AP Environmental Science (APES)
Syllabus 2010-2011
Course Purpose
Welcome to AP Environmental Science. The goal of the APES course is to provide
students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to
understand the natural world. The course will also help to indentify, analyze, and
examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing environmental issues. The
beauty of environmental science is that it is disciplinary; it embraces a wide variety
of topics from different areas of study including all major branches of science,
sociology, anthropology, economics, government, and ethics. In addition to studying
issues of the past, present, and future, this class will also explore tools for effective
environmental change and expose the class to direct hands-on experience of
science in the environment.
Materials:
Books:
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham, Environmental
Science A Global Concern tenth edition. McGraw-Hill 2008.
Molnar, William, Laboratory Investigations AP Environmental Science
Saddle Brook, New Jersey, Peoples Publishing Group 2005.
Organization: Two 1” three-ring binders: one is brought to school everyday
and needs to have five dividers (this is for daily work). The
other one is kept at home to organize past assignments.
Colored pencils, paper folder with pockets and three prongs
(for activities and projects), a ruler, USB drive, and three hole
punch (the prior two items are highly recommended)
Methods
Instruction consists mostly of lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and written
assignments-including research projects, in-class assignments, and homework. One
period a week (at a minimum) will be devoted to hands-on laboratory experiences or
fieldwork. All lab and fieldwork requires a written report.
Unit #
Activities/Chapters
Unit 1: Environmentalism
Time (Weeks)
1.5
Chapter 1
History of Conservation
Chapter 2
Environmental Ethics
Topics:
1. Tragedy of the Commons
2. Environmental History
3. An Ecological Footprint

Lab: Ecosystem Columns
Video: The Lorax, Hot Politics (Frontline)
Unit 2: Geology: Processes, Hazards, Soils, and Mapping
Chapter 14
3.5
Geology and Earth Resources
Topics:
1. Plate Tectonics and Geologic Processes
2. Soil Formation and soil profiles
3. Characteristics of soil and reading a soil triangle

Lab: Soils-How and why are they different

Lab: Topographic Maps

Lab: Soil Salinization
Unit 3: The Atmosphere
Chapter 15
Air, Weather, and Climate
Topics:
1. Frontal systems and Coriolis effect
2. Ocean Currents and el nino
3. Greenhouse gasses and Global warming

Lab: Air Quality Monitoring

Lab: Outdoor Albedo

Lab: Biogeochemical Cycle Project
Test: Chapters 1,2,14, and 15
Unit 4: The Living World
Chapter 3
5.0
Matter, Energy, and Life
Topics:
1. Review of General Chemistry
2. Trophic levels and Productivity
3. Nutrient Cycles and energy flow

Lab: Eating at a Lower Trophic Level

Lab: Energy from Yeast Cells

Lab: Net Primary Productivity

Lab: Food Webbing
Chapters 4,5,11,12,13
Biodiversity
Topics:
1. Communities and interaction
2. Evolution and Natural Selection
3. Biomes, Restoration, and Management

Lab: Brine Shrimp Abiotic Factors

Lab: Predator/Prey Simulation

Lab: Gather your Food

Lab: Transect Study at Kenyon Forest Preserve using FQI
Test Chapters 3-5, and 11-13
Unit 5 Population Dynamics
3.5
Chapters 6 and 7
Topics:
1. Population Growth
2. Factors that Influence Growth
3. Demographics

Lab: The Power of Doubling

Lab: Something’s Fishy

Lab: Population Distribution and Survivorship (Field Trip)
Test Chapters 6 and 7
Unit 6 Land and Water Use
3.5
Chapter 9 Food and Agriculture
Topics:
1. Nutrition
2. Soil Conservation
3. Genetically Modified Crops
4. Sustainability
5. Pest Control

Lab: Soil Nutrients and pH
First Semester Final
Unit 6 (cont) Land Use
Chapters 14 and 22 Mining and Urban land Development
1.5
Topics:
1. Mining and Mining Laws
2. Urbanization
3. Smart Growth

Lab: Cookie Mining

Guest Speaker: Randy Recklaus-City of Batavia
Test Chapter 9, 14, and 22
Unit 7 Energy Resources
3.0
Chapters 19 and 20 Conventional and Sustainable Energy
Topics:
1. Renewable and Non-Renewable
2. Waste Generation and Disposal
3. Pollution: Air, Water, and Land

Lab: Home Energy Audit

Lab: Energy and Recycling
Chapter 21 Solid, Toxic and Hazardous Waste
Topics:
1. Waste Disposal Methods
2. Landfill Construction
3. Hazardous and Toxic Wastes
4. Recycling

Lab: Solid Waste Diary

Lab: Disposal of Nuclear Waste

Field Trip: Fox River Water Reclamation District Tour
Test Chapters 19-21
Unit 8 Water Use, Management, and Pollution
Chapter 17 Water Use and Management
Topics:
1. Resources and Compartments
2. Availability and Shortages
3. Conservation

Lab: Water Loss Drop by Drop

Lab: Salinization Lab
Chapter 18 Water Pollution
Topics:
1. Type and Effects of Water Pollution
3.0
2. Pollution Control and Legislation

Lab: Water Quality Assessment
Test Chapters 17-18
Unit 9 Environmental Health, Toxicology, and Legislation
3.0
Chapters 8 and 24
Topics:
1. Health Hazards
2. Movement and Distribution of Toxins
3. Risk Assessment
4. Environmental Policy
5. Environmental Laws, Treaties, and Conventions

Lab: LC50 of Brine Shrimp (Toxic Tea)

Lab: Bioassay Experiment with Lettuce

Project: Environmental Law Timeline

Project: Political Activism Letter
Test Chapters 8 and 24
Ecological Economics
1.5
Chapter 23
Topics:
1. Economic Worldviews
2. Natural Resource Accounting
3. Trade, Development, and Jobs

Project: Personally Responsible Consumerism
What Shall We Do?
Chapter 25
Topics:
1. Education
2. Accountability

Lab: Campus Environmental Audit
1.0