AP Environmental Science
Syllabus 09/10
Mr. Patterson
The time of sustainability has finally come into the spotlight and is more
relevant to student’s lives than ever. The days of people thinking that food
comes directly from the store, not from the land and that their wastes magically
disappear on garbage day are over. As an educator it is my duty to educate
students on the true impacts that our actions have on the earth.
AP
Environmental science is that opportunity for students to study the many topics
that are fundamental to our quality of life and how we affect the environment.
By investigating environmental topics, using current scientific techniques and
technologies students will develop the knowledge and scientific literacy to make
reasonable environmental decisions.
We also have the advantage of living in a unique county, which is the
origin of five different watersheds. Our area is also the home to a variety of
endangered species. With the knowledge of these key features, students will be
prepared to make rational and informed judgments in the near future that will
involve these natural resources.
I believe by appreciating the diversity and
beauty in our area students will be influenced to see the world as one biotic
community and take pride in it. As Leopold stated, “A thing is right when it
tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic
community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise”, these are simple words
that will mean more to students after taking AP Environmental Science. The
rigors of AP Environmental science will also give students the methods and skills
to be successful in collegiate studies and possibly inspire a few to pursue careers
related to this course.
Overview of AP Environmental Science
AP Environmental Science course is intended to give students the scientific
principles, concepts, and methodologies that will help them interpret the
interrelatedness of our natural world. By developing the necessary skills, they
will be able to identify and analyze man-made and natural environmental
problems. They will then be able to evaluate the relative risks and provide
alternative solutions for the resolution and prevention of possible future
problems.
This course is intended for students desiring the equivalence of a first year
college-level Environmental Science course. AP Environmental Science will meet 5
days a week, 87 minutes per session for four quarters. Students who register for
AP Environmental Science should have completed a year of biology and
preferably a semester of chemistry. The laboratory is a very important part of the
course, with one 87 minute period a week devoted to labs. Mini labs will also be
used throughout the other periods to further enhance topics that are under
investigation. Students will be expected to take the Advanced Placement
Examination in Environmental Science during the spring. Students who receive a
satisfactory score may be able to earn college credit or advanced standing based
upon the score earned on the examination. As a final project students will conduct
a Community Action informational program. In this project students will be
expected to organize a presentation and inform other students on subjects that
would be relevant to our studies, for example recycling, reduction of energy
consumption, endangered species, etc. The presentations will be given to various
groups of students in elementary or middle school.
Text
Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and
Solutions. 15th ed. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole, 2007.
Supplemental and Reference Texts:
Laboratory Resources, Manuals, and Activities
Mitchell, Mark K., and William B. Stapp. Field Manual for Water Quality
Monitoring. 9th ed. Dexter, MI: Thomson-Shore Printers, 1995.
Roa, Michael L. Environmental Science Activities Kit. West Nyack, NY: The Center
for Applied Research in Education, 1993.
McConnell, Robert L., and Daniel C. Abel. Environmental Issues: Measuring,
Analyzing, and Evaluating.2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002.
Rosenthal, Dorothy B. Environmental Science Activities. New York: John Wiley,
1995.
Project Learning Tree activity guides. Washington, DC: American Forest
Foundation.
Project WILD K–12 Curriculum and Activity Guide. 2nd ed. Houston: Western
Regional Environmental Education Council, 1983.
Project WILD Aquatic K–12 Curriculum and Activity Guide. 2nd ed. Houston:
Western Regional Environmental Education Council, 1992.
Wilson, Edward O., and Dan L. Perlman. Conserving Earth’s Biodiversity with E.
O. Wilson. Washington, DC: Island Press. CD-ROM
Vernier Lab Books;
o Water Quality with Vernier
o Investigating Environmental Science through Inquiry
o Earth Science with Vernier
Videos
The American Experience: Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring.” Produced by
Neil Goodwin. PBS, 1993. 60 minutes.
Cadillac Desert: Water and the Transformation of Nature (1997) is an
American four-part documentary series about water, money, politics, and the
transformation of nature.
The Life of the Lakes: The Great Lakes Fishery. Michigan Sea Grant,
Publications Office, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI
48109-2099
Living with White-tailed Deer.
An educator’s guide. Quality Deer
management Association Multimedia activity CD set.
The Lorax. Directed by Hawley Pratt. Twentieth Century Fox, 1972. 30 minutes.
Race to Save the Planet series. 10 videos. Boston: WGBH Boston, 1990. 60
minutes each.
Understanding Oceans. Narrated by Jane Curtin. Discovery Home Video,
1997. 50 minutes.
What’s Up with the Weather? Produced by Frontline and NOVA. Boston:
WGBH Boston Video, 2000.
Related Readings:
The Reporter, a publication of Population Connection.
Science News
Laboratory
All Laboratory exercises will be hands on to develop the proper laboratory and
safety procedures that are needed to complete successful and accurate
investigations. Labs will be conducted individually and in groups. Texas
Instruments CBL units will be used for many investigations when applicable. All
observations and data will be recorded in a mandatory student Laboratory
Notebook or Composition Notebook. This will be used to organize and help
communicate all lab work completed in and out of class. Topics included are
making quantitative and qualitative observations, recording data, calculating and
interpreting quantitative data, forming results based on the quantitative data
obtained and communicating the results to their peers. Students are expected to
bring Lab Notebook to all class meetings. The lab book will be checked weekly
and is worth 20% of class grade. Many of the labs will be conducted in the field.
Some examples of these outdoor laboratories will include: diversity labs, soil, air
and water quality monitoring, weather monitoring, UV labs, soil profiles,
succession and many solar power experiments. Some field work will be
conducted with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, examples include
Muskellunge egg take, endangered Copper Belly water snake survey, endangered
freshwater mussel survey and several stream and lake surveys. Restoration and
field cleanups on local beach and woods will also be conducted.
Student Evaluations:
Examinations
Tests will be given at the end of each chapter, cumulative finals at the end of
each quarter, with quizzes to be given at any time. Released and practice AP
exam questions will be utilized during all tests and quarterly exams that apply. A
lab practical will be given at the end of each quarter as well.
Grading Scale
A
AB+
B
94– 100
90 – 93
88 – 89
84 – 87
BC+
C
C-
80
78
74
70
–
–
–
–
83
79
77
73
D+
D
DE
68 - 69
64 - 67
60 - 63
< 60
Grading Types:
Laboratory
Homework
Test/Quiz
Final Exam
Participation/Employability
20%
15%
40%
20%
5%
*Note: All Home work, tests and quizzes can be corrected through essay type
explanation for half the total credits missed back.
Schedule and Topics:
Humans and sustainability
1: Environmental problems, their causes, and
sustainability 6 (1 week)
*Core case study: living in an exponential age: life in the fast lane 6
-living more sustainability 7
-population growth, economic growth, and economic development 10
-resources 12
*Case study: china and India: The new affluent consumers (science
and economics) 15
-pollution 15
-Environmental Problems: causes and connections 16
-Cultural changes and the environmental worldviews 21
~Individuals matter: also Leopold’s environmental ethics 23
*Revising exponential growth and sustainability 26
-Exponential Growth Lab
Ecology and sustainability
2: Science, systems, matter, and energy 28 (1 week)
*Core case study: An environmental lesson from Easter Island 28
-The nature of science 29
-Models and Behavior of Systems 33
-Types and structure of matter 34
-Changes in matter 39
-Energy 42
*Case study: Human Energy Use- A brief history 42
-Energy laws: Two rules we cannot break 44
-Sustainability and Matter and Energy Laws 46
*Revisiting Easter Island and Sustainability 48
- Estimating Your Ecological Footprint Lab
3:
Ecosystems: What are they and how do they
work? 50 (1.5 weeks)
*Core case study: Have you thanked the insects today? 50
-The nature of ecology 51
*Case study: Which species run the world? 52
-The earths Life-Support Systems 54
-Ecosystems Components 56
spotlight: Photosynthesis: A closer Look 59
-Biodiversity 61
-Energy flow in ecosystems 70
-Soil: A Renewable Resource 67
-Matter Cycling in Ecosystems 70
-Insect ID, Distribution & Diversity Lab
4:
Evolution and Biodiversity 82 (1.5 weeks)
*Core case study: Earth: the just right adaptable planet 82
- Origins of life 83
- Evolution, natural selection, and adaptation 85
- Geologic processes, climate change, catastrophes, and evolution 87
- Ecological niches and adaptation 89
Spotlight: cockroaches: nature’s ultimate survivors 90
- Speciation, extinction, and biodiversity 91
- Genetic engineering and the future of evolution 94
*Revisiting the adaptable earth and sustainability 98
-Farm Service Agency Lab – Genetically Modified Crops
5:
Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity 100 (1 week)
*Core case study: Blowing in the wind: A story of connections 100
-Climate: A brief introduction 101
- Biomes: Climate life on land 105
-Desert Biomes 108
-Grasslands and Chaparral Biomes 111
-Forest Biomes 117
-Mountain Biomes 122
-Human Impacts on Terrestrial Biomes 123
*Revisiting Winds and Sustainability 124
-Native Prairie Grass and Forest Diversity Lab
6:
Aquatic Biodiversity 126 (1.5 weeks)
*Core case study: Why should we care about coral reefs? 126
- Aquatic Environments 127
- Saltwater life zones 128
- Freshwater life zones 136
*Case study: Dams, Deltas, Wetlands, Hurricanes, and New Orleans
(Science, Economics, and Politics) 140
*Case study: Inland Wetlands losses in the United States (Science and
Politics) 141
*Revisiting Coral Reefs and sustainability 142
-River Study Lab
7:
Community Ecology 143 (1.5 weeks)
*Core case study: Why should we care about the American Alligator?
143
-Community structure and Species Diversity 144
-Types of Species 145
*Case study: Species Diversity on Islands 146
*Case study: Why are Amphibians Vanishing? 146
*Case study: why should we protect sharks? 149
-Species Interactions: Competition and predation 150
- Species and Interactions: Parasitism, Mutualism, and Commensalism 153
- Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition 155
- Ecological Stability and sustainability 158
Spotlight: Ecological Stability: a closer look 159
*Revisiting the American Alligator and Sustainability 159
-Ecological Diversity and Stability Lab
1st Quarter Exam
8:
Population ecology (1 week)
*Core case study: southern sea otters: Are they back from the brink of
extinction? 161
-Population dynamics and carrying capacity 162
*Core case study: Exploring white tailed deer populations in the United
States (Science, Economics, and Ethics) 166
-Reproductive patterns 167
*Revisiting sea otters ad sustainability 169
-Affects of White Tailed Deer in city of Hillsdale, MI Lab
-Living with White Tailed Deer-Quality Deer Management
Association Multimedia Activity
9:
Applying population ecology: The Human
Population and its Impact 171 (1 week)
*Core case study: Is the world overpopulated? 171
-Human population growth: A brief history 172
-Factors affecting Human Population size 173
*Case Study: Fertility and birth rates in the United States (Science and
Economics) 175
* Case Study: U.S. Immigration (Economics and Politics) 177
- Population age structure 178
* Case study: Family Planning in Iran (Science, Politics, and
Religion) 181
-Solutions: Influencing Population Size 182
* Case Study: Family planning in Bangladesh 184
-Slowing Population Growth in India and China 185
* Case Study: India (Science, Economics, and Politics) 185
* Case study: China 187
- Human Impacts on Natural Systems 188
Spotlight: Ecological Surprises 189
Revisiting Population Growth and Sustainability 189
-Demographics Lab
Sustaining Biodiversity
10:
Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: The
Ecosystem Approach 191 (1 week)
*Core case study: Reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone 191
-Human impacts on Terrestrial Biodiversity 192
-Managing and sustaining Forest 193
-Spotlight: Putting a price tag on Nature’s Ecological services (Science and
Economics) 194
*Case study: Deforestation and the Fuel wood Crisis (Economics and
Poverty) 196
-Individuals matter: Making charcoal from Agricultural wastes in Haiti (Science)
197
-Solutions: Certifying Sustainability Grown Timber (Science and Stewardship) 199
*Case Study: Forest Resources and Management in the United States
199
-Individuals Matter: Butterfly in a Redwood Tree (Stewardship) 200
*Case Study: Tropical Deforestation 203
-Individuals matter: Kenya’s Green Belt Movement 208
-Managing and sustaining grasslands 208
*Case Study: Grazing and Urban Development in the American WestCows or Condos? (Science, Economics, and Politics) 210
-National Parks 210
*Case Study: Stresses on U.S National Parks (Science, Economics, and
Politics) 213
-Spotlight: Using GIS Mapping to understand and Manage Ecosystems
(Science) 214
*Case Study: Controversy over Wilderness Protection in the United
States (Science and Politics) 217
-Ecological Restoration 217
*Case Study: Ecological Restoration of a Tropical Dry forest in Costa
Rica (Science and Stewardship) 218
-What can we do? 219
*Revisiting Wolves and Sustainability 220
-Intro to GIS Lab-Wolves of Isle Royal Investigation
11:
Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach
222 (1 week)
*Core Case Study: The passenger Pigeon: Gone Forever 222
-Species Extinction 223
-Importance of Wild Species 227
*Case Study: Why should we care about Bats? (Science and
Economics) 227
-Spotlight: Biophilia (Ethics) 228
-Habitat loss, Degradation, and Fragmentation 229
*Case Study: A disturbing Message from the birds (Science) 231
-Invasive Species 233
*Case Study: The Kudzu Vine (Science) 233
-Population Growth, Pollution, and Climate change 237
-Overexploitation 237
*Case Study: Rising Demand for Bush meat in Africa (Survival and
Economics) 239
-Protecting Wild Species: Legal and Economic Approaches 240
*Case Study: The U.S. Endangered Species Act (Science and Politics)
240
-Protecting Wild Species: The Sanctuary Approach 242
-Spotlight: Accomplishments of the Endangered Species Act (Science,
Economics, and Politics) 243
-Reconciliation Ecology 245
*Case Study: Using Reconciliation Ecology to Protect Bluebirds
(Science and Stewardship) 246
*Revisiting passenger Pigeons and Sustainability 247
-Endangered Specie Investigation- Copper Bellied Water
Snake & - Freshwater Endangered Mussels
12:
Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity 249(1.5 weeks)
*Core Case Study: A Biological Roller Coaster Ride in Lake Victoria
249
-Aquatic Biodiversity 250
-Spotlight: High-Tech Ocean Exploration (Science and Economics) 254
-
Human Impacts on Aquatic Biodiversity 251
-Spotlight: Industrial fish Harvesting Methods (Science and Economics) 254
- Protecting and Sustaining Marine Biodiversity 255
*Case Study: The Florida Manatee and Water Hyacinths (Science)
256
-Individuals Matter: Creating and Artificial Coral Reef in Israel (Science,
Economics, and Stewardship) 257
*Case Study: Commercial Whaling (Science, Politics, and Ethics) 257
-Spotlight: Code Blue: Near Extinction of the Blue Whale (Science,
Economics, and Politics) 259
-
Managing and Sustaining Marine Fisheries 261
Protecting, Sustaining, and Restoring Wetlands 262
-Individuals Matter: Restoring a Wetland 263
*Case Study: Restoring the Florida Everglades (Science and
Economics) 266
-Individuals Matter: The Man who Planted Trees to restore a stream 267
*Revisiting Lake Victoria and Sustainability 268
-The Life of The Lakes: The Great Lakes Fishery
Sustaining Key Resources
13:
Food, Soil Conservation, and Pest Management
270 (1.5 weeks)
*Core Study: Golden Rice: Grains and Hope or and Illusion? 270
-Food Security and Nutrition 271
-Individuals Matter: Ending Hunger in Belo Horizonte, Brazil (Politics and
Stewardship) 272
-Food Production 274
*Case Study: Industrialized Food Production in the United States
(Science and Economics) 276
-Soil Erosion and Degradation 278
*Case Study: Soil Erosion in the United States- Some Hopeful Signs
(Science and Economics) 279
-Sustainable Agriculture through Soil Conservation 282
-The Green Revolution and Its Environmental Impact 283
-The Gene Revolution 286
-Producing More Meat 288
-Catching and raising more fish and shell fish 291
-Solutions: Moving Toward Global Food Security 293
-Protecting Food Resources: Pest Management 294
-Individuals Matter: Rachael Carson 296
-Spotlight: How successful have Synthetic Pesticides Been in Reducing Crop
Losses in the United States? (Science) 298
-Spotlight: What goes around comes around (Science, Economics, and
Politics) 299
*Case Study: Integrated Pest Management- A component of
Sustainable Agriculture (Science) 300
-Solutions: Sustainable Agriculture 301
*Revisiting Golden Rice and Sustainability 303
-Integrated Pest Management Investigation
14:
Water 305 (1 week)
*Core Case Study: Water Conflicts in the Middle East: A preview of the
future 305
-Waters Importance, Availability, and Renewal 306
*Case Study: Freshwater Resources in the United States (Science and
Economics) 309
-Too Little Fresh Water 310
*Case Study: Who should own and Manage Freshwater Resources?
(Economics and Politics) 311
-Spotlight: Water- Management Problems in Cochabamba, Bolivia 312
-Withdrawing Groundwater to Increase Supplies 313
-Spotlight: Are deep Aquifers the answer? (Science, Economics, and Politics)
316
- Using Dams and Reservoirs to supply more water 316
* Case Study: The Colorado River Basin – An Over tapped Resource
(Science and Economics) 318
* Case Study: Chinas Three Gorges Dam (Science and Economics) 319
- Transferring water from one place to another 320
*Case Study: The California Experience (Science, Economics, and
Politics) 320
*Case Study: The Aral Sea Disaster (Science and Economics) 321
- Desalting seawater, Seeding Clouds, Towing Icebergs, and Giant Baggies 322
- Increasing water supplies by wasting less water 324
- Too Much Water 329
*Case Study Living on Flood plants in Bangladesh (Science, Population
Growth, and Poverty) 331
- Solutions: Using water more Sustainably 332
*Revisiting the Middle East and Sustainability 333
-The Cadillac Desert series
-Purification of Water Lab
-Solving Water Problems Activity
15:
Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources
335 (1 week)
*Core Case Study: The Nanotechnology Revolution 335
- Geological Process 336
- Minerals, Rocks, and the Rock Cycle 340
- Environmental Effects of Using Mineral Resources 344
- Supplies of Mineral Resources 348
- Using Mineral Resources and more Sustainability 350
*Case Study: The Ecoindustrial Revolution (Science) 351
* Revisiting Nanotechnology and Sustainability 353
-Rocks and Mineral Id Lab
2nd Quarter Exam
16:
Nonrenewable Energy 355 (1 week)
*Core Case Study: How long will the oil party last? 355
- Types of Energy Resources 356
- Oil 358
-Spotlight: Can Saudi Arabia keep increasing its oil Production? (Science,
Economics, and Secrecy) 360
* Case Study: Oil and the U.S. oil Supplies (Science, Economics, and Politics) 361
*Case Study: Oil and the U.S Arctic National Wildlife Refugee (Science and
Politics) 364
- Natural Gas 366
* Case Study: Liquefied Natural Gas (Science and Economics) 367
-Coal 368
- Nuclear Energy 371
*Case Study: The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident (Science and
Human Error) 375
*Case Study: High-Level Radioactive wastes in the United States
(Science, Economics, and Politics) 379
*Revisiting Oil and Sustainability 382
-Energy Content Lab
17:
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 384
(1.5 weeks)
*Core Case Study: The coming Energy-Efficiency and Renewable –
Energy Revolution 384
- Reducing Energy waste and Improving Energy Efficiency 385
- Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency 386
- Using Renewable Solar Energy to provide Heat and Electricity 394
- Producing Electricity from the Water Cycle 400
- Producing Energy from the Wind 401
- Producing Energy from Biomass 403
*Case Study: Producing Ethanol (Science and Economics) 406
*Case Study: Biodiesel and Methanol (Science and Economics) 407
- Geothermal Energy 408
- Hydrogen 410
*Case Study: Iceland’s Vision of Renewable Energy Economy (Science
and Economics) 411
- A Sustainable Energy Strategy 413
* Revisiting the Energy-Efficiency and Renewable-Energy Revolution
and Sustainability 416
-Creating an Environmental Home
-Money Down the Drain activity
Sustaining Environmental Quality
18:
Environmental Hazards and Human Health 418
(1 week)
*Core Case Study: The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic 418
- Risk and Hazards 419
- Biological Hazards: Disease in Developed and Developing Countries 419
*Case Study: Growing Germ Resistance to Antibiotics (Science) 421
*Case Study: The Growing Global Threat from Tuberculosis (Science
and Economics) 421
-Spotlight: A Flu nightmare Scenario (Science) 422
*Case Study: Malaria- Death by Mosquito (Science and Economics) 423
- Chemical Hazards 426
*Case Study: Biphenol-A (Science) 427
*Case Study: Endocrine Disruptors, Florida Alligators, and Human
(Science) 428
- Toxicology: Assessing Chemical Hazards 429
- Spotlight: Protecting Children from Toxic Chemicals (Science and Ethics) 432
- Risk Analysis 433
*Case Study: Death from Smoking (Science) 434
*Revisiting HIV/AIDS and Sustainability 437
-Poison Pump Activity
19:
Air Pollution 439 (1.5 weeks)
*Core Case Study: When is Lichen like a Canary? 439
- Structure and Science of the Atmosphere 440
- Air Pollution 441
- Spotlight: Air Pollution in the Past: The Bad Old Days (Science and Politics)
443
- Urban Outdoor Air Pollution 444
*Case Study: South Asia’s Massive Brown Cloud (Science) 445
- Acid Deposition 447
-Indoor Air Pollution 452
*Case Study: Radioactive Radon Gas (Science) 454
- Health Effects of Air Pollution 455
- Preventing and Reducing Air Pollution 456
*Case Study: Improving U.S Air Pollution Laws (Science, Economics.
And Politics) 457
* Revisiting Lichens and Sustainability 462
-Acid Rain Lab
-Purification of Air Lab
20:
Climate Change and Ozone Depletion 464
(1.5 weeks)
*Core Case Study: Studying a Volcano to Understand Climate Change
464
- Past Climate Change and the Greenhouse Effect 465
- Climate Change and Human Activities 468
-Factors Affecting the Earth’s Temperature 471
- Effects of Global Warming 473
* Case Study: Meltdown in Alaska (Science) 474
- Dealing with Global Warming 479
- What’s being done to reduce the Greenhouse Gas Emissions? 483
- Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere 486
*Case Study: Skin Cancer (Science) 488
-Protecting the Ozone Layer 490
-Individuals Matter: Ray Turner and His Refrigerator 490
*Revisiting Volcanic Eruptions, Climate, and Sustainability 491
-UV Lab
21:
Water Pollution 493 (1.5 weeks)
*Core Case Study: Using Nature to Purify Sewage 493
- Water Pollution Sources, types, and Effects 494
- Pollution of Freshwater Streams 496
*Case Study: India’s Ganges River: Religion, Poverty, and Health 498
- Pollution of Freshwater Lakes 499
*Case Study: Pollution of the Great Lakes (Science, Economics, and
Politics) 500
- Pollution of Groundwater 501
*Case Study: Arsenic in Groundwater: A Natural Threat (Science and
Economics) 503
- Ocean Pollution 504
*Case Study: Oxygen Depletion in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
(Science) 506
*Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay- An Estuary in Trouble (Science) 506
- Preventing and Reducing Surface Water Pollution 509
- Drinking Water Quality 514
*Case Study: Protecting Watersheds Instead of Building Water
Purification Plants 515
* Revisiting Natural Sewage Treatment and Sustainability 517
-Waste Water Treatment Lab
-Water Quality Analysis Lab
-Bottled Water Tests Lab
22:
Solid and Hazardous Waste 519 (1 week)
*Core Case Study: Love Canal: There is no “Away” 519
- Wasting Resources 520
*Case Study: New York City’s Bad Trash and Golden Recycling Years
521
*Case Study: Electronic Waste- A Growing Problem (Science) 522
-Spotlight: Garbagology (Science) 523
- Integrated waste Management 523
- Reuse 525
*Case Study: Using Refillable Containers (Science and Economics) 528
*Case Study: Recycling Plastics (Science and Economics) 528
- Burning and Burying Solid Waste 530
*Case Study: What should we do with used tires? (Science) 532
- Hazardous waste 533
- Dealing with Hazardous Waste 535
- Toxic Lead and Mercury 540
*Case Study: Lead (Science) 540
*Case Study: Mercury (Science) 541
- Achieving a Low-Waste Society 543
-Individuals Matter: Diane Wilson 544
*Revisiting Love Canal and Sustainability 545
-Waste Reclamation Lab
3rd Quarter Exam
Sustaining Human Societies
23:
Sustainable Cities 548 (1.5 weeks)
*Core Case Study: The Ecocity Concept in Curitiba, Brazil 548
- Urbanization and Urban Growth 549
*Case Study: Urbanization in the United States (Economics) 549
*Case Study: Urban Sprawl in the United States (Economics and
Politics) 551
- Urban Resource and Environmental Problems 553
- Spotlight: How can Reducing Crime Help the Environment? 556
* Case Study: Mexico City (Science, Politics, and Poverty) 557
-Transportation and Urban Development 558
*Case Study: Destroying a Great Mass Transit System in the United
States (Economics and Politics) 561
- Urban Land-Use Planning and Control 562
*Case Study: Land-Use Planning in Oregon (Science, Economics, and
Politics) 564
- Making Urban Areas More Sustainable and Desirable Places to Live 564
* Revisiting Curitiba, Brazil, and Sustainability 567
-Creating a Sustainable City Project
24:
Economics, Environment, and Sustainability 569
(1.5 weeks)
*Core Case Study: A new Economic and Environmental Vision 569
-Economic Systems and Sustainability 570
-Valuing Ecological Services and Monitoring Environmental Progress 574
-Economic Tools for Improving Environmental Quality 578
- Individuals Matter: Ray Anderson 583
-Reducing Poverty to Improve Environmental Quality and Human Well-Being 583
-Solutions: Microloans to the Poor 585
- Making the Transition to more Environmentally Sustainable Economies 587
*Case Study: The Netherlands- Working toward the Environmental
Sustainability 587
* Revisiting Economic Growth and Sustainability 590
25:
Politics, Environmental, and Sustainability 592
(1 week)
*Core Case Study: Rescuing a River 592
- Environmental Policy 593
- Dealing with Environmental Problems in Democracies: Some Difficulties 593
- Spotlight: The Dynamic Balance Between Capitalism and Democracy
(Economics and Politics) 594
- Individuals Matter: Environmental Careers 596
- Environmental Policy in the United States 596
*Case Study: U.S. Environmental Policy- A Complex Controversial
Process 596
*Case Study: Managing Public Lands in the United States- Politics in
Action 600
-Environmental Law and Laws 602
-Spotlight: Harassment Lawsuits 604
-Environmental Groups and their Opponents 605
Spotlight: The Natural Resources Defense Council 607
*Case Study: Environmental Action by Students in the United States
(Politics and Stewardship) 607
*Case Study: Threats to the U.S Environmental Legal and Regulatory
Structure- Environmental Backlash 608
-Global Environmental Policy 609
*Case Study: Environmental Impacts of the War 610
* Revisiting Marion Stoddart and Sustainability 613
-Taking Action on Environmental and Natural Resource issue
Activity
26: Environmental Worldviews, Ethics, and
Sustainability 615 (1 week)
*Core Case Study: Biosphere 2: A Lesson in Humility 615
- Environmental Worldviews and Values 616
- Human- Centered Environmental Worldviews 616
- Living More Sustainably 621
-Spotlight: What are our Basic Needs? 624
* Revisiting Biosphere 2 and Sustainability 626
-Muskellunge Egg Take and River study
Week 33:
AP Review and Exam
Week 34-36: Continue River and Lake Studies
Final Research and Presentations
Final Cumulative Exam