “A History of Non-Renewable Energy”
Lab: Home Energy Audit
WS: Estimate Your Personal Radiation Dose
Article: Final Warning
Lab: Examining Energy Sources
Ch. 17 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Lecture: “Renewable Energy Technology: It is available, effective, & affordable”
Video: Who Killed The Electric Car?
WS: E and Power, PV and Wind E
Lab: Building passive solar heat exchangers
Article: Any Way the Wind Blows
Ch. 23 Sustainable Cities
Lecture: “Sustainable Cities: Changing the Way We Build”
Activity: Build a model of a sustainable house or community
6 Days
Unit 5
Ch. 18 Risk, Toxicology, and Health
Lecture: “Risk Management and Public Health”
Lab: Toxicology of Household Substances
Lab: LD50 Lab: Brine Shrimp Assay
Video: Bill Nye - Antibiotics, Annie Leonard – Cosmetics
Ch. 13 Pesticides and Pest Control
Lecture: “Pesticides or IPM?”
Reading: Carson, Rachael. Silent Spring. “The Other Road”
Ch. 22 Solid and Hazardous Waste
Lecture: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Then Maybe Throw it Away”
Lab: Garbology Lab (Personal Garbage Collection and Analysis)
Video: The Story of Stuff & Captain Charles Moore
Lab: Plastic Identification
Unit 6
Ch. 19 Air and Air Pollution
Lecture: “Air and the Pollution Thereof”
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Mr. Miedlar
Lab: Lichens and Air Pollution
Ch. 20 Climate Change and Ozone Loss
Lecture: “Global Warming, Ozone Loss, and the Greenhouse effect”
Lab: Understanding the Climate
WS: CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning
Demo: Ozone Layer
Article: Surviving a Warmer World
Video: Annie Leonard – Cap & Trade
Ch. 14 Water Resources
Lecture: “Water Resources in the US”
Activity: How Much Water Do You Use?
Article: Facing the Freshwater Crisis
Video: Annie Leonard – Bottled Water
Ch. 21 Water Pollution
Lecture: “Causes and Consequences of Water Pollution”
Demo: Polluted Runoff
Lab: Biodegradable Materials and Their Effect on DO Levels
Lab: Wastewater Treatment Challenge
FT: Wastewater Treatment Plant
Ch. 13 Food Resources
Lecture: “Where does your food come from?”
Video: The Meatrix, Store Wars, Food Inc., Bill Nye
Lab: Salinization
Unit 7
Ch. 11 Sustaining Wild Species
Lecture: “Strategies for Preserving Diversity”
Activity: Endangered Species Report
Reading: The 6th Extinction
Ch. 10 Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity
Lecture: “Land Management”
Reading: Selected excepts from A Sand County Almanac
Ch. 12 Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity
Lecture: “Aquatic Ecosystems and Fisheries Management”
Video: Blue Planet: Deep Trouble
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AP Environmental Science
Mr. Miedlar
Unit 8
Ch. 24 Economics and the Environment
Lecture: “Economics and Environment: The ultimate in Cost Benefit Analysis”
Ch. 25 Politics, Environment, and Sustainability
Lecture: “Environment in American Politics”
Ch. 26 Environmental worldviews, Ethics, and Sustainability
Lecture: “Zen and the Art of Sustainability: A Look at the Worldviews That Drive
Environmental Attitudes”
Late Work Policy
According to FPS an assignment which is accepted late will have a deduction of
10% of the total assignment points per day for the first five days and accepted
up to 10 days after the due date for a maximum grade of 50% of the total points
possible (a zero will be earned if an assignment is not turned in within 10 days of
the due date). Some but not all assignments will be accepted late.
Assignments for which answers have been provided in class, or which
has been used as a teaching tool in class will not be accepted late. This
exception applies to assignments other than reports as well as projects
and homework. Individual exceptions to this policy may be obtained by a
written doctor’s excuse or through the teacher’s discretion.
Make-Up Policy
Be prepared to make up tests and or turn in assignments the day you return to
school from absences. It is your responsibility to keep up with the work you miss
due to absences. When you are absent, call a classmate and find out what you
have missed so that you can turn assignments in on time. When you return
from an absence, please see the instructor to get missed assignments,
notes, etc. At that time, you will be given a date to make-up tests or other
assignemtns. If you miss the assigned dates for either make-up or recovery
tests, you will not be allowed to take the test. Please be aware that the make-up
test may be different from the original test. The teacher will determine the
date of the make up test. However, a student must be prepared to
take a missed test during class on the day that he/she returns to class.
Please make every effort to be present on test dates!
Room 703
AP Environmental Science
Mr. Miedlar
Student Attendance Comportment and Participation
Responsibility for acquiring information disseminated during the course is the
core responsibility of the student. Students are expected to treat their teacher
and cohorts with respect at all times. Students are expected to be seated, quiet
and ready to begin class when it is time for class to begin. Students are
encouraged to network with their cohorts to obtain information lost due to an
absence. Class policy concerning absent or tardy students shall parallel that
outlined by the school regulations. Participation in class is essential to student
performance and therefore will be reflected in the grade achieved.
Classroom Management Policy
The instructor has the primary responsibility for the control over classroom
behavior and maintenance of academic integrity, and can order the removal or
exclusion from the classroom of any student engaging in disruptive conduct in
violation of the general rules and regulations for the school.
Student
Parent/Guardian
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