Syllabus: AP Environmental Science SY 2015-2016 AP Environmental Science Syllabus Mrs. Macholtz, Central Union High School 2015-2016 School Year Contact Information Phone and Voicemail: (760) 336-4427 Website: mmacholtz.weebly.com Email: mmacholtz@cuhsd.net Tutoring or make-ups before and after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, or other times by appointment. Course Description The AP Environmental Science class is a full-year course (2 semesters) designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science. This course has been developed to be a rigorous science course that stresses scientific principles and analysis. As a laboratory class, approximately one class per week will be devoted to hands-on laboratory experience or fieldwork. 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 problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the risks associated with these problems and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and or preventing them. Environmental science incorporates knowledge from many different fields of study. The unifying themes for this course are: Science is a process. Science is a method of learning more about the world and it constantly changes the way we understand the world. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes. Energy cannot be created so it has to come from somewhere and as energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable. The earth itself is one interconnected system. Natural systems change over time and space and biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances. Humans alter natural systems. Humans have had an impact on the environmental for millions of years. Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale of their impact on the environment. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context. Understanding the role of cultural, social, and economic factors is vital to the development of solutions. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems. AP Exam Students are strongly encouraged to take the AP Exam on Monday, May 2, 2016. A score of 3, 4, or 5 may improve your grade for one semester. -1- Syllabus: AP Environmental Science Required Text SY 2015-2016 Living in the Environment: Concepts, Connections, and Solutions by G. Tyler Miller, Jr. and Scott E. Spoolman; 17th edition, Brooks/Cole (2012). Supplemental materials and laboratory resources provided by Instructor. Required Material Students are expected to come to every class prepared with the following: A No. 2 pencil, a pen and a highlighter A scientific calculator that is able to enter numbers in scientific notation A folder Journal/Notebook: A college-ruled, bound composition book The Journal/Notebook will be an integral part of this class. By taking notes on text readings, class lectures and discussions, videos and other resources, you will be creating what should be a very valuable study guide to prepare for all exams, including the AP Exam. Notebooks will be checked periodically for dated entries, content, and neatness. Laboratory Activities , Projects, and Safety Course Objectives Laboratory experiments and group projects are designed to complement the classroom discussions and lectures and make by approximately 20% of the time spent in class each week. The purpose of lab activities is to: 1. think critically about environmental systems, 2. develop and conduct well-designed experiments, 3. utilize appropriate techniques and equipment, 4. analyze and interpret data including statistical and graphical presentations, 5. apply concepts to finding solutions of environmental problems, 6. form conclusions and evaluation their quality and validity, 7. propose further questions for study, and 8. communicate accurately about observations and conclusions. At the end of this class, students will be able to describe the role of science, the use of the scientific method, and the concept of sustainability in the environmental field and be able to describe local and global environmental challenges; recognize and describe the science, function, dynamics, and adaptations of and major threats to local and global ecosystems; describe the environmental impacts of human population growth and will identify some of the solutions to address population and consumption challenges; describe the functions and implications of several key environmental areas such as: the protection of habitats and conservation of biodiversity; the hydrological cycle and water resources; agricultural practices in the Imperial Valley; the health effects of water, air, and land pollution; and renewable and nonrenewable energy resources; identify solutions to local and global environmental challenges and describe how state and federal legislation, politics, economics, and citizen involvement can shape these solutions. -2- Syllabus: AP Environmental Science General Expectations SY 2015-2016 This is a college-level class, therefore students are expected to do collegelevel work. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Cheating and plagiarism are generally defined as the act of passing off as one’s own the work, ideas or writings of someone else. All material, writings, or ideas gathered from other sources (including those found on the Internet) must be appropriately cited. Students found cheating or plagiarizing can face a range of actions including but not limited to: receiving no points on an assignment, receiving a grade adjustment, receiving a grade of “F” for the class, and/or disciplinary action. In class, all cellular phones must be put away and ring tones turned OFF. Be an active class participant. Participation and presentations are part of your grade. Be actively listening and participating. Late & Absent Policy By enrolling in AP Environmental Science, you have a made a commitment you should honor. It is important that you are in class every day as you will be learning important and interesting material every day. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make sure you get the notes and assignments. Be present on exam days. You will know the dates for exams well in advance and should be in class. If you must miss an exam for a legitimate reason, please be prepared to make it up during class on the day you return. Assignments are due at the end of class. Assignments are considered late if they are turned in after class on the due date. There will be a reduction applied to work for each day that it is late. NO CREDIT will be awarded to work turned in more than five days late. Grading Student grades will be based the following categories and percentages: Presentations & Homework Written Assignments Laboratory Reports & Projects Chapter Exams Semester Finals 7.5% 7.5% 25% 50% 10% Grading Scale A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = Below 60% Reading and Homework Read and study every night. Although there will be content covered in Assignments lecture, much of our class time together will be spent on class discussions, activities and labs. Depending on how quickly you read and assimilate information, you should plan on spending 30-45 minutes per night on this class. We will sometimes cover one chapter per week in class, so even if I don’t formally assign homework on a given night, the expectation is that you are keeping up with the readings and assignments on a daily basis as noted in the syllabus. Students are expected to read the assigned material before coming to class and to be prepared to present and discuss these readings in class. Homework assignments will be given periodically throughout the year. -3- Syllabus: AP Environmental Science SY 2015-2016 Students are responsible for getting and submitting assignments on time. Homework assignments can be turned in early to the instructor. Written Assignments Students must demonstrate proficiency in the use of the English language in all work submitted for this course. Grammatical errors, spelling errors, and writing that do not express ideas clearly will affect your grade. Written assignments including the Journal will be assigned periodically throughout the year. Laboratory Reports & During the semester, students will work on labs, lab reports, projects and Projects presentations. Some of this work will be done individually and some work will be done in small groups. Some class time will be dedicated for students to do group work. Groups that require additional time to complete the assignment must meet outside of class time. Group assignments will be given a total group score and students within the groups will decide how to divide up the points. Chapter Exams & Generally, there will be 6 chapter tests and a final exam each semester. All Semester Finals exams are designed like the AP Exam and include multiple choice questions (worth 60% of the test) and free response essay questions (worth 40% of the test). Extra Credit Limited extra credit points will be available only to students who complete ALL class presentations, homework assignments, laboratory reports and projects. Events and assignments that qualify for extra credit will be announced and posted periodically during the year by the instructor. Course Topics The class covers topics outlined by the College Board. The percentages reflect how much class time will be dedicated to each topic as well as how many questions from each topic will be on the AP Exam. 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 -4- Syllabus: AP Environmental Science SY 2015-2016 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 hwy system; canals & 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 -5- Syllabus: AP Environmental Science SY 2015-2016 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; synthetic fuels; environmental advantages/disadvantages of sources D. Nuclear Energy: Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor types; environmental advantages and 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 and 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; -6- Syllabus: AP Environmental Science SY 2015-2016 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 -7- Syllabus: AP Environmental Science SY 2015-2016 Class Schedule: Dates and assignments may change at the discretion of the Instructor. First Semester Wk: Topic: Assignments: 1 Course Overview and Sustainability 2 Sustainability and Our Ecological Footprint 3 Earth Systems and Resources Summer Assignment due Course Expectations and Syllabus TEST on Scientific Concepts and Mathematical Skills Ch1: Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability LAB: Calculating our Ecological Footprint QUIZ Ch1 4 Earth Systems and Resources and Mining: Rock Cycle, Mineral Formation, Mining Processes, Managing Nonrenewable Resources Ch14: Geology and Non-Renewable Mineral LAB: Making Sense of Geological Time LAB: Understanding Seasons and Latitude TEST Ch1, Ch14 5 The Living World: Science, Conservation of Matter and Energy, System Dynamics Ch2: Science, Matter, Energy, and Systems LAB: Revisiting Chemistry 6 The Living World: Ecosystem Structure and Energy Flow Ch3: Ecosystems, How They Work 7 The Living World: Ecosystem Structure and Energy Flow Ch3: Ecosystems, How They Work Project: Earth’s Biomes TEST Ch2, Ch3 8 The Living World Ch4: Biodiversity and Evolution 9 The Living World Ch4: Biodiversity and Evolution Project: Endangered Species 10 The Living World Ch5: Biodiversity, Special Interaction and Population Control TEST Ch4, Ch5 11 Impact of Human Population Ch6: Human Population and Its Impact LAB: Human Population Growth 12 Impact of Human Population Ch6: Human Population and Its Impact LAB: Understanding Population Graphs 13 Managing Biodiversity Ch9: Sustaining Biodiversity, A Species Approach 14 Managing Biodiversity Ch9: Sustaining Biodiversity, A Species Approach TEST Ch6, Ch9 15 The Living World Ch7: Climate and Biodiversity Thanksgiving Break 16 Managing Biodiversity Ch10: Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity, An Ecosystem Approach -8- Syllabus: AP Environmental Science SY 2015-2016 LAB: Managing Forest Resources 17 Managing Biodiversity Ch10: Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity, An Ecosystem Approach TEST Ch7, Ch10 18 Review and Finals Study for Final Exam -9- Syllabus: AP Environmental Science SY 2015-2016 Second Semester Wk: Topic: Assignments: 1 Global Change and Managing Biodiversity Ch8: Aquatic Biodiversity 2 Water Resources and Pollution Ch11: Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity 3 Water Resources and Pollution Ch13: Water Resources TEST Ch8, Ch11, Ch13 4 Land and Water Use Ch12: Food, Soil, and Pest Management 5 Water Resources and Pollution Ch20: Water Pollution LAB: Household Water Use Wk: Topic: Assignments: 6 Water Resources and Pollution Ch20: Water Pollution TEST Ch12, Ch20 7 Energy Resources and Consumption Ch15: Non-Renewable Energy 8 Energy Resources and Consumption Ch16: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy TEST Ch15, Ch16 9 The Environment and Human Health Ch17: Environmental Hazards and Human Health Supplemental Materials on Environmental Health 10 Solid and Hazardous Waste Ch21: Solid and Hazardous Waste TEST Ch17, Ch21 11 The Atmosphere and Air Pollution Ch18: Air Pollution Supplemental Materials on the Atmosphere 12 Stratospheric Ozone and Global Climate Change Ch19: Climate Disruption and Ozone Depletion TEST Ch18, Ch19 13 Economics, Politics and the Environment Ch22: Sustainable Cities Ch23: Economics, Environment, and Sustainability Ch24: Politics, Environment, and Sustainability 14 Diagnostic Test Develop Personal Study Plan Spring Break 15 Review for AP Test Mock AP Test 16 Group Work on Final Projects 17 May 5, 2014 AP Test for Environmental Science Review and Final Project 18 Review and Final Project TEST Ch22, Ch23, Ch24 Group Work on Final Projects - 10 - Syllabus: AP Environmental Science SY 2015-2016 Group Work on Final Projects 19 Review and Final Project Group Work on Final Projects 20 Review and Finals Study for Final Exam - 11 -