 AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SYLLABUS 2015-16
 Introduction to Global Environmental Politics and Concerns
 (Sociology, Geography, Basic Biology, Psychology, Demography)
Check sharpeschool DAILY for unit timelines and items to be printed
The following is a very rough outline of the material and activities we will complete this year.
Environmental Science is so timely that we may change the order of the following based on
current events and interests around the globe. You will need to read each chapter. The tests are
created from the book.
 Intro
 Chapter 1 Studying the State of our Earth
 Chapter 2 Environmental Systems
 Objectives:
o Define Environment and identify concerns
o Describe Environmental dilemmas
o Understand division between wealthy and poor nations and degradation
o Introduce Ozone and Green house gases
 Activities
o The Lorax (video)- Introduces environmental greed and consequences
o Life boat ethics-who will survive? Group work-must decide carrying capacity of
boat and relate to industrialized nations
o Begin Global Summit
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Quiz testing basic knowledge from biology
Vocab words assigned to journal.
Journal entry Articles of interest –ozone and green house gases
Videos on Ozone and Green house gases political Reflections (journal #3)
Test
 Matter, Energy and Life-Biological Communities and Species Interactions
 Objectives:
o Describe matter, atoms, molecules
o Understand 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics
o Know photosynthesis and respiration
o Define species, population, community and ecosystem
o Discuss food webs, chains and trophic levels
o Compare and contrast biogeochemical cycles
o Discuss resilience, diversity and stability
o Explain succession
o Distinguish inter specific and intra specific competion
 Journal
 Lab
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o Biomagnification- Model for class.
Expect POP quizzes from Lecture
Lab CO2 levels lab 1-6
Journal Vocabulary
Test
 Population Dynamics
 Objectives:
o Define exponential growth
o Describe logistic growth and Thomas Malthus
o Compare and contrast density dependent and independent limiting factors
o Explain fecundity, birthrates, k-selected and r-selected
o Evaluate family planning
o Trace human population growth
 Activities
o Personal opinion journal #9“what is the world’s greatest problem?”
o Journal Watch (The People Bomb)-3 countries reflection
o Watch (the dots video) 5 minutes illustrating exponential growth
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lab
o Fish population simulation (tag and release method)
o Library -Trace your countries population
 Journal vocabulary
 Test
 Biomes, Restoration, Management and Biodiversity
 Objectives:
o Recognize characteristics of Aquatic and terrestrial biomes
o Describe how humans disrupt biomes
o Explain ecosystem management
o Evaluate the pros and cons of restoration
o Define biodiversity
o Report total number of species on earth
o Explain captive breeding and recovery programs
o Observe Endangered Species Act
 Lab Shannon Weiner Index
o Calculate the Index of biodiversity for a parking lot near our school
 Journal Vocabulary
 Test
 Lab
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How to write a lab handout-expectations
Radish seeds and saline-Explore scientific method
 Introduction to the Rock Cycle and Plate tectonics
 Environmental Geology
 Objectives:
o Understand plate tectonics
o Explain the rock cycle
o Summarize Ecological and economic strategic minerals
o Discuss effects of mining
o Recognize hazards of volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis etc
o Analyze global climate change
o Explain jet streams, wind patterns, fronts, clouds and weather consequences
o Comprehend el nino and la nina
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Video Lecture series on rock cycle
Video Lecture series Plate tectonics
Lab Volcanoes and Mt Ranges
Quiz/ Test
 Environmental Health and Toxicology
 Objectives:
o Define Health and disease and environmental factors
o Identify infectious organisms and hazardous agents
o Distinguish between toxic and hazardous chemicals
o Compare and contrast chronic and acute toxicity
o Evaluate environmental risks
 Journal Vocabulary
 simulation
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Test
 Food and Agriculture and Sustainable Land use
 Objectives:
o Describe world food supplies
o Explain nutritional requirements
o Analyze genetic Engineering
o Sketch soil pyramid
o Differentiate erosion, Salinization, and water logging
o Recognize potential for sustainable living
o World Land use
o Understand issues of forest in developed countries
 Lab
o Characteristics of soil- cations, ph, salinity -2days
o Soil texture
o Soil Layers
 Journal
Test
 Project
o Feed 100 people for a year on minimum land with only 7 different crops making
diet nutritional
 The first week after break we will review for midterm and work free
response questions.
 Air pollution
 Objective:
o Describe categories of sources of air pollution
o Distinguish criteria vs. non criteria air pollutants
o Analyze indoor air pollutants
o Evaluate ozone in troposphere and stratosphere
o Compare approaches to pollution control
o Judge air quality around the world (historically)
 Activities
o Journal entry China video: 1 page essays explaining source, solutions, and
consequences of human behavior and global warming.
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 Test
Lab
Air quality-CO, CO2, Hydrocarbons, and flow rate of our cars
Air pollution and Air planes
CO2 Simulation
 Water and Water Pollution
 Objectives:
o Summarize hydrolic cycle
o Contrast volume and residence time of water
o Define causes and consequences of water shortages
o Debate water management
o Define water pollution and sources
o Discuss status of water quality
o Suggest ways to protect groundwater
o Judge the impact of legislation on water
 Activities
o Water wars-reading and questions and essays
 Lab
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 Test
Local water testing Chromium, chloride, hardness, copper, iron, ammonia, pH,
nitrates, BOD and DO
Acid Rain
 Conventional and Sustainable Energy
 Objectives:
o Summarize current energy sources
o Compare U.S. consumption with other countries
o Analyze resources and reserves for fossil fuels
o Evaluate cost and benefits of coal, oil and natural gas
o Discuss nuclear reactors
o Understand passive and active energy systems
o Explain hydropower, wind, and geothermal energy
o Compare and contrast options for storing electrical energy
o Define renewable and non renewable resources
 Project
o Alternative energy source- establish cost, source, effectiveness, duration, and
output (emissions etc)
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 Solid Waste Management and Recycling
 Objectives:
o Identify components of U.S. waste
o Explain dumps and landfills