Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES)
Mr. Shannon
Course Description:
The AP Environmental Science Course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester introductory college course in
environmental science. The course will provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies
required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world, and to identify and analyze environmental
problems. Students will also evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative
solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Students will use previous experiences in chemistry, biology, and
physical science to classify, analyze, and evaluate these environmental issues that challenge humans within the
framework of social, historic, and economic parameters.
Class Size and Schedule:
The class size is limited to 24 students. The class meets every day of the six-day cycle. Approximately one mod per cycle
is devoted to hands-on laboratory experiences or field work. The class meets mod 9 and may run over depending on the
activity. Many labs will require a full written report.
Student Evaluation:
Grades in the class are based upon laboratory work, quizzes, tests, homework, and journal writing. Tests consist of
multiple choice questions and free response essays. Tests are scored in a similar fashion to the AP test; with the multiple
choice section worth 60% and free response essays are worth 40%.
A notebook must also be maintained and will be graded. It will include the following sections:
Class notes
Journal writing
Lab
Issues (Case Studies)
I will provide a website for the class. The site will include the following:
Lecture Notes
Handouts
Important Links
The quarter grade is calculated based on the following percents:
 Tests: 50%
 Quizzes: 10%
 Lab: 30%
 Homework, Journal, other: 10%
Grade Scale:
A
93-100%
B
83-89%
C
73-79%
D
63-69%
F
0-59%
A90-92%
B80-82%
C70-72%
D60-62%
Text Book:
Living In The Environment; 16th edition; G. Tyler Miller/Scott Spoolman. Brooks/Cole Thompson Learning
Other Resources:
Lab Manual for Environmental Science; Wells, Edward; Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning
Laboratory Investigations AP Environmental Science; Molnar, William; Peoples Education
Environmental Science: Active Learning Laboratories and Applied Problem Sets; Wagner, Travis and Sanford, Robert;
Wiley
Investigating Environmental Science Through Inquiry; Vernier
Materials
Laboratory Notebook
Lecture Notebook
Journal/Scrapbook
Course Outline
For labs, (W) = wet, (D) = dry
Unit 1
2 weeks
Chapter 1: Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability
Topics
Sustainability
Ecological Footprints
Causes of Environmental Problems
Principles of Sustainability
Lab
Tragedy of the Commons (Environmental Literacy Council) (W) 1
hour



Understand the conditions that lead to a "tragedy of the
commons"
Learn strategies that prevent the destruction of a common
resource
Apply these strategies to global environmental issues and provide
solutions
Activities
Ecological Footprint (Hendrickson)
Scientific Method 1 (Wagner)
Journal Writing: Page 25 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 26 #9
Chapter 2: Science, Matter, Energy and Systems
Topics
What is Science?
Definitions and Behavior of Matter
Definitions and Types of Energy
Behaviors of Systems
Lab
Environmental Awareness (Wagner) (W) 2-4 hours


Be able to describe basic environmental conditions in a local
setting
Be able to locate environmental information in the library or on
the internet
Activities
Scientific Method 2 (Wells)
Quantification of Environmental Problems (Wagner)
Journal Writing: Page 47 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 48 #9
Test: Chapters 1, 2
Unit 2
3 weeks
Chapter 3: Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Topics
What Is Ecology?
Ecosystem Components
Energy and Matter Within An Ecosystem
Lab
Parts Per Million (Hendrickson) (W) 1 hour



Describe the concept of parts per million, billion
Be able to perform a serial dilution
Describe the Tyndall Effect
Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (Molnar) (W) 2 hours


Collect and count organisms in several habitats
Analyze and apply data to biodiversity problems using the
Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index
Activities
Ecosystem Diagram (Wagner)
Journal Writing: Page 74 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 75 #9
Chapter 4: Biodiversity and Evolution
Topics
What is Biodiversity?
Evolution and Natural Selection
Geological and Climate Effects
Human Activity, Speciation, Extinction
Lab
Abiotic Influences on Organisms (Hendrickson) (W) 2 hours



Understand habitat, control, variable, gradient
Set up gradients of specific environmental factors to test response
of brine shrimp
Collect and interpret data
Describe the function of a control in an experiment

Activities
Recognizing Human Impacts (Wagner)
Natural Selection Activity (Hendrickson)
Journal Writing: Page 97 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 98 #9
Chapter 5: Biodiversity, Species Interaction, Population Control
Topics
Species Interaction
Competition and Population Control
Adaptation and Succession
Lab
Net Primary Productivity (Molnar) (W) (2 weeks)



Measure the net primary productivity (NPP) of rye grass
Compare NPP measurement methods and reliability
Apply the NPP concept to problems of crop growth and higher
trophic levels
Activities
Trophic Levels (Wagner)
Journal Writing: Page 120 (#1-10)
Test: Chapters 3, 4, 5
Unit 3
3 weeks
Chapter 7: Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity
Topics
Factors Influencing Climate
Climate and Biome Locations
Human Effects on Ecosystems
Lab
Predator-Prey Simulation (Molnar) (W) 1 hour



Simulate and analyze the interactions between a predator
population of coyotes and prey population of mice
Organize and graph data from the simulation
Predict future populations
Compare simulation results to those taken from nature

Activities
Trophic Ecology of Humans: Best Guess Breakfast Interview
(Wagner)
Journal Writing: Page 159 (#1-10)
Chapter 10: Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach
Topics
Threats To Forest Ecosystems
Managing and Sustaining Forests
Managing and Sustaining Grasslands
The Ecosystem Approach
Lab
Biodiversity in Leaf Litter (Hendrickson) (W) 2 weeks


Determine the relative abundance of individual species in a sample
of leaf litter
Calculate the biodiversity of organisms found in a sample of leaf
litter
Activities
Eating at a Lower Trophic Level (Molnar)
Journal Writing: Page 246 (#1-10)
Chapter 9: Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Topics
Humans’ Role In Premature Extinction
Protecting Wild Species From Extinction
Lab
Ecotourism Brochure (Cunningham) (D) 3 hours

To learn methods of ecosystem restoration
Activities
Endangered Species Zoo Project (Cunningham)
Journal Writing: Page 211 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 212 #5, #9
Test: Chapters 7, 9, 10
Unit 4
3 weeks
Chapter 8: Aquatic Biodiversity
Topics
Nature of Aquatic Systems
Marine Systems: Importance and Human Impact
Freshwater Ecosystems: Importance and Human Impact
Lab
Water Quality Monitoring : Benthic Macroinvertebrates (W)
2 hours

Collect macroinvertebrates and correlate the fauna to water
conditions of Lake Wingra
Activities
Journal Writing: Page 180 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 181 #9
Chapter 11: Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity
Topics
Major Threats To Aquatic Biodiversity
Protecting and Maintaining Marine Biodiversity
Protecting and Maintaining Wetlands
Protecting and Maintaining Freshwater Lakes and Rivers
Lab
Butcher the Biomes (Wells) (D) 1 hour


Predict type of biome present based on climate
Determine effects of latitude, topography, ocean currents, etc. on
type of biome
Activities
Fishing for the Future (Hendrickson)
Journal Writing: Page 272 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 273 #5, #9
Test: Chapters 8, 11
Unit 5
3 weeks
Chapter 14: Geology and Nonrenewable Minerals
Topics
Geological Processes
Rock Cycle
Mineral Resources
Depletion and Sustainability of Minerals; Mining
Lab
Cookie Mining Lab (Cunningham or Hendrickson) (W) 1 hour

Identify the economics (financial and environmental) of mining
Convection Lab (Earth Science Lab) (W) 1 hour

Determine the mechanisms of convection
 Apply convection to global wind patterns and ocean currents
Activities
Plate Tectonics (Molnar)
Journal Writing: Page 368 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 369 #9
Chapter 12: Food, Soil, and Pest Management
Topics
Food Security and Production
Environmental Problems and Food Production
Protecting Crops From Pests
Sustainable Food Production
Lab
Soil Labs (Hendrickson) (W), Soil Characterization (Wagner), Soil,
Animals, and Plant Decomposition (Wells) (W) 4 hours

Identify the physical and chemical properties of soil
 Determine soil types using the soil triangle
Activities
Pesticides and Food Wagner)
Journal Writing: Page 310 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 311 #9
Test: Chapters 12, 14
Unit 6
2 weeks
Chapter 6: The Human Population and Its Impact
Topics
Cultural Carrying Capacity
Factors Influencing Population Size
Age Structure of a Population
Slowing Population Growth
Lab
Population Distribution and Survivorship (Molnar) (D) 4 weeks


Collect data to construct survivorship curves and age-sex
population pyramids
Predict characteristics of future populations based on sex, age,
fertility species, life cycle and other factors
Something’s Fishy (Hendrickson)(D)

Activities
Identify methods of population sampling
 Determine population size
The power of Doubling (Hendrickson)
Power of Pyramids (Hendrickson)
World Population Growth (Molnar)
Doubling Time in Exponential Growth (Molnar)
Journal Writing: Page 137 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 138 #9
Test: Chapter 6
Unit 7
3 weeks
Chapter 15: Nonrenewable Energy
Topics
Energy Sources
Oil
Natural Gas
Coal
Nuclear
Lab
Coal Investigations Lab (Cunningham) (W) 1 hour

Observe and analyze different types of coal
Activities
Oil Consumption and Future Availability (Wagner)
Energy Resource Comparison (Molnar)
CO2 Emissions from Fossil-Fuel Burning (Molnar)
Journal Writing: Page 396 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 397 #9
Chapter 16: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Resources
Topics
Efficiency and Cutting Waste
Solar Energy
Hydroelectric
Wind
Biomass
Geothermal
Lab
Landscaping for Energy Conservation (Wagner)


Identify basic energy conservation measures used in landscape
design
Recommend changes to the external setting (yard) that promote
energy conservation and efficiency
Solar Absorption (Molnar)


Design an experiment to calculate and compare the heatabsorbing capacities of various fluids
Determine efficient applications of fluid solar-energy collectors
Calculate heat absorption rates

Activities
Energy Problems (Hendrickson)
Home Energy Audit
Energy and Recycling (Molnar)
Journal Writing: Page 435 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 435 #3
Test: Chapters 15, 16
Unit 8
Chapter 17: Environmental Hazards and Human Health
Topics
Major Health Hazards
Biological Hazards
Chemical Hazards
Perceiving and Avoiding Risk
Lab
Virus Towne (Hendrickson) (W) 1 hour

3 weeks
Identify the methods used in tracking sources of disease
Activities
Glo-Germs
Journal Writing: Page 465 (#1-10)
Chapter 21: Solid and Hazardous Waste
Topics
Problems Associated With Solid and Hazardous Waste
Reusing and Recycling
Burning and Burying Solid Waste
Dealing With Hazardous Waste
Sustainable Low0Waste Society
Lab
LD50: Toxic Tea (Hendrickson) (W) 2 hours


Identify dose/response relationships
Differentiate between acute and chronic effects
Identify environmental risk methodologies

Solid Waste Inventory (Hendrickson)
Journal Writing: Page 585 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 586 #5
Chapter 22: Sustainable Cities
Topics
Major Urban Population Trends
Urban Resources and Environmental Problems
Transportation As An Urban issue
Urban Land Use Planning
Lab
Solid Waste Collection (Molnar) (W) 1 week
Activities


Quantify and analyze household solid waste
Propose general strategies for reduction and recycling of solid
waste
Activities
Society and Waste (Wagner)
Local Environmental Risk (Hendrickson)
Journal Writing: Page 609 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 610 #6
Test: Chapters 17, 21, 22
Unit 9
Chapter 13: Water Resources
Topics
Usable Water
Ground Water
3 weeks
Lab
Dams
Desalination
Sustainability of Water Use
Flooding
Water Quality Index of Lake Wingra (Molnar) (W) 8 months

Perform tests to determine the Water Quality Index of Lake
Wingra (a nearby lake)
Perform follow-up WQI tests to establish an ongoing record

Water Quality and Consumer Choice (Wagner)
Journal Writing: Page 341 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 342 #9
Chapter 20: Water Pollution
Topics
Causes and Effects
Stream and Lake Pollution
Ground Water Pollution
Ocean Pollution
Lab
Salinization (Hendrickson) (Molnar – Experimental Design) (W) 1
week
Activities

Develop an experimental design to investigate how salinization
affects germination of various crop species
Determine at what salt concentrations seeds no longer germinate

Personal Water Assessment (Hendrickson)
Water Loss Drop by Drop (Molnar)
Journal Writing: Page 558 (#1-10),
Test: Chapters 13, 20
Activities
Unit 10
3 weeks
Chapter 18: Air Pollution
Topics
Nature of the Atmosphere
Indoor and Outdoor Pollution
Acid Deposition
Health Effects and Dealing with Air Pollution
Lab
Indoor Air Quality Inspection (Wagner)



Describe major sources of air pollution
Measure CO2 levels, humidity, temperature, and air flow
Describe how indoor air pollution problems are handled and
reported
Particulate Air Pollution (Molnar) (W) 2 hours

Measure particulate matter locally and evaluate the data by EPA
standards
Acid Rain (Molnar) (W) 3-4 hours


Measure and compare pH levels in precipitation at several sites
over an extended period of time
Analyze and account for variations in oxide and pH readings
Tropospheric Ozone (Hendrickson)


Activities
Measure local levels of ozone
Identify the risks involved with surface ozone
Layers of the Atmosphere (Hendrickson)
Journal Writing: Page 493 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 494 #4
Chapter 19: Climate Change and Ozone Depletion
Topics
Future Climate Scenarios
Effects of Global Atmospheric Warming
Slowing Climate Change
Causes and Effects of Ozone Depletion
Lab
Global Climate Change and Automobiles (Wagner)




Describe difference between sample and population
Locate air quality information from reputable sites
Summarize the major impacts of automobiles on global climate
change
Estimate annual automobile emissions of greenhouse gases
Specific Heat and Climate (Molnar) (W) 1 hour

Determine the specific heat and heating rates of a soil sample and
compare them to those of water
Relate specific heat phenomena to climatic phenomena

Activities
Global Warming, CO2, and You (Wagner)
Global Warming and Atmospheric CO2 Correlation (Molnar)
Journal Writing: Page 528 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 529 #9
Test: Chapters 18, 19
Unit 11
2 weeks
Chapter 23: Economics, Environment, and Sustainability
Topics
Economics and the Biosphere
Putting Values On Environmental Issues
Reducing Poverty
Making the Transition
Lab
Lung Power (Wagner) (W) 2-3 hours



Test lung power as a measure of personal health
Compare Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) in a population sample
Formulate a testable hypothesis about human health and PEF
Activities
Outside Reading: Sand County Almanac
Journal Writing: Page 631 (#1-10), Critical Thinking Page 632 #9
Chapter 24, Politics, Environment and Sustainability
Topics
The Role of Government
Environmental Policy and Law
Environmental Groups
Global Environmental Security
Lab
Activities
Know Your Laws (Teacher made activity)
Journal Writing: Page 657 (#1-10)
Chapter 25: Environmental World Views, Ethics, and Sustainability
Topics
Environmental World Views
The Role of Education
Living Sustainably
Lab
Activities
Introduction to Environmental Modeling (Wagner)
Critical Thinking Page 673 #8, #9
Test: Chapters 23, 24, 25
Unit 12
Review for AP Exam (Exam Date Monday, May 2)
1 week
Note: It is the intent of the instructor to include labs and activities not listed above.
Other Assignments, Etc:




Reading and written assignments from the book are not listed in the above outline. They will be assigned with
each chapter covered.
Long-term field studies will be assigned to students at the beginning of the school year.
A community service component will also be incorporated in the course. A minimum of 10 hours is required.
Journal/Scrapbook: Students keep a journal/scrapbook of current environmental issues. They must find a
newspaper or magazine article related to anything environmental. The article is to be included in the book as
well as a short written review and discussion of the specific issue’s personal impact. The first 10 articles are to be
done during the summer prior to the course. During the school year, two articles per month will be required.
Time will be spent discussing the articles. Students will have the opportunity to choose one article of particular
interest and make a class presentation.
Videos:
The following is a list of some of the videos to be used at appropriate times throughout the course of the year:
 The Lorax
 Tapped
 The Cove
 Future of Food
 Cane Toad
 History of Antibiotics
 Fire Wars
 Alone in the Wilderness
 World In Balance
 The Human Footprint
 The 11th Hour
 Dirt! The Movie
 World in Balance
Case Studies:
Case studies are very important in the study of environmental science. These are included as part of the textbook
reading writing assignments. Students will be assigned case studies and prepare a short presentation concerning the
importance of the case.
Field Trips:
One day field trip to include: City of Madison water treatment plant, City of Madison waste water treatment plant, and
Dane County landfill
Other planned field trip(s): Madison Gas & Electric power plant, Nevin State Fish Hatchery