Advanced Placement Environmental Science
The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific
principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the
natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made,
to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative
solutions for resolving or preventing them.
Objectives:
Students will be prepared to make the critical and independent decisions necessary to be
good citizens in a technology based society.
Students will gain the factual and conceptual knowledge that a college student would be
expected to accumulate in a semester of Environmental Science.
Students will recognize that all living organisms have common characteristics and how
environmental problems pose a threat to living organisms.
Students will physically manipulate lab equipment and gather data. Students will analyze
the data, develop conclusions and present their findings in a written format.
Students will score a passing grade on the Advanced Placement exam in May.
Class will consist of Lecture. Labs, research, class discussion and environmental projects.
Grading the first 3 quarters is:
40% test scores
30% Lab activities and reports
30% Classwork. APES multiple choice tests questions, and free response questions will be
assigned during class and students will answer the questions, then discuss their answers
with other class members and in teacher led explanations. Students will work in lab groups
and contribute to the lab, activity or project completion. Power points covering chapter
materials as well as test review presentations will offer the student the opportunity to
both learn material and provide an opportunity for re-teaching. Students are expected to
contribute to class discussion. Failure to participate in the above opportunities will affect
the class grade and more importantly harm the student’s ability to pass the A.P. exam in
May.
Grading 4th quarter: Test review and student projects become the focus of this
quarter.
20% test scores
15% Lab activities and reports
40% Classwork. Test preparation and course reviews dominate student class time.
25% projects ( students build a solar home and adobe home during class.)
Syllabus and Course Overview
Students meet five days per week for 36 weeks. Regular class periods are 52 minutes
long. Laboratory activity accounts for 25 percent of instructional time.
Methods
Instruction: will include lectures, class discussions, lab demonstrations and
simulations, hands-on lab activities and written assignments—including research
projects, in-class assignments and homework. Approximately one period per week
in the fall is devoted to laboratory experiences or fieldwork. All lab and fieldwork
requires a written report including observations, conclusion and data analysis
[when possible]. One formal written lab report is assigned each semester.
Themes:
1.
Scientific Process
2.
The earth is one interconnected system
3.
Energy Transfer
4.
Continuity and Change.
5.
Humans alter natural systems
6.
Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
7.
Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable
systems
8.
Science, Technology, and nature.
Text
Miller, G. Tyler, Jr. Environmental Science: Working with the Earth. Pacific
Grove, CA:
Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning.
I. Earth Systems and Resources (10–15%)
A.
Earth Science Concepts
(Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and
latitude)
B.
The Atmosphere
(Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis effect;
atmosphere–ocean interactions; ENSO)
C.
Global Water Resources and Use
(Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use; surface and
groundwater issues; global problems; conservation)
D.
Soil and Soil Dynamics
(Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main soil types; erosion
and other soil problems; soil conservation)
II. The Living World (10–15%)
A.
Ecosystem Structure
(Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species;
keystone species; species diversity and edge effects; major terrestrial and aquatic biomes)
B.
Energy Flow
(Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological pyramids)
C.
Ecosystem Diversity
(Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services)
D.
Natural Ecosystem Change
(Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession)
E.
Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
(Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter)
III. Population (10–15%)
A.
Population Biology Concepts
(Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship)
B.
Human Population
1.
Human population dynamics
(Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling times;
demographic transition; age-structure diagrams)
2.
Population size
(Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies)
3.
Impacts of population growth
(Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction)
IV. Land and Water Use (10–15%)
A.
Agriculture
1.
Feeding a growing population
(Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture; Green Revolution; genetic engineering
and crop production; deforestation; irrigation; sustainable agriculture)
2.
Controlling pests
(Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest management; relevant
laws)
B.
Forestry
(Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests)
C.
Rangelands
(Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federal rangelands)
D.
Other Land Use
1.
Urban land development
(Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization)
2.
Transportation infrastructure
(Federal highway system; canals and channels; roadless areas; ecosystem impacts)
3.
Public and federal lands
(Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests; wetlands)
4.
Land conservation options
(Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration)
5.
Sustainable land-use strategies
E.
Mining
(Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties)
F.
Fishing
(Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties)
G.
Global Economics
(Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and treaties)
V. Energy Resources and Consumption (10–15%)
A.
Energy Concepts
(Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics)
B.
Energy Consumption
1.
History
(Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis)
2.
Present global energy use
3.
Future energy needs
C.
Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
(Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas; extraction/purification methods; world reserves and
global demand; synfuels; environmental advantages/ disadvantages of sources)
D.
Nuclear Energy
(Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor types;
environmental advantages/disadvantages; safety issues; radiation and human health;
radioactive wastes; nuclear fusion)
E.
Hydroelectric Power
(Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts)
F.
Energy Conservation
(Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit)
G.
Renewable Energy
(Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale
hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal; environmental
advantages/disadvantages)
VI. Pollution (25–30%)
A.
Pollution Types
1.
Air pollution
(Sources—primary and secondary; major air pollutants; measurement units; smog; acid
deposition—causes and effects; heat islands and temperature inversions; indoor air pollution;
remediation and reduction strategies; Clean Air Act and other relevant laws)
2.
Noise pollution
(Sources; effects; control measures)
3.
Water pollution
(Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; groundwater pollution;
maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage treatment/septic systems; Clean Water
Act and other relevant laws)
4.
Solid waste
(Types; disposal; reduction)
B.
Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
1.
Hazards to human health
(Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships; air
pollutants; smoking and other risks)
2.
Hazardous chemicals in the environment
(Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous waste; cleanup of contaminated
sites; biomagnification; relevant laws)
C.
Economic Impacts
(Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability)
VII. Global Change (10–15%)
A.
Stratospheric Ozone
(Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes of ozone depletion; effects of
ozone depletion; strategies for reducing ozone depletion; relevant laws and treaties)
B.
Global Warming
(Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global warming;
reducing climate change; relevant laws and treaties)
C.
Loss of Biodiversity
1.
Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and extinct species
2.
Maintenance through conservation
3.
Relevant laws and treaties
©
Unit 1
Humans and Sustainability
Chapter 1
Topic: Environmental Issues, Their Causes, and Sustainability
General overview of the topics covered throughout the year
Lab: Exponential Growth—growing yeast in a nutrient medium, this activity demonstrates
exponential growth in a population. S shape and J-shape growth curves. Population
Genetics and Evolution. A.P. Biology lab 8, Hardy Weinberg, Chi Square. Probability,
and statistics are introduced.
Chapter 2
Topic: Environmental History
A. How humans have adapted to and modified the environment
B. Environmental history of the United States
Lab: DDT study data, research topic in “soil depletion”
Internet Activity: Top Environmental Stories, 1970-2000
Video: Race to Save the Planet: The Environmental Revolution
Test: Chapters 1 & 2
Unit 2
Science and Ecological Principals
Chapter 3
Topic: Science Systems, Matter, and Energy
A. The scientific method
B. Nature’s building blocks—a review of general chemistry
C. Different forms of energy and their importance in environmental science
D. Laws of matter and energy
Lab: Effects of Radiation on Seed Germination and Growth—
Students measure, over a series of days, the effects of three types of radiation
on the germination and subsequent growth of the irradiated seeds. They then
treat their data to statistical analysis in order to draw conclusions.
Chapter 4
Topic: Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling
A. Populations, communities, food chains, and webs
B. Ecological pyramids and productivity
C. Biogeochemical cycles
Lab: What’s in an Owl Pellet? Students gain insight into the habits and
adaptations (such as sources and preferences of prey) of an apex predator by
examining owl pellets.
Test: Chapters 3 and 4
Chapter 5
Topic: Evolution and Biodiversity: Origins, Niches, and Adaptation
A. Micro- and macroevolution
B. Niches—fundamental and realized, generalists and specialists
C. Theories and misconceptions about evolution
Lab: Biodiversity in Leaf Litter: A Berlese funnel is used to collect organisms
from leaf litter. Biodiversity is calculated using the Shannon-Weiner Diversity
Index.
Chapter 6
Topic: Biogeography, Climate, Biomes, and Terrestrial Biodiversity
A. Weather and climate
B. What are biomes and how do they differ?
Internet Activity: Creating and Understanding Climatograms
Project: Biomes
Video: The Rainforest (National Geographic)
Test: Chapters 5 & 6
Chapter 7
Topic: Aquatic Ecology: Biodiversity in Aquatic Ecosystems
A. Saltwater life zones
B. Freshwater life zones
1. Eutrophication
2. Overturn
3. Characteristics of streams and rivers
Chapter 8
Topic: Community Ecology, Structure, Species Interaction, Succession, and
Sustainability
A. Nonnative or exotic species
B. Indicator species and keystone species.
C. Interspecific and intraspecific competition.
D. Competition and symbiosis
E. Succession
Lab: Inter- and Intraspecific Competition: Students analyze the effects of
population density on the growth of two plant species (radishes and collards)
growing alone and in mixed species groups.
Density and species composition are manipulated. The resulting biomasses of the
two species are statistically analyzed.
Video: Cane Toads
Test: Chapters 7 & 8
Chapter 9
Topic: Population Ecology, Carrying Capacity, and Conservation Biology
A. Exponential versus logistic growth
B. Biotic potential and environmental resistance
C. Characteristics of r-strategists and K-strategists
D. Survivorship curves
Lab: Duckweed Population Growth Lab: Students observe the growth of
duckweed, an aquatic floating plant, and how its growth rate yields a logistic
curve, illustrating concepts of population growth rates, carrying capacity, and
limiting factors (such as light, pH, etc.).
Chapter 10
Topic: The Human Population: Growth, Demography, and Carrying Capacity
A. Zero population growth
B. Fertility and death rates
C. Age structure histograms
D. Factors affecting population size
E. The demographic transition
Lab: Power of the Pyramids—Constructing Age-Sex Histograms:
Students use census data to construct age-sex population pyramids.
Such pyramids, representing several countries in various stages of development,
are discussed and compared. Students then explore and discuss how the
population would be affected by factors such as natural and human-made
disasters as well as social, economic, and political changes.
Video: The People Bomb
Video: World Population (Zero Population Growth)
Test: Chapters 9 & 10
Unit 3
Sustaining Biodiversity
Chapter 11
Topic: Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity
A. Land use in the United States and the world, including laws to manage public
lands.
B. Managing forests sustainably
1. Types of tree harvesting.
2. Importance of fires.
C. Managing tropical forests.
D. Sustaining national parks
E. Gap analysis and ecological restoration
Lab: Invertebrate Behavior
Chapter 12
Topic: Sustaining Wild Species
A. Effect of humans on biodiversity
B. Estimation of extinction risks
C. Instrumental, ecological, economic, and intrinsic values of biodiversity
D. Causes of extinction
E. Laws and treaties to prevent extinction of species (national and international)
F. Wildlife management
Project: Endangered Species
Video: NOAH’S: Keepers of the Ark
Chapter 13
Topic: Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity
A. Importance and human impact on marine and aquatic biodiversity
B. Protecting and sustaining marine biodiversity
Lab: Macroinvertebrates as a Measurement of Water Quality:
Students assess the health of local surface water samples by conducting an
analysis of macroinvertebrate diversity.
Test: Chapters 11, 12, 13,
Unit 4
Sustaining Natural Resources
Chapter 14
Topic: Food Resources
A. Food production and nutrition
B. Increasing crop production
1. Genetic engineering
2. Irrigation
C. Meat production—Positive and negative effects
D. Harvesting fish and shellfish
Chapter 15
Topic: Water Resources
A. Properties of water
B. Types of fresh water
C. Water shortages
D. Damming water and water transfer
E. Desalinization
F. Irrigation
G. Solutions to overuse of water
H. Flooding and floodplain management
Video: The Power of Water (National Geographic)
Test: Chapters 14 and 15
Chapter 16
Topic: Geology: Processes, Hazards, and Soils
A. Geologic processes and plate tectonics
B. Erosion and weathering
C. Rocks, minerals, and the rock cycle
D. Soil formation and soil profiles
E. Characteristics of soil and reading a soil triangle
F. Soil erosion, desertification, and salinization
Lab: Soil Labs
Lab: Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Video: Weathering and Soils: Earth Revealed
Chapter 16, 17
Topic: Geologic Resources: Nonrenewable Mineral & Energy Resources
A. Identifying, locating, and removing nonrenewable mineral resources
1. Types of mining
2. Environmental effects of mineral extraction
B. Oil extraction, refining, and use
C. Natural gas
D. Coal
E. Nuclear energy
Chapter 18
Topic: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
A. Energy efficiency and how to improve it
B. Solar energy
1. Passive solar energy
2. Active solar energy
C. Hydroelectricity
D. Wind power
E. Biomass
F. Solar-hydrogen
G. Geothermal energy
H. Micropower
I. Sustainable energy use
Lab: Fossil Fuel lab—Personal Energy Audit
Project: Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Sources—Pros and Cons
Test: Chapters 16, 17, and 18
Unit 5
Sustaining Environmental Quality
Chapter 19
Topic: Risk, Toxicology, and Human Health
A. Risks and hazards
B. Toxicology
1. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification
2. Poisons
C. Chemical hazards
D. Transmissible diseases
E. Risk analysis
Lab: Toxicology—Testing LD-50: Four kinds of cleaning solutions (sodium
hypochlorite, quaternary ammonium compounds, vinegar, and borates), are
analyzed to determine the lethal dose 50 percent for yeast. Students produce a
dose-response curve as part of their report.
Chapter 20
Topic: Air and Air Pollution
A. Outdoor air pollution
1. Photochemical and industrial smog
2. Inversions
3. Acid deposition
B. Indoor air pollution
1. Types and sources
2. Effects on human health
C. Solutions to air pollution
Video: Race to Save the Planet: Only One Atmosphere
Lab: Measuring Automobile Pollutants
Test: Chapters 19 and 20
Chapter 21
Topic: Climate Change and Ozone Loss
A. Natural greenhouse effect
B. Global climate change
C. Possible solutions
D. Ozone depletion
1. Causes and chemical reactions
2. Effects on human health
Lab: Field Testing for Ozone: Schoenbein paper and a relative humidity
Schoenbein scale are used to measure the concentration of ozone in the air. This
is then compared to concentrations in other time periods and in other parts of
the world’s atmosphere.
Chapter 22
Topic: Water Pollution
A. Main types of water pollutants and how they are measured
B. Point and nonpoint sources of pollution
C. Stream pollution and oxygen-sag curves
D. Groundwater pollution
E. Ocean pollution
F. Wastewater treatment
Lab: Measuring Water Quality
Video: Race to Save the Planet: Do We Really Want to Live This Way?
Video: Land of the Alligator (National Geographic)
Field trip: Wastewater treatment plant
Field Trip: Okefenokee Swamp
APES, AP® Biology, Environmental Science
Test: Chapters 21 and 22
Chapter 23
Topic: Pesticides and Pest Control
A. Types of pesticides
B. Pros and cons of pesticide use
C. Pesticide treadmill and circle of poison
D. Pesticide regulations in the United States
E. Alternatives to the use of pesticides
F. Integrated pest management
Lab: Herbicide Toxicity: Students determine the toxic dose for the plant Brassica
rapa.
Chapter 24
Topic: Solid and Hazardous Waste
A. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
B. Hazardous waste
C. Reduce, reuse, recycle
D. Detoxifying, burning, burying, and exporting waste
E. Land disposal
F. Laws regarding hazardous waste in the United States
Video: Endangered Planet
Chapters 25
Topic: Sustainable cities: Environment and Society
Worked throughout the year as other topics are covered
Land and water use.
Urban development
Transportation infrastructure
Pollution Types
Sources, effects
AP Environmental Science Exam
Labs
The Compound Microscope
Food Energy
lab 2B BSCS Blue
Population Growth
Tragedy of the Commons
lab 2.1 BSCS Green
lab 2.3 BSCS Green
Acid Rain and Seed Germination
lab 3.2 BSCS Green
Diffusion and Osmosis
A.P. Biology lab 1
Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
Cell Respiration
A.P. Biology lab 5
A.P. Biology lab 5
Population Genetics and Evolution
A.P. Biology lab 8
Transpiration
A.P. Biology lab 9
Animal Behavior
A.P. Biology lab 11
Dissolved Oxygen and Primary Productivity
A.P. Biology lab 12
Capturing the Wind
lab 3 Miller 14th edition
Natural Selection
lab 9.1 BSCS Green
Gram Stain Lab
Long Term Changes in an ecosystem
Effects of Salinity on an Ecosystem
lab 22.2 BSCS Green
lab 23.2 BSCS Green