AP Environmental Science
(APES) Syllabus and Course
Outline
Instructor: Mrs. Tina Sullivan
Room: DO204
Email: tsullivan@qcsd.org
Phone: 512-529-2117
Pre-requisites: Biology and/or Chemistry (a strong background in both will be needed)
What is Environmental Science?
“Environmental science is the study of the natural sciences in an interdisciplinary
context that always includes consideration of people and how they have influenced the systems
under examination. It includes many aspects of biology, earth and atmospheric sciences,
fundamental principles of chemistry and physics, population dynamics, and an appreciation for
biological and natural resources."
Brief Course Description
The Advanced Placement Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent
of a one-semester introductory college course in environmental science. Environmental Science
is interdisciplinary, and embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study such as
Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Earth Science and Social Science. This course will 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 and/or preventing them.
Weekly laboratory and field investigations are designed to complement the textbook
and lecture portion of the class. Students will experience confounding variables that exist in the
natural world while developing data collection, sampling and analysis procedures. Students will
use appropriate mathematical calculations to analyze and present data.
Textbook
Author: Miller, Tyler
Title: Living in the Environment – 14th Ed.
Publisher: Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning; 2005
In addition to this text, the students also have access to:
Author: Miller, Tyler
Title: Living in the Environment – 17th Ed.
Publisher: Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning; 2012
Author: Botkin, Daniel
Title: Environmental Science; Earth as a Living Planet – 9th Ed.
Mrs. Tina Sullivan
tsullivan@qcsd.org
(215) 529-2117
QCSHS Room DO204
Publisher: Wiley; 2014
Other Course Materials
World on the Edge (2011), Lester Brown. Students will begin the course by reading, analyzing,
and summarizing this selection to better understand current crises in Environmental Science
(summer).
Internet/Newspaper/Magazine - Current events are used to reinforce concepts and analyze
emerging research in the field of environmental science. Digital, newspaper and magazine
articles help make the subject meaningful to students and help them think more broadly about
the subject matter.
Laboratory investigations from various sources (see listing in syllabus body)
Video List (see listing in syllabus body) – students will have opportunities to see materials
presented in various ways to help with understanding material.
Outline of Topics
You may visit http://www.collegeboard.com/ap/students/envsci/cours002.html for an outline
of topics as well as a course description and a course overview. The order of topics in the
outline is not necessarily the order in which the topics will be addressed, and many of the
topics will be interwoven repeatedly throughout the course.
Course Content Overview (Chapters refer to the 17th edition)
Units and Related Text
Unit 1: Humans and
Sustainability
Humans and Sustainability: An
Overview (Chapter 1)
Additional Resources
What is a Scientist?
For the AP Student, Reading
Activities and Assessments
Tragedy of the Commons Lab
Environmental Footprint
Analysis
Ecological Footprint
Unit 1 Quiz
Unit 2: Natural Systems and
Ecosystem Introduction
Science, Matter, Energy, and
Systems (Chapter 2)
Ecosystems: What Are They and
How Do They Work? (Chapter 3)
Writing a Lab Report
Instructions
Melt Away Mint Lab Chapter
3 Interactive Review CD
Eating at Lower Trophic
Levels Activity
Biogeochemical cycle vocab
review
Unit 2 Test Biodiversity –
Using the Shannon Index
Quiz Unit 2
Biodiversity – Comparing
Diversity Lab
Unit 3: Human and Natural
Case Study: Why Should We
A Simulation of Natural
Mrs. Tina Sullivan
tsullivan@qcsd.org
(215) 529-2117
QCSHS Room DO204
Populations
Biodiversity and Evolution
(Chapter 4)
Biodiversity, Species Interactions
and Population Control (Chapter
5)
The Human Population and Its
Impact (Chapter 6)
Protect Sharks
Forestry Guest Speaker
Crash Course Video: Human
Impacts on the Environment
World in the Balance Video
Unit 4: Biomes and Biodiversity
Climate and Biodiversity (Chapter
7)
Aquatic Biodiversity (Chapter 8)
Biomes Video
Why Poor Places are More
Diverse
An Eden for Sharks Reading
Which Came First, the Rain or
the Rainforest?
How Big is the Ocean?
Mangroves Reading
Coral Reef Adventure
Stream Quality Index
Crash: A Tale of Two Species
Guest Speaker – (Ex) Dr. Larry
Niles- Habitat Restoration
Horseshoe Crabs and the Red
Knots
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Ocean Confetti
Reading: Polar Bears and
Climate Change
Scientific American: Our
Evolving Present
Data Analysis Chapter 9
How to Keep Elephants and
Wolves Out of Your Yard
Back to the Wild
The Super Trees
The Age of Megafires
Virtual Fishing Link
The Big One That Got Away
Big Fish Stories, Getting Littler
Bluefin Tuna
GM Foods Video
Reading: The Meat Guzzler
The Meatrix
Unit 5: Sustaining Biodiversity
Sustaining Biodiversity: The
Species Approach (Chapter 9)
Sustaining Terrestrial
Biodiversity: The Ecosystem
Approach (Chapter 10)
Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity
(Chapter 11)
Unit 6: Sustaining Natural
Resources
Food, Soil and Pest Management
Mrs. Tina Sullivan
tsullivan@qcsd.org
(215) 529-2117
Selection
Finding a Niche in a New
Environment
Guest Speaker Survey
Countries Category Activity
(need to find)
Population Analysis
Chapter 4,5,6 Vocab Quiz
The Power of the Pyramids
Unit 3 Test
Birds, Bioaccumulation, and
the Bay
Coral Reef Adventure
Stream Survey
Guest Speaker Survey
Chapter 7,8 Quiz
DO in Lakes
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Tour
Test Unit 4
Living with Tigers
Cane Toad Essay
For the Siberian Tiger
Wolf Wars
Biodiversity Interactive
Biodiversity Activity
Quiz Chapter 9/10
Under Fire reading
Seed Fishing Lab
Planet Seed Tragedy of the
Commons
Unit 5 Test
Eyes of Nye GM Foods
Rethinking the Meat Guzzler
Soil Triangle Activity
QCSHS Room DO204
(Chapter 12)
Water Resources (Chapter 13)
Water Pollution (Chapter 20)
(Field Trip- Wastewater
Treatment Plant)
A Teacher Growing Green in
the South Bronx
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Trip
Wastewater Treatment Video
Creek Biological Testing
Video: Stream Flow
Video: Gardens of the Queen
Review Site
Unit 7: Resources- NonRenewable and Renewable
Geology and Nonrenewable
Mineral Resources (Chapter 14)
Nonrenewable Energy (Chapter
15)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy (Chapter 16) (Field TripGreen Building)
Rare Earth Elements
Reading: The Energizer
Modern Marvels Renewable
Energy
Field Trip Vertical Screens
TED Energy Review Video
Elon Musk
Unit 8: Atmosphere and Climate
Environmental Hazards and
Human Health (Chapter 17)
Air Pollution (Chapter 18)
Climate Disruption and Ozone
Depletion (Chapter 19)
Accidental Poisoning at
Dartmouth
Case Study: Tuna for Lunch
What Fish to Eat
Air Pollution PPT
Video: Acid Rain
Reading: Sick Building
Syndrome
Video: Chasing Ice
13 Misconceptions About
Climate Change
TED Reverse Climate Change?
Toxicity Lab
Risk Assessment Activity
LD50 and MSDS
Smog in a Jar
Chapter 17 Quiz
Air Pollution Lab
Writing a Lab Report
CD Review Chapter 18-19
Quiz Chapter 18-19
Unit 8 Test
Unit 9: Pollution
Solid and Hazardous Waste
(Chapter 21) (Field Trip- Landfill)
The Garbage Game
Garbage Doesn’t Lie
Landfill Field Trip
Landfill Worksheet
Energy and Recycling
Urban Transportation
Mrs. Tina Sullivan
tsullivan@qcsd.org
(215) 529-2117
Soil Calculations
Soil Surveys and You
Pesticide Spraying
Water Loss Drop By Drop
Water Use Survey
Watershed Worksheets
Determining Groundwater
Contamination
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Chapter 12,13,20 Quiz
CD Water Review
National Geographic: The
Chesapeake Bay
How the Market Can Keep
Streams Flowing
Unit 6 Test
Light Bulb Comparison
Surface Mining Simulation
Lab
Fossil Fuel Activity
Selling Energy
Modern Marvels Renewable
Energy
Vertical Screens
Vocab Quiz
Unit 7 Test
QCSHS Room DO204
Cities and Sustainability (Chapter
22)
K-Cup Horror Film
Kahoot Review Chapter 21
CBS The Electronic Wasteland Unit 9 Test
Recycle City
Video: The Eye of Nye:
Transportation
TED Evolution of Cities
The New Suburb
Reading: Up on the Roof
Urban Footprint Cool Climate
Maps
TED Urban Sustainable Future
TED Retrofitting Suburbia
Unit 10: Sustaining Human
Societies
Economics, Environment and
Sustainability (Chapter 23)
Politics, Environment and
Sustainability (Chapter 24)
Environmental Worldviews,
Ethics and Sustainability (Chapter
25)
Independent Study
Unit 10 Test
Grading: The established science department guidelines for this course are:
Summative (i.e., tests, major projects, lab reports): 70%
Formative (i.e., minor projects, classwork, graded HW): 20%
HW compliance: 10%
Final Exam: 10% of overall course grade
Late summative assignments will receive a 10% penalty per day late. Late formative
assignments will not be accepted. Grades will be updated on PowerSchool. Please be sure to
check your grade regularly.
I look forward to working with you this year. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any
questions or concerns before they escalate. I am available for help most days after school or
other times by appointment. Please email me to set an appointment.
Mrs. Tina Sullivan
tsullivan@qcsd.org
(215) 529-2117
QCSHS Room DO204