HES 2015/2016
HONORS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Mrs. Miller
Office: McCaughan Science Center Rm S117
Email: shauna.miller@musowls.org Website: http://faculty.musowls.org/miller/
Office Hours: available 2nd period daily, and 4th period Monday through Thursday
Textbook:
Friedland, Andrew J., Rick Relyea, and David Courard-Hauri. Environmental Science for AP*. New York: W. H.
Freeman, 2012. Print.
Quarter grade percentages:
Tests & Papers
75%
Labs/Hwk/Cwk
25%
Final semester grade percentages:
1st quarter grade
37.5%
2nd quarter grade
37.5%
Semester exam
25.0%
Course Organization:
The class is divided into thirteen units of varying lengths. Each unit includes both lecture and lab activities, and
culminates with a unit test. The remaining 25% of the grades will consist primarily of lab reports, with quizzes, homework
or other assignments.
Class Supplies:
Students will need the text, as well as a 1-inch binder with notebook paper and pockets, and a composition notebook for
lab.
Tardy Policy:
You are expected to arrive to class on time and to be in your assigned seat when the bell rings to start class. The second
tardy will be reported to the office.
Tests:
Tests will be administered at the end of each unit, and will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.
ALL TEST GRADES COUNT.
Labs:
Students will use their lab notebooks to record data, and observations, as well as to take notes, and diagram set-ups.
Formal lab reports are also required on some of the labs.
Field Trips and Field Work:
We will have at least one field trip, and at least one field lab during the course of the year.
Topic(s)
2nd Quarter
1st Quarter
Qtr Unit Chapter(s)
1
1&2
Studying the State of Our Earth
Environmental Systems
2
3&4
Ecosystem Ecology
Global Climates & Biomes
3rd Quarter
The Lorax (original)
The Tragedy of the Commons
Halflife Property of a Radioactive Element
Owl Pellet Analysis
Hurricane Strike!
Evolution of Biodiversity
Predator-Prey Relationships EcoKit
Carrying Capacity Lab
Natural Selection: Peppered Moth
6&7
Population & Community Ecology
The Human Population
How Will Our Population Grow?
Age Structure Diagrams
5
8&9
Earth Systems
Water Resources
The Hash Rock Fire
6
10
Land, Public, & Private
Habitat: The Choice is Yours
Endangered Species Research Paper
Feeding the World
Energy Resources & Consumption
Food Inc
Soil Analysis Lab
Cookie Mining
Mine Pollution & Reclamation
Achieving Energy Sustainability
Switch
Electricity Use and Efficiency
Energy Practice Problems
20/20 Fracking Video
3
5
4
7
4th Quarter
Labs/Activities/Videos/Research Papers
11 & 12
8
13
9
14 & 15
Water Pollution
Air Pollution & Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Bacterial Examination of Drinking Water
Exploring Deposition of Sediments
Groundwater Pollution lab
10
16 & 17
Waste Generation & Waste Disposal
Human Health & Environmental Risk
How Much is too Much? (LD50 or LC50)
Water Pollutants in the Living Organism
11
18 & 19
Conservation of Biodiversity
Global Change
How Hot is it here on Earth?
Soylent Green
12
20
Sustainability, Economics, & Equity
Community Planning: Not in My Backyard