AP Environmental Science
Summer Assignment – 2015/2016
Students are to complete these activities by the first day of school. Failure to
hand in the summer assignment on time could lead to a student being withdrawn
from the class.
Part A: Become a naturalist! (100pts)
Please take time to quietly observe your environment and the ecosystems
around you to create a 6 page journal of your thoughts and
illustrations. You will need to include at least one page or more if you need the
room, for each of the following:
Plants, Flowers, Birds, Mammals, Reptile or Amphibians, Insects. Observe your
specimen at various times and over a long period of time, keep careful records of
changes over time. Relate abiotic factors (water, soil, air, etc.), and describe the
interactions between them and your organisms of choice. You may also include
other things that intrigue you such as wind, clouds, soil, stones, logs, etc. Try to
determine genus and species of the living organisms you observe. Each organism
should have its own page in your journal and should include thoughtful
descriptions, questions, and thoughts, as well as hand-drawn illustrations. This
should be a project you will be proud of and which will represent original thought
and creative effort. Your observations may be in Hillsdale or places to which you
travel. Start now while you are still in school mode!
Rubric:
1. Decorated title page: title of journal, name, class, date;
2. Table of contents;
3. One journal entry per unlined page (one entry can continue to the back but
don’t start a new entry on the back side);
4. Entries can be typed or handwritten. If hand written, careful attention to
clarity is required.
5. Date, locations (genus/species if relevant) of observations included with
each entry;
6. Many illustrations should be in color (but pencil or charcoal okay too).
Illustrations can be created on other paper and glued carefully onto your
page or drawn directly on the page. Illustrations should include details of
the whole (flower petal, bird feather) as well as more encompassing pieces.
Part B: What is Environmental Science paper? (50pts)
Environmental Science is a discipline that is more diverse than any other
subject. Every person affects the environment in different ways. In this paper
you will be creating your own definition of Environmental Science. You must use
the following terms in your paper, use them as a guide in developing your paper:
o
o
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Interdisciplinary
Sustainability
Biologic Diversity
Ecology
Evolution
Climate
Pollution
Conservation
Energy
Population
ethics
-Using the information you have gained, create a two page double spaced 12
font report