AP Environmental Science
Course Syllabus and Outline
Textbook: Living in the Environment by G. Tyler Miller 17th Ed.
Outline of Environmental Topics:
Chapters
Suggested Labs/Projects
I. Environmental Issues and Problems
A. Human Population
B. Sustainability
1. Nonrenewable resources
2. Renewable resources
3. Biodiversity
C. Environmental History
Ch. 1
Measurement Lab
Environmental Name Droppers
Environmental Timeline
Ch2
Limiting Growth Debate
II Interdependence of Earth’s Systems and the Environment
Ch. 3
A. Flow of Energy
1. Forms and quality of energy
2. Energy units and measurement
3. Energy flow through ecosystems
Diagramming cycles
B. The Cycling of Matter
1. Water
2. Carbon
3. Major nutrients
a. Nitrogen
b. Phosphorous
II.
Earth Ecosystems
Ch. 4, 5. 7, 8, 9, 10, & 11
A. The Biosphere
1. Biodiversity
2. Ecosystems and ecosystem diversity
Virtual Insect Diversity Lab
3. Components of an ecosystem
Food Web Interactions
4. Succession
Biome Power Point
5. Climate, Biomes
Predator/Prey Lab
6. Population Ecology
Demographic Data Charts
7. Aquatic diversity, terrestrial diversity
8. Public Lands
Public Land Project
A. Multiple Use
1. National Forests
2. National Resource Lands (BLM)
B.
Moderately-restricted use
1. National Wildlife Refuges
C. Restricted Use
1. National Parks
2. National Wilderness
III.
IV.
Human Populations
Ch. 6
Age-structured diagrams
Water
A. Water: Amount and Distribution
Ch. 13, 20
Waste water trip or visual tour
1. Properties
2. Amount
B. Water cycle
Water in the Classroom
C. Uses
D. Pollution/Nutrient Cycles
1. Major pollutants and processes
a. Nitrogen, Phosphorus
Water Testing
b. Biomagnification and pesticides (DDT, etc)
c. Measurements and units of measure such as ppm, micrograms
d. Point and nonpoint sources (domestic, industrial, agricultural)
e. Dams
Mapping
V.
VI.
VII.
E. Effects of water pollution on:
a. Aquatic systems
b. Vegetation
c. Natural features, buildings and structures
d. Wildlife
F. Treatment
a. Water Treatment
b. Sewage Treatment
G. Watersheds
a. Chesapeake Bay
b. Virginia rivers
H. Oceans
a. Composition and size
b. Pollution
c. Over fishing
Soils
Ch. 12
Energy: Nonrenewable
B. Resources and reserves
C. Fossil fuel formation: oil, coal, natural gas
D. Extraction and use
E. Pollution
Energy: Renewable
A. Hydroelectric Power
1. Locations and use
2. Problems
B. Solar Power
1. Locations and use
C. Wind Power
1. Locations and use
2.
IX.
X.
Klamath Dams Debate
Watershed Mapping
Soil Lab
Ch. 14, 15
Debate
Ch. 16
P.P Presentations of
energy sources
Wind Farm Locations
Problems
D. Tidal and Geothermal Power
E. Biomass conversion
VIII.
Macroinvertebrate as bioindicators
Lab: Methane Production
Nuclear
A. Nature of nuclear energy
B. Nuclear reactors
C. Use
D. Nuclear power concerns
1. Radiation exposure
2. Storage
Ch. 16
Nuclear Disposal Lab
Irradiated Seed lab
Environmental Field Work:
Air/Atmosphere and Aesthetic pollution
A. Atmosphere
B. Air pollutants
1. Primary
2. Secondary
C. Indoor air pollution
D. Global Warming
E. Acid rain
F. Aesthetic pollution
1. Visual
2. Noise
3. Other
Ch. 17, 18
Economy/Politics/Environmental Ethics
Ch. 24, 25
* Flowers/Trees/Birds/etc.
* Trail design/maintenance
* Wetland restoration
* Watershed improvements
Natural History Studies
(Stressing the use of bioindicator
Air Lab
species for environmental quality):
* Common Birds
* Raptors
* Amphibians
* Reptiles
* Mammals
* Wildflowers
* Trees
Letter to Representative