AP Environmental Science Syllabus 2014-2015
Class Instructors
Semester One Mr. Small gregory.small@evsc.k12.in.us
Semester Two Mrs. Kuchenbrod kelly.kuchenbrod@evsc.k12.in.us
Course Profile
The Environmental Science has a maximum class enrollment of 30 students each year
and averages about 24 students. The class meets every other day on a block schedule for
90 minutes. Early morning labs meet two days a week before school for an additional 50
minutes each day.
Course Prerequisites
The class is open to juniors and seniors only. Students must have taken biology and either
chemistry or physics.
Course Overview
First semester will focus on the physical aspects of the environment while second
semester will focus on the biological aspects of the environment. The students participate
in early morning field investigations to collect water, soil, and plant samples as well as
visit Nature Preserves and the zoo. The students are required to keep a lab notebook to
compare their findings with those of students in the past. They keep lab write ups and
graph their results. They also include pictures and sketches.
Text/Workbook
Environmental Science (Biozone) 3rd edition ISBN 978-1-927173-55-8
Course Planner
The course planner includes shortened weeks and is flexible due to school holidays and
weather related closings.
First Semester
Weeks 1-6 Unit 1 Earths Systems
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Environmental Issues Whiteboard
Definition of earth systems
Scientific Method and Critical Thinking
Introduction to Water Testing and data collection
Geology & Geologic Time
Plate Tectonics
Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Rock Cycle
Soil: Formation, Composition, Types and Properties
Erosion, Degradation, and Conservation
Ocean Circulation
Weeks 7-10 Unit 2 Land & Water Resources
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Water Resources for people and industry
Surface Water and Groundwater
Water Pollution
Water and Wastewater Treatment
Water Quality and Drinking Water Standards
Clean Water Act
Weeks 11-13 Unit 3 Energy
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Nonrenewable Mineral and Energy Resources
Mining
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Weeks 14-18 Unit 4 Global Change
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Weather and Climate
Air and Air Pollution
Air Quality Standards
Clean Air Act
Greenhouse Effect
Climate Change and Implications
Ozone Depletion
Week 19
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Midterm Exams
Second Semester
Weeks 1-2 Biology and Ecology
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Review of Biological Characteristics, Text, Terms, and Taxonomy
Food Webs & Tropic Levels
Animal Adaptations
Ecosystems
Ecological Niches
Weeks 3-4 Biomes
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Biome Types & Distribution
Plant Adaptations
Habitats
Weeks 5-6 Water Ecology
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Aquatic Ecology
Saltwater Life Zones
Freshwater Life Zones
Weeks 7-8 Ecologic Changes
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Ecological Succession
Species Interactions
Carbon, Nitrogen, etc cycles
Weeks 9-11 Populations
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Carrying Capacity
Human Population Dynamics
Population Growth
Weeks 12-14 Land and Water Use
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Agricultural Methods
Pesticides
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Forest Management
Forest Fires
Fishing and Aquaculture
Weeks 15-17 Human Interaction with the Environment
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Endangered Species
Land Conservation and Habitat Loss
Extinction
Urban Land Use and Development
Week 18
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Final Exams
Teaching Strategies
Lecture
Lectures, presented on power point, occur two to three times a week. Concepts
and standards presented in this format are included in evaluation measures.
Student Presentations
First semester, students are required to do power point presentations over current
environmental issues. Second semester, the students complete power point presentations
over a biome (including plant, animals, climate, etc.), and an endangered species.
Group Projects
The students participate in several group projects. One group project is city
planning. The students are expected to design a city. Soil types, water flow, and
topography are areas that students must consider in developing their city plan. In
addition, transportation, sanitation and civil services are important aspects that must be
included.
Field Investigations
Because Environmental Science meets first period, the fifty minutes of early
morning lab and the ninety minutes of class period gives ample time to go to local rivers,
stream, wetlands, the zoo, landfills, coal mines, power plants and sewage treatment
plants. The students often collect samples, take measurements, make observations, and/or
take tours. They test for phosphate, nitrate dissolved oxygen, metals, PH, temperature,
etc. They are required to do lab write-ups, and include them in their lab portfolio.
Guest Speakers
When guest speakers such as a local farmer or the water treatment plant come in,
the students take notes and are encouraged to ask questions.
Lab Portfolio
The lab notebook counts as a final project at the end of the year. It is a collection
of the lab write-ups, field trips, and guest speakers. Students are given copies of soil,
water, and weather data taken by past classes in the same locations and the students draw
conclusions as to how or if the area is changing. They make graphs and have to research
why they test for certain chemicals and their effect on the environment.
Student Evaluations
Each of the nine week grading periods will be determined in the following
manner.
Formal Lab Reports – Students will write up their labs on graph paper with a title,
introduction, procedures, data and conclusion. These are worth 20-40 points each.
Group Project/Presentations- The students will do at least one group presentation
or project every nine weeks and an individual presentation over a current environmental
topic every other week. These are worth 25 points.
Class work and Homework – Students will complete workbook questions and
worksheets. They are worth 5-10 points each.
Quizzes and Tests – Students will have small 5-10 point quizzes. They will have
two or three 100 point tests every nine weeks. These tests are mostly essay.
Lab Portfolio – At the end of the year, the students will turn in their lab notebook
which complies the entire year. It is worth 350 points.
Final Exam – The students are given a final exam worth 20% of their grade which
is school policy. This test includes essay, short answer and multiple choice questions.