 https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_e
mbedded&v=XbkWgPHjtaY#t=19
AP Environmental Science 2015-2016
UMSL BIOL 1202
Mrs. O’Connor
Room C120
Welcome to ‘APES’! 
AP Environmental Science
Through this course, you will learn about the many
ways humankind is impacting the environment.
This class will prepare you for the AP test and may
also provide you with UMSL credit for
Environmental Biology BIOL 1201.
It will likely change your view of the world and your
role in it. CAUTION: It could change your whole
life!
Pre-requisites: NONE.
If you did not earn an A or B in biology and
chemistry however, you may be deficient in some of
the content that I expect you to know at this point.
As a result, parts of this class may be especially
challenging for you.
It is important that you seek assistance as soon as
you find your self struggling so that I can help you
as needed.
DUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY
This class may be taken for advanced credit
through University of Missouri-St. Louis.
More information will be provided to students
within the first few weeks of class.
The two semester grades for the high school
course will be averaged to calculate the grade
for the three (3) university credit hours.
DUAL CREDIT
(www.umsl.edu/acp)
How to get credit: Register for this class, print
out your form, have your parent sign it and turn
it in to me.
Registration opens 8/17/14 and closes 9/16/14
Cost: $64.00 per credit hour (x3)= $192.00
Biology 1202: Environmental Biology (3) [MI,
MS] - An examination of the biological basis of
current environmental problems, with emphasis
upon resources, energy, pollution, and
conservation.
Contact Information
Voicemail: 314- 953-5203 ext 33790
Direct Extension: 653-3790 (before/ after school)
Email: joconnor@hazelwoodschools.org
* Email is the best way to get a hold of me. I will
get back to you the day I receive it. I usually
check my email once per evening and on the
weekends. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you
need something! 
Help Sessions
Wednesday’s from 2:30-4:15.
This date is subject to change. Always check with
me at the beginning of the week to make sure that
Wednesday will work out.
If Wednesday’s don’t work for you, I may be able to
meet another day. All you need to do is ask! 
Course Description
 This AP® Environmental Science is a full-year
course designed to be the equivalent of a onesemester, introductory college course in
environmental science that includes a laboratory
and field investigation component.
 Environmental Science is interdisciplinary,
including subjects such as geology, biology,
environmental studies, chemistry, and geography.
These are the unifying themes that provide a
foundation for the structure of the course:
 Science is a process
 Energy conversions underlie all ecological
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processes.
The Earth is one interconnected system.
Humans alter natural systems.
Environmental problems have a cultural & social
context.
Human survival depends on developing practices
that will achieve sustainable systems.
Through this course, you will be
able to:
 explain the scientific principles, concepts, and
methodologies required to understand the
interrelationships of the natural world
 identify and analyze environmental problems both
natural and human-made
 evaluate the relative risks associated with these
problems
 examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or
preventing them.
7 Major topics are covered in AP
Environmental Science
1) Earth Systems and Resources
2) The Living World
3) Population
4) Land and Water Use
5) Energy Resources and Consumption
6) Pollution
7) Global Change
* See Topic Outline for expanded descriptions
Textbook
Environmental Science-A Global Concern by
William P. Cunningham & Mary Ann Cunningham,
10th edition, 2008. McGraw-Hill Publishing.
Online Student Center to accompany textbook
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/8888888555/stu
dent_view0/index.html
TIP: To be successful in this course, you MUST read
each chapter assigned.
Class Website
http://hchsapes.wikispaces.com
Visit our website regularly, especially if you are
absent and want to stay on track. Why?
 You will find a lot of helpful information including a
page dedicated to each unit, as well as links to
powerpoints, activities and assignments that we
have covered in class.

You’ll always know when assignments are due,
when exams are occurring, when projects are due,
etc!
Materials needed
** Please have supplies by Friday (A-day)
(Supplies check: 25 points)
 3 ring binder ( at least 1” )
 Dividers for binder ( 5 )
 Pens/ pencils
 Notebook paper or 1 sub spiral notebook
 1 box of tissue
Supplies to Bring with you Everyday
 Writing utensil
 Binder
Textbook: I have a class set of textbooks so it is
not necessary to bring yours with you, unless you
would prefer to use your own.
How to Set up your Science Binder
All homework, handouts, lab reports, and notes
must be kept in a 3-ring binder, with divider
tabs labeled as follows
 Notes
 Homework (this section will include both
homework and classwork)
 Labs
 Exams (Quizzes/study guides/ extra credit
reports/grade sheets, exam answer sheets will be
kept in this section.)
 AP Test Prep
Tip: How to be successful in this
class
Stay organized!

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
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Everything that I give you will be hole-punched,
and belongs in one of the 5 sections of your binder.
If you don’t know where something should go, ask!
After we complete each Unit, you can take out your
work if you need to make room for more.
Keep your work for this class in case the college/
university you will attend next year requests
evidence of the information covered.
Course Outline
Unit 1 Intro to Environmental Science
Unit 2 Biosphere, the Living World
Unit 3 Populations
Unit 4 Environmental Heath
Unit 5 Food & Agriculture
Unit 6 Biodiversity
Unit 7 The Solid Earth * End of 1st semester
Unit 8 Energy
Unit 9 Air, Weather Climate & Air Pollution
Unit 10 Water Use, Water Management, Water Pollution
Unit 11 Solid, Toxic & Hazardous Waste
AP Test
Monday May 2nd
 Score is 60% from multiple choice section (100 questions),
40% from free-response section (4 FRQs – 1 data set, 1
data-based question, 2 synthesis and evaluation)
 Total test time is 3 hours – 90 minutes for M/C, a short
break, then 90 minutes for FRQs
 No calculator allowed for any portion of the exam
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/exam/ex
am_information/2003.html
How to be successful in class….
Come to class every day!
Attendance REALLY matters.


If you must be absent, make sure that is excused
(parent has called in to the attendance office). If
your absence is not excused, you will lose credit for
anything assigned or due to that day.
Get your absent work from the class website so that
you don’t fall behind!
“You miss a day, you miss a lot”
Coursework
To be successful in this course, it is important meet all
deadlines!
This is a college level course and you will be required
to complete outside reading and homework in order to
learn the content.
If you are not willing to do that, this is not the course for
you. Counselors can change your schedule by the end
of this week.
Student Evaluation
Exams, Summative Quizzes, Vocab tests, Formal
Lab Reports and Research projects compose 70% of the
overall grade, with the remainder (30%) coming from labs,
homework, activities.
A = 90% - 100%
B = 89% - 80%
C = 79% - 70%
D = 69% - 60%
F = below 60%
Homework
Homework is due at the start of class. Later within the
hour is considered late (-10%)
Per district mandate, you are permitted to turn in 3
assignments per quarter. (-10% for each day late, up to
30% off)
Late work must be turned in within 5 days of the due
date. No expectations.
Tips for success……..
Know where (and when) to turn in HW, where to pick up
absent work, and how to turn in absent work.

Where to turn in HW: Basket with your hour on it.

When to turn in HW: Before attendance. After that, it is
‘late’ (-10%)

Late work needs to be handed to me. DO NOT put it in
the basket. Write ‘late’ on top.

Where to pick up absent work: ‘Absent work’ folders
stapled to bulletin board.

How to turn in absent work: hand it to me after writing
‘absent work’ on top of it
Labs
 Safety is to be practiced by all, at all times
according to the safety contract.
 Missed labs must be made up. Lab make-up
must occur within a week of the day missed.
 There will be at least one formal lab report per
semester, which will count as an performance
event grade.
Exams
 One exam (100 pts PE grade) will be given each
unit and will be composed of multiple-choice and
a free response type question.
 60% of the grade will come from your
performance on the multiple choice portion. 40%
of your grade will come from your performance on
the FRQ. This is the same format as the AP test.
 Possible FRQ topics will be given prior to the test
to allow you to outline your answers.
Exams & Quizzes
 In the event of a missed examination, it is your
responsibility to be prepared to take it the day
your return to class.
 You will have a comprehensive Semester I final in
December and a Second Semester final in May.
 Daily-weekly quizzes may be given to ensure
homework completion. Vocabulary tests may be
given after weekly chapter reading assignments
have been assigned.
Exam Retake procedures
 You may retake exams one time if you have NO
zero’s for the unit, and make arrangements to
come in for an extra help session after school.
 The retake will NOT be the same exam that you took
initially, though it will cover the same content.
 After that, you will be expected to come after
school a second time to complete the retake. The higher
of the two scores will be entered in my gradebook.
 The retake must be done before the next
summative assessment.
Classroom Expectations
1. Arrive to class on time!
2nd tardy:
3rd tardy:
4th tardy:
5th tardy:
9th tardy:
Written Warning
4 hour detention
1 day ISS
2 days ISS, etc.
OSS
Tardies start next time!
What to do once you get here 
As soon as you arrive to class, take out your materials,
store you bag under your desk and read the board so
that you know the following:
a) What is DUE that day (written in red next to ‘APES’)
b) What the agenda and learning targets are
What the HOMEWORK is and when it is due
d) When the next quiz, exam or project is due (see
‘Impt upcoming events board )
c)
Classroom Expectations
Come to class
prepared. Have a
writing utensil and
your binder every
day.
2.
3. Wear ID properly
at all times.
Classroom Expectations
4. Keep electronic devices
powered OFF and in your bag
unless you have been instructed
otherwise.
Devices should NOT be sitting out
on your desk.
Do not attempt to charge your
device in the classroom.
1st offense: written warning 2nd offense: 4 hr detention
5. Keep our classroom
neat!
Paper trash should be put
in the recycling bins.
Behavioral Expectations
1. Be curious and ask questions! 
2. Your full effort is expected every day.

Pay Attention, be ‘present’ in class.

Physical presence and mental presence are NOT
the same thing.
Academic Integrity
3. Do your own work!
Sharing or copying work will result in an
academic dishonesty referral and or loss of
credit for the assignment.
Behavioral Expectations
4. Mutual respect! Common courtesy is expected.
No profanity, rude gestures, teasing, or put downs
5. Raise your hand if you wish to speak.
6. Stay seated unless permission is given to do
otherwise.
7. Remain in your seat until the bell rings and I dismiss
you from class.
Bathroom Passes
You have TWO
emergency bathroom
passes per quarter.
 Do not ask me for more
than that (the answer is
‘no’).
 You have to log out and in
each time you use a pass.
 NO ID = NO bathroom pass
Take care of your
personal needs during
passing periods.
No EATING in this classroom.
 Food is not allowed
outside of the cafeteria.
You may have a bottle of
water, but no other types of
drinks please.
Reusable bottles if you
possible.
1st offense: written warning 2nd offense: 4 hr detention