Advanced Placement Environmental Science (A.P.E.S.)
Mrs. Rice
Email: Cheryl_rice@hcpss.org
Website: http://mrsrice.yolasite.com/
Phone Number (school): 410-313-2867
Planning: Periods 1 and 6 in B201
Course Description:
This course is designed to be the equivalent of a college-level semester course in Environmental Science.
Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field of study, and the goal in this class is to integrate what you know
about Biology, Chemistry, Math, History, Sociology, etc., to come to an understanding of the natural world and the
forces that affect it. It will follow the curriculum recommended by the College Board. Independent work in an
expectation of this course and you will be required to master much content material on your own so that we have
more time for laboratory and fieldwork.
Course Goal:
The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide you with the scientific principles, concepts and
methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze
environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these
problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.
Grading:
A variety of factors and a number of assessment strategies determine the level of student achievement in this class.
Below is a list of each type of assessment device along with the overall percentages for each type.
 Exams: 60%
 Laboratory reports: 20%
 Classwork/Projects: 10%
 Homework: 10%
The grading percentages are as follows:
89.5-100 = A
79.5-89.4 = B
69.5-79.4 = C
59.5-69.4 = D
<59.4 = E
Recommended Materials for Class:
 Binder to use for taking notes and storing handouts
 Writing instrument daily – pen or pencil
 Access to the Internet for computer assignments
 Other supplies may be required throughout the course in order to complete major projects and assignments.
PRIDE Pact:
Every class will participate in creating a PRIDE Pact outlining the agreed classroom expectations and behaviors.
Students and teachers will sign the PRIDE Pact to signify ownership in their classroom community.
Attendance:
Due to the nature of this course, attendance and participation are crucial. If you are going to be absent from class,
it is your responsibility to determine the work missed. If you are legally absent, you will have one day for every day
missed to complete the work.
Late Work:
If an assignment is not in on the due date, your grade for that assignment will be a zero.
Late work is not accepted.
Help:
Help is available after school. To ensure that help will be available, make arrangements with me prior to staying
after school. Please use email to reach me anytime during the day. I will do my best to respond as soon as possible.
Welcome to APES! I look forward to embarking on this new adventure together. This course should significantly
shape your understanding and perhaps even your opinion of the environment and your planet!
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. - John Muir
Course Syllabus
This course is divided into units. Exams are based on units or a combination of units as compared to individual chapters.
This means that the exams will be less in number, but will be longer in length and will cover more materials than usual.
Text: Environmental Science: A Global Concern (Cunningham, et. al., 2005)
Unit I: Introduction/Environmental History & Ethics
Chapter 1: Understanding Our Environment
Chapter 2: Environmental Philosophy, Ethics and Science
Unit II: Ecology
Chapter 3: Matter, Energy, and Life
Chapter 4: Biological Communities and Species
Interactions
Chapter 5: Biomes: Global Patterns of Life
Chapter 11: Biodiversity
Chapter 13: Preserving and Restoring Nature
Unit III: Populations
Chapter 6: Population Biology
Chapter 7: Human Population
Unit IV: Water Use and Water Pollution
Chapter 17: Water use and management
Chapter 18: Water Pollution
Unit V: Climate and Air Pollution
Chapter 15: Air, Weather, and Climate
Chapter 16: Air Pollution
Unit VI: The Solid Earth and Land Use
Chapter 14: Geology and Earth Resources
Chapter 12: Land Use: Forests and Grasslands
Chapter 22: Urbanization and Sustainable Cities
Chapter 9: Food and Agriculture
Chapter 10: Pest Control
VII: Energy Resources and Solid Waste
Chapter 19: Conventional Energy
Chapter 20: Sustainable Energy
Chapter 21: Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste
Study Contract
I, ____________________________ agree to the following conditions for studying each chapter/unit covered in the
textbook. Some of the methods I have a choice in using for preparation for an exam are the following:
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Answering chapter questions and definitions
Outlining the chapter
Taking chapter notes
Use of note cards or flash cards
Concept web or concept map construction
Using online materials (e.g. study guides, chapter outlines)
One item that I am required to complete for my study contract are the online chapter quizzes found on our online
textbook at: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072439564/student_view0/chapter1/. I understand that I will only be
assessed based upon completing the chapter quizzes, not the actual grade. The chapter quizzes make up the majority of the
study contract points.
Class notes are not considered a part of the study contract in that they are a requirement of the course in general.
On the day of each assessment I agree to outline in writing the details of my exam preparation to fulfill the terms of
the study contract. I realize that I must hand in my work when I take each assessment. I realize that I must email Mrs. Rice
with the results of my chapter quizzes associated with each exam. I know that if I am prepared adequately and I complete my
chapter quizzes, I will receive full credit for my study contract. However, if my preparation does not meet this contract’s
requirements, then I will not receive full credit.
Exam corrections may be assigned or allowed by Mrs. Rice for partial credit and to improve understanding of the
content in preparation for the AP exam. If my study contract is incomplete, late, or not up to the course standards, I will not be permitted to
complete the assessment corrections for partial credit.
If I am consistently doing poorly (a grade lower than a C), I must also seek additional help by scheduling an
appointment with Mrs. Rice. If I choose not to do a quiz/exam preparation assignment I will receive zero points on that
assignment.
Student Signature: ______________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: _____________________________________
Date: __________________