Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES)
Withgott’s Environment, 5th edition, Pearson Benjamin Cummings
APES is a comprehensive course designed to cover the same material as an introductory environmental science
college course. We will primarily focus on scientific skills and content, but environmental science is
interdisciplinary so also touches on politics, geography, and sociology. This is a lab-based course which could
possibly fulfill a science lab requirement in college (if the student passes the AP exam), and/or prepare students for
more advanced college-level environmental science courses.
Given the relevance of this material (climate change, fossil fuels and their alternatives, water quality and availability,
deforestation, etc.), it is recommended that every citizen of the world become educated about these issues.
Therefore, welcome to a course that will prepare you for an important part of your future.
Prerequisites: Students must have completed biology, foundations in physics and chemistry (FPC) or Chemistry, and
algebra prior to enrolling in APES. If students earned lower than a B in those courses, see me.
Ecology, Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Conservation – Chapters 3, 4, 5, 11
*Species interactions
*Ecological communities
Biodiversity and species extinction
*Parks and reserves
*Systems
*Parks and reserves
*Biogeochemical cycles
*Characteristics and Importance of Old Growth Forests
*Biodiversity and species extinction
*Resource and forest management
Activities:
Opal Creek Field Trip (overnight) - time in an old growth forest studying forest ecology
Predator/Prey Simulations
Dharma Rain Habitat Restoration – how to survey a site
Biogeochemical Cycle Posters
Great Biodegradable Burial
Calculating species diversity – Shannon Weiner Index
Allelopathy Lab – Introduction to formal lab papers
Sustainability, Economics, and Environmental Policy, Population – Chapters 6, 7, 8, 13
*Nature and History of environmental science
*Sustainability and societal issues
*Environmental ethics and economics
*U.S. and international environmental policy
*Population ecology
*Human population
*Demography
Activities:
Why APES? Lessons from The Lorax
Ethics Paper
Estimating your ecological footprint
Tragedy of the Commons Simulation
Population sampling - Mark/Recapture Lab
Population math - calculating growth and doubling rate
Environmental Health, Toxicology, Air and Water Pollution – Chapters 14, 15, 16
*Toxic agents in the environment
*Evaluating hazards and risks
*Freshwater systems
*Water consumption
*Solutions to freshwater depletion
*Freshwater pollution and control
*Oceanography
*Marine ecosystems
*Human use and impact of ocean
*CFCs and Acid rain
*Particulates
*Atmospheric science & Climatology
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Activities:
LD50 Lab – effect of copper sulfate on black worms
Formal Lab Paper
Particulate pollution collection and identification lab
Bottled vs. tap water taste testing
Eco Columns: Effect of fertilizer on oxygen levels Formal Inquiry Lab Paper
Salinization Lab – Formal Lab Paper
OR
Global Climate Change, Fossil Fuels, and Energy – Chapters 17 - 21
*Greenhouse gas emissions
*Proxy indicators
*Peak Oil *Alternative fuels
*Sources of energy: coal, oil, and natural gas
*Fossil fuel use impacts
*Energy conservation
Activities:
Energy Summit
Personal and Madison energy audits
Soil, Agriculture, and Forests – Chapters 9, 10, 12
*Soil systems
*Degradation
*Green revolution
*Genetic modification
*Crop diversity
*Forest Ecology and Forest Management
Activities:
*Pests and pollinators
*Sustainable agriculture practices
Soil analysis lab
Field trip to Zenger Farm
Mycorrhizae lab
Waste and Mining – Chapters 22 & 23
*Municipal vs industrial waste
*Hazardous waste
*Mining practices and waste management
Activities:
Personal solid waste inventory
Cookie Mining Lab
*Sustainable practices
Adopt an Action
Choose an action, make a personal change, present findings to class
Advanced Placement Exam May 2nd
Post exam:
Dharma Rain Zen Center – data collection and presentation
Sustainable Solutions – Chapter 24
*Sustainability
* Permaculture
SEE EDMODO FOR MORE SYLLABUS DETAILS AND INFORMATION
Grading and other important information
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Web resources: We will use Edmodo to post reminders, resources, and occasional assignments. Use the settings
to receive a text message when items are posted. Don’t lose your account log in and password information. It is a
pain in the butt to correct this problem. We also have a class website: houseapes.weebly.com
Participation and Attitude: APES students are expected to fully participate in each activity, come to class
prepared and on time, and do their very best. Many students have not encountered rigorous courses prior to
APES. Know that you are capable of challenging courses and the best approach is to believe in yourself (I can
help you with that) and do all of the work on time. You will pass, and perhaps surprise yourself , finding that you
can jump pretty darn high. If you have heard previous students say the course is impossible to pass, they didn’t do
the work.
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Field Work: We will take approximately two required field trips this year. Students are advised to keep mucky
shoes and jackets in their lockers for occasional and sometimes surprise outdoor labs.
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Due Dates and Late Work:
o All work is due at the bell at the beginning of class on the day after it is assigned, unless otherwise
specified. Late work will not be accepted for this class. Take this seriously and keep in mind that you
are in a college course. Broken printers, field trips, procrastination, lost textbook, dogs, etc. are not
excuses. Arriving late to class with your paper that you just printed off in the library is not
acceptable.
o Speaking of, if you have a printed assignment due, it is highly recommended you print the day before
the due date to avoid the inevitable closed library or your teacher who always lets you use their
printer being out with a sub.
o If a student knows in advance that they will be absent, it is up to them to turn in assignments and
schedule makeup exams before their absence.
o Unanticipated, excused assignments are accepted for full credit if turned in on the day the student
returns to school. Because many students have not experienced a no late work policy, students will
be given a one time only “oops” coupon for reduced credit if turned in one day late. This should be
used very wisely.
o Students are encouraged to help set due dates for major papers in order to avoid a pile up. Students
are also allowed to rework assignments and can earn back credit, particularly on lab reports. This is
allowed only when the student turns in a complete lab report on time.
o Keep in mind that homework is a small percentage of your grade. Papers, labs, and tests are 90% so
always prepare for them.
o If you are struggling to write papers or prepare for tests, see me early and I will help you set up a
system or find a tutor.
o The grade at the end of the grading period is a final grade. Credit retrieval / recovery is not available
for AP courses.
These policies may seem harsh but we know that students who encounter stricter policies in high school are more
quickly able to transition to college expectations. These policies are fairly standard in AP courses around the U.S.
I have read the above information regarding grading. Student initials _______ Parent/Guardian initials____
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Lab notebook: All labs will be recorded in a separate notebook. This notebook will be collected for labs and
activities where a formal write up is not required and so needs to be used only for APES. It is recommended that
students take textbook and lecture notes in a spiral notebook. This can also be used for textbook homework,
which will be checked the day of the unit tests.
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HomeWORK: **See reading and homework calendar. Homework counts for 10% of your grade, but if you don’t
do your homework, you will not pass the class because it prepares you for exams.
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Tests: Each unit will end with a comprehensive exam. These tests will generally follow the AP format of
multiple choice questions and free-response questions (FRQs). Tests missed due to excused absences may only be
made up on the day of the student’s return to class. Test grades will not be curved, but…
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Test Corrections: All students are encouraged to correct missed questions on exams. Students may turn in test
corrections, potentially earning back ½ of the points missed.
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Quizzes: Pop reading quizzes will be used to check for understanding leading up to exams and encourage
students to keep up with their reading.
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Advanced Placement exam: Although the AP exam is not required, students are strongly encouraged to take it
and will receive points for doing so, regardless their score. Those not taking the AP exam will take a
comprehensive 2nd semester final exam. 90 – 100% of students in APES take the exam. Students scoring a 3 or
above on the AP exam might receive college credit, depending on where they enroll. Students striving to pass
the exam are strongly encouraged to study for the test throughout the school year. Study sessions will be held
periodically, but students are encouraged to set up their own study groups as well. Students who pass the AP
exam can potentially have their high school grade changed to correlate with their score. For example, a student
earned a C in the class and scored a 5 on the AP exam. Their C grade was changed to a B.
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Bonus points: Students need to earn the grade they want every day so extra credit is usually not available.
However, opportunities are also occasionally available, such as packing your trash around during the waste
inventory. Bonus points are meant to supplement a low score on a test or paper, and encourage students to
participate in alternate activities. They are not meant to change students’ grades more than approximately 1-2%.
Colleges do not accept Ds. Strive for a C or above. Every student who completes all of the required work and learns
the material passes the class.
Grading Scale:
A = 90 – 100%
B = 80 – 89%
C = 70 – 79%
D = 60 – 69%
F = 59 or below
Materials
Lab notebook: quad 4x4 ruled composition notebook, used only for APES
Spiral notebook for notes and homework
Textbook (bring to class every day, even if we don’t always use it…)
pens and pencils, at all times
calculator (scientific, if possible)
grungy shoes and jacket to keep in locker for outside work
Do not let yourself get behind or overwhelmed. Use a planner. Do homework every night. Form study groups. Come
prepared to class. You will learn a TON about the environment and begin to see the world differently (including
thinking about copper sulfate every time you see a worm…sorry…). When you get to college, you will realize that
you not only learned, you were also preparing for college-level science work.
Your Signature ________________________________________
Parent / Guardian Signature _____________________________
(Your parents/guardians won’t have to sign these things in college. Sometimes APES is like high school; mostly APES
is like college.)
Welcome to APES! We are going to have an amazing year!
Please note any questions or concerns here, or attach an additional piece of paper:
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