Broken Arrow Public Schools
AP Environmental Science Objectives
Revised 11-19-08
1st six weeks
#
1
2
3
4
Objective
Identify questions and problems that can be answered through
scientific investigation.
Design and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions
about the world by creating hypotheses; identifying variables;
selecting appropriate tools or equipment; collecting, recording and
organizing data; interpreting data and communicating the findings.
Apply safety procedures in the laboratory and field studies by
recognizing and avoiding potential hazards as well as safely
manipulating materials and equipment.
Critically analyze reports of scientific investigations by examining the
adequacy of experimental controls and offering other plausible
explanations of the results.
5
Use models to understand and explain scientific phenomenon and
processes.
6
Identify the different forms and quality of energy.
7
Explain the flow of energy through an ecosystem using the laws of
thermodynamics, food webs, food chains, and ecopyramids.
8
Perform calculations and conversions using different units of energy.
Resources
Notes
Broken Arrow Public Schools
AP Environmental Science Objectives
Revised 11-19-08
2nd six weeks
#
9
10
11
Objective
Explain the cycling of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and other
nutrients in ecosystems.
Describe the structure of the earth and the processes that continually reform
the earth such as earthquakes, volcanism, glaciation, erosion and
weathering. Also explain how these processes affect ecosystem formation
and function.
Describe the processes that form soil, the processes that degrade soil and
methods of soil conservation.
12
Identify and describe different soil profiles, soil characteristics, and soil
types.
13
Understand the origin, composition, structure of the atmosphere.
14
Identify the factors that affect weather and climate.
15
Describe the process of ecological succession.
16
Explain the roles that organisms, communities, and populations play in the
functioning of an ecosystem.
17
Describe the role of adaptation, natural selection, and extinction in the
process of evolution.
18
Explain how evolution and ecological succession work together in the
formation of ecosystems.
Resources
Notes
Broken Arrow Public Schools
AP Environmental Science Objectives
Revised 11-19-08
3rd six weeks
#
19
20
21
Objective
Identify, describe and give the geographic location of the major terrestrial
biomes.
Identify the following areas of the ocean and describe their importance in
ocean ecology: open ocean, continental shelf, intertidal zone, ocean depths,
coral reefs.
Define limnology and eutrophication; identify and describe the zones of a
lake; distinguish between oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic lakes.
22
Describe the differences between the tailwaters and headwaters of a
moving water ecosystem.
23
Identify the different freshwater and marine wetlands, explain their
importance to the biosphere, and identify threats to their preservation.
24
Define biodiversity, explain the importance biodiversity to the health of the
biosphere, and describe the affect of on biodiversity.
25
Identify ways man negatively and positively affects biodiversity.
Resources
Notes
Broken Arrow Public Schools
AP Environmental Science Objectives
Revised 11-19-08
4th six weeks
#
Objective
26
Calculate growth rates and doubling times of populations as well as project
the future population size of a community.
27
Draw and interpret age structure diagrams, survivorship curves and other
graphs related to population growth.
28
Name and describe the characteristics of the 4 stages of demographic
transition.
29
Identify several factors impacting population growth and describe their affect
on population size.
30
Describe the potential environmental and economic effects of
overpopulation.
31
Identify areas in the world and USA where the different types of energy are
found or used.
32
Describe the pros and cons, both economic and environmental, of the use of
renewable and nonrenewable energy resources.
33
Perform a cost benefit analysis of two energy consuming devices and/or
processes.
34
Describe methods of energy conservation.
Resources
Notes
Broken Arrow Public Schools
AP Environmental Science Objectives
Revised 11-19-08
5th six weeks
#
Objective
35
Identify the effects of climate change on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
36
Identify the major ambient air pollutants, legislation concerning each, and
possible solutions to the problems.
37
Test and evaluate freshwater sources for various levels of nutrients,
bacteria, and oxygen.
38
Identify aquatic indicator species and their impact on healthy ecosystems.
39
Name and describe important water legislation.
40
Describe the pros and cons, both economic and environmental, of
conventional methods for solid, toxic, and hazardous wastes.
Resources
Notes
Broken Arrow Public Schools
AP Environmental Science Objectives
Revised 11-19-08
6th six weeks
#
Objective
41
List and describe urban challenges facing both the developed and
developing world.
42
Design a “Green City”, utilizing environmentally friendly infrastructure,
including utilities.
43
Analyze cultural, ethical, and legal considerations regarding the
environment.
44
Analyze economic forces affecting societies and the impact these have on
their view and treatment of the environment.
45
Recognize the significance of major environmental laws :regional, national
and international
Resources
Notes