ap environmental science 2012-2013 course...

AP Environmental Science

2012-2013

Course Description

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one semester, introductory college course in

environmental science. For this course, the scientific principles and disciplines are an integral part of the course. Students are

encouraged throughout the course to consider scientific principles and disciplines when completing activities, and laboratory and/or

fieldwork. It is intended to enable students to undertake, as first-year college students, a more advanced study of topics in

environmental science or, alternatively, to fulfill a basic requirement for a laboratory science and thus free time for taking other

courses.

The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide students 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.

Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study. Yet there are several

major unifying constructs, or themes, that cut across the many topics included in the study of environmental science. The following

themes provide a foundation for the structure of the AP Environmental Science course.

1. Science is a process.

2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.

3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system.

4. Humans alter natural systems.

5. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.

6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.

Textbook

Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment, 17th

Edition. Belmont, California. Brooks/Cole: Cengage Learning,

2011.

Other Resources

In addition to the textbook, other resources will be used to supplement instruction including the following:

Supplemental environmental science textbooks

Lab Manuals

Periodicals/Readings/Case Studies

Videos/Documentaries

The Internet

Guest Speakers and Field Trips

Assessments

Homework

Students will be given a variety of homework assignments including but not limited to the following:

Readings from the Textbook, Case Studies and/or Other Texts

Summaries and Analysis of Current Events related to Environmental Science coursework

Poster Projects such as Most Wanted Poster for Invasive Species

Presentation and/or Debate Preparations

Quizzes

In each unit, students will take 2-3 multiple choice quizzes. These will consist of AP style questions and be generated using published

released exam, AP review guides, and other sample assessment questions obtained through the AP summer institute and other

experienced AP Environmental Science teachers. In addition to the multiple choice quizzes, students will be given at least one sample

AP essay within each unit. To help students improve their writing skills, they will receive peer and/or teacher feedback on each essay

written.

Tests

For each unit, one major assessment will be administered. These assessments will consist of 25-30 multiple choice questions and one

AP essay. Since our class periods are 50 minutes in length, this format for the test will mimic the pace of the AP exam that will be

administered in May.

Labs and Field Work

Students will be responsible for the following:

Before participating in any labs or field work, students will be required to pass a safety quiz.

On average, students will participate in at least one lab and/or fieldwork per week. Our school does not currently have a

double block for science labs; however, all of our students have one hour for lunch. It is the expectation for all AP science

students to spend part of their lunch and/or time on Saturday to complete any/all labs and/or fieldwork.

Students will be required to keep and lab notebook/field journal. These journals will be used to document safety

concerns/procedures, record data, perform any necessary calculations, analyze data, and draw any conclusions.

In addition to their lab notebook, students will be required to take and pass lab assessments that will use both multiple choice

and free response formats.

Other Major Assessments

In addition to assessments within the unit, the students will take three other major assessments.

Common Assessments

o Our students will take a common assessment in October and again in February. These tests consist of 100 multiple

choice questions and two AP essays. They are scored and discussed by all AP Environmental Science teachers

within our system.

AP Benchmark

o In April, students will take a full length practice exam either after school or on a Saturday.

Course Outline

Unit Timeline Major Topics Subtopics Other Resources1

Ear

th S

yst

ems

and

Res

ou

rces

3 weeks

Earth Science Concepts

Chapter 14

geologic time scale

plate tectonics

earthquakes

volcanism

seasons

solar intensity and latitude

Demonstrations

Groundwater Activity Model (including mathematical

calculations)

Labs/Field Work

Investigating Earth’s Atmosphere: the Coriolis Effect

(Carolina) – Students will use 2-D and 3-D models to

gain an understanding of the Coriolis Effect and its

influence of the atmosphere and climatic conditions.

Soil Formation and Properties – Students will analyze

the physical and chemical properties of soil including

soil texture.

The Effect of Soil Salinization on Seed Germination -

This is a student designed lab in which students will be

expected to collect and analyze data in order to draw

conclusions about the potential effects of soil

salinization of irrigated land.

Other Activities

Creating and Analyzing Climatograms

Rock Cycle Activity from NSTA

Water Footprint Calculator

Case Studies

But It’s Just a Bottle of Water - Students will discuss

whether or not they should continue to buy bottle water

and potential solutions to reduce the negative impacts

on the environment that bottled water has caused.

The Wealth of Water: The Value of an Essential

Resource – Students will discuss and evaluate potential

solutions to encourage people to conserve water

resources.

Videos

Chasing El Niño (PBS)

China’s Megadamn (Discovery Channel)

Uncovering the Dust Bowl (PBS)

The Atmosphere

Chapters 3 and 18

composition

structure

weather and climate

atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect

atmosphere-ocean interactions

ENSO

Global Water Resources

Chapter 13

freshwater/saltwater

ocean circulation

agricultural, industrial, and domestic use

surface and groundwater issues

global problems

conservation

Soil and Soil Dynamics

Chapter 12

rock cycle

formation

composition

physical and chemical properties

main soil types

erosion and other soil problems

soil conservation

Natural Biogeochemical

Cycle

Chapter 3

water cycle

1 All units will include lecture, classroom discussions, and outside reading for students. Classroom discussions will be used to help students identify major environmental issues

and examine potential solutions and/or ways to prevent similar problems in the future.

Unit Timeline Major Topics Subtopics Other Resources T

he

Liv

ing W

orl

d

4 weeks

Ecosystem Structure

Chapters 3- 5

biological populations and communities

ecological niches

interactions among species

keystone species

species diversity and edge effects

major terrestrial and aquatic biomes

Labs/Field Work

Primary Consumer Energy Flow (Carolina) - Using the Vanessa

cardui cultures and habitat chambers, students plot the change in

mass of a controlled environment and determine the efficiency of

energy transfer from the food medium to the larva and ultimately

the adult butterfly. Primary Productivity (Vernier) – Students will design and conduct

an experiment to determine the effects of certain variables (such as

temperature or pH) on primary productivity. Students will

calculate GPP and NPP using DO levels.

Biodiversity in Leaf Litter (EnviroLiteracy) – Students will use a

Berlese funnel to collect organisms from lead litter in order to

calculate the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index.

Carbon Lab from Habitable Planet (Virtual Lab) – Students will

explore this model of the carbon cycle to understand how carbon

circulates through the atmosphere, biosphere, oceans, and crust.

Owl Pellet Analysis (Wells) – In this investigation, students will

compare owl pellets from two regions, complete a chi square

analysis on their data, and determine if they can draw conclusions

about predator-prey dynamics.

Other Activities

Most Wanted Poster for Invasive Species

Children’s Book Project for Keystone Species based on At Home

with the Gopher Tortoise – These books will be created and shared

with lower grade levels at our school.

Biome Project/Presentations

Videos

Cane Toads: An Unnatural History(Discovery Channel)

The Acid Test: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification

(NRDC Documentary)

Energy Flow

Chapter 3

photosynthesis and cellular respiration

food webs and trophic levels

ecological pyramids

Ecosystem Diversity

Chapters 4, 5, and 7

biodiversity

natural selection

evolution

ecosystem services

Natural Ecosystem

Change

Chapters 5 and 7

climate shifts

species movement

ecological succession


Cycle

Chapter 3

carbon cycle

conservation of mass

Unit Timeline Major Topics Subtopics Other Resources P

op

ula

tio

n

3 weeks

Population Biology

Concepts

Chapter 5

population ecology

carrying capacity

reproductive strategies

survivorship

Labs/Field Work

Population Growth in Lemna Minor (Carolina) - Students use this

inquiry-based kit to set up microenvironmental cultures of Lemna

and explore the effects of pH, light, salinity, excess phosphorus,

excess nitrogen, and temperature on growth rate and carrying

capacity.

Power of the Pyramids (Participatory Science) – Students will use

census data to construct age-sex population pyramids in various

stages of development. Students will then research and discuss

how the population would be affected by natural disasters, human-

made disasters, and other changes (social, political and economic).

Disease Lab from Habitable Planet (Virtual Lab) – Students will

explore various diseases: Kold, a caricature of the common cold;

Impfluenza, which resembles an influenza outbreak; and Red

Death, a fast-spreading epidemic with a high mortality rate and

how the spread of these diseases is connected to population

density/growth.

Other Activities

National Population Presentations - Students will research a

national policy and/or issue related to population growth. They will

evaluate and determine the best possible solution to the issue.

Videos

World in Balance: The Population Paradox (NOVA/PBS)

Human Population

Dynamics

Chapter 6

historical population sizes

distribution

fertility rates

growth rates and doubling times

demographic transition

age-structure diagrams

Population Size

Chapter 6

strategies for sustainability

national policies

Impacts of Population

Growth

Chapter 6

hunger

disease

economic effects

resource use

habitat destruction

Unit Timeline Major Topics Subtopics Other Resources L

and

Use

5 weeks


Cycles

Chapter 3

nitrogen

sulfur

phosphorus

Labs/Field Work

Biogeochemical Cycles (Carolina) - Students study the

biogeochemical cycles at work in a miniature aquatic ecosystem.

They set up a gallon aquarium and collect data on a weekly basis

in terms of water loss, temperature, and levels of nitrite/nitrate,

phosphate, and hydrogen sulfide.

Effects of Refrigeration on Bananas (NSF) – Students will design

and conduct their own experiment independently to collect and

analyze data to determine the effects of refrigeration on bananas.

Biomagnification through a Food Chain (Wells) – Students will

use a mathematical model to differentiate between

bioaccumulation and biomagnification using the example of DDT.

Land Uses Effects on Soil (Wells) – Students will analyze soil

texture and permeability to infer the effect of varying land use.

Effects of Nitrogen on Plant Growth (CollegeBoard) – Students

will design and conduct experiments independently to determine

the impact of nitrogen on plant growth. Over several weeks, they

will be responsible for collecting and analyzing data to determine

optimum nitrogen levels.

Copper Extraction Lab – Students extract copper from copper(II)

carbonate. They calculate and compare potential and actual yields.

Happy Fishing Game – Related to the Tragedy of the Commons,

the students will analyze the effects, including economic impacts,

on the use and management of common resources.

Other Activities

Guest Speaker on IPM Research

Field Trip to Local Farmer’s Market

Canned Food Drive for Houston Food Bank

Hunger Games Project

Read and Discuss Exerts from Omnivore’s Dilemma, Four Fish,

and Silent Spring

Case Studies

Banana Split: To Eat or Not To Eat – Students will discuss the

idea of being an informed and ethical consumer and how they can

make choices to minimize the impact on the environment.

All that Glitters May Not Be Gold – Students prepare for and hold

an in-class debate on a case study examining solutions for

preventing ecological and human health risks.

Videos

Alaska Gold (PBS)

The Lorax (Universal Pictures)

Agriculture

Chapter 12

feeding a growing population

controlling pest

Forestry

Chapter 10

tree plantations

old growth forests

forest fires

forest management

national forests

Rangelands

Chapter 10

overgrazing

deforestation

desertification

rangeland management

federal rangelands

Other Land Use

Chapter 22

urban land development

transportation infrastructure

public and federal lands

land conservation options

sustainable land use

Mining

Chapter 14

mineral formation

extraction

global reserves

relevant laws and treaties

Fishing

Chapter 11

fishing techniques

overfishing

aquaculture


Global Economics

Chapters 1 and 23

globalization

World Bank

Tragedy of the Commons


Unit Timeline Major Topics Subtopics Other Resources E

ner

gy R

eso

urc

es a

nd

C

on

sum

pti

on

(wit

h

dis

cuss

ion

of

Eco

no

mic

Im

pac

t)

3 weeks

Energy Concepts

Chapter 15

energy forms

power

units

conversions

Law of Thermodynamics Labs/Field Work

Energy Lab from Habitable Planet (Virtual Lab) - Students try to

meet the world's projected energy demand by choosing from the

available energy sources, while keeping atmospheric CO2 under

control and avoiding the particular limits and pitfalls associated

with each energy source.

Electrical Production Analysis – Students will perform a graphical

analysis (including the use of semi log plots) to compare

population growth with increases in electrical production.

What is a Half-Life? – Students will determine the model of a

process of a half-life to determine the definition of a half-life so

that they can successfully solve problems related to half-life of

nuclear fuel/waste.

Nuclear Fission from phET (Virtual Lab) – Students will

manipulate components of a nuclear reactor to control energy

production.

Solar Oven Design Lab - Students will design a solar oven that

can boil water using the energy from the sun.

Other Activities

What is Your Ecological Footprint?

What is Your Yearly Dose of Radiation?

Guest Speaker from Haliburton or Exxon Mobil

Home Energy Audit Consumption Audit

Case Studies

Ethanol or Biodiesel? - Students will conduct a “systems analysis”

study to determine whether ethanol derived from corn or biodiesel

prepared from soybeans is the more energy efficient alternative

fuel. In addition, students will see how scientific input plays a role

in policy making.

Videos

Gasland (International WOW Company)

Gulf Oil Spill (PBS)

The Case Against Nuclear Power (PBS)

SpOILed (West Wave Films)

Energy Consumption

Chapter 15

history

present global energy use

future energy needs

Fossil Fuels Resources

and Use

Chapter 15

formation of coal, oil, natural gas

extraction/purification methods

world reserves and global demand

synfuels

environmental advantages/disadvantages

Nuclear Energy

Chapter 15

nuclear fission process

nuclear fuel

electricity production

nuclear reactor types

environmental advantages/disadvantages

safety issues

radiation and human health

radioactive wastes

nuclear fusion

Hydroelectric Power

Chapter 16

dams

flood control

salmon

silting

other impacts

Energy Conservation

Chapter 16

energy efficiency

CAFÉ standards

hybrid electric vehicles

mass transit

Renewable Energy

Chapter 16

solar energy and electricity

hydrogen fuel cells

biomass

wind energy

small-scale hydroelectric

ocean waves and tidal energy

geothermal

environmental advantages/ disadvantages

Economic Benefits

Chapters 15 and 16 cost-benefit analysis

Unit Timeline Major Topics Subtopics Other Resources P

oll

uti

on

8 weeks

Air Pollution

Chapter 18

sources

measurement units

smog

acid deposition

heat islands/temperature inversions

indoor air pollution

remediation and reduction strategies

Clean Air Act and other relevant laws

Labs/Field Work

Air Pollution Generated by Fossil Fuel Consumption (Carolina) –

Students measure the concentration of air pollutants to compare

them with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Students

calculate the mass of air pollutants added to the atmosphere.

Students learn how the Pollutant Standards Index and Air Quality

Index are calculated and how they relate to human health. Acid Deposition (Carolina) - Students gain a comprehensive

understanding of the sources and effects of acid deposition.

Combining real-world atmospheric and geologic data with the

knowledge gained from laboratory exercises, students are

challenged to predict the areas of highest acid deposition impact.

Water Quality Testing (Carolina) - Students assess local aquatic

environments by designing a sampling protocol, collecting data,

generating a Water Quality Index (WQI) score. Biodegradable Materials and their Effects on Dissolved Oxygen –

Students will develop their hypothesis and collect/analyze data to

determine whether their hypothesis was supported by the

experimental evidence.

Colorimetric Determination of Free Chlorine in Drinking Water

(Wells) – Using graphical analysis of data, students will determine

the free chlorine in a sample of the school’s drinking water.

LD50 Testing (Shlachtman) – Using brine shrimp, students will

determine LD50 for common household materials. Students will

investigate and propose alternatives for the substances determined

to pose the greatest risk in their own homes.

Human Health Risk Assessment (Wells) - Students will analyze a

data set to determine the population exposure to three chemical

contaminants and gain experience calculating the excess cancer risk

due to these contaminants in drinking water.

Other Activities

Tour of Water Treatment Facility

Case Studies

Fishing for Answers in the Gulf of Mexico’s Dead Zone – Students

will analyze how human activities can impact nutrient cycle in an

aquatic system. Additionally, through the case study, the students

will use data to evaluate multiple hypotheses.

Breathing Easy about New Air Pollution Standards - Students will

learn how policy and regulatory decisions are made, including the

role of public hearings.

Videos

Tar Creek

Noise Pollution

Chapter 22

sources

effects

control measures

Water Pollution

Chapter 20

types

sources, causes, and effects

cultural eutrophication

ground-water pollution

maintaining water quality

water purification

sewage treatment/septic systems

Clean Water Act and other relevant laws

Solid Waste

Chapter 21

Types

disposal

reduction

Impacts on the

Environment and Human

Health

Chapter 17

hazards to human health

hazardous chemicals in the environment

Economic Impacts

Chapter 23

cost-benefit analysis

externalities

marginal costs

sustainability

Politics

Chapter 24

environmental policy

environmental law

role of government

Unit Timeline Major Topics Subtopics Other Resources G

lob

al C

han

ge

3 weeks

Stratospheric Ozone

Chapter 19

formation of stratospheric ozone

UV radiation

causes of ozone depletion

strategies for reducing ozone depletion


Labs/Field Work

Analyzing Factors that Affect UV Radiation (Vernier) – Students

will design their own experiments to determine how that factor

affects UV radiation. Students will be responsible for collecting

and analyzing data to determine whether or not their initial

hypothesis is supported by the experimental data.

The Greenhouse Effect from phET (Virtual Lab) – Students will

investigate how atmospheric changes affect global temperature,

examine how clouds contribute to the greenhouse effect, and predict

how changing greenhouse gas levels affect global temperature. Factors that Impact Biodiversity (University of Montana) –

Students will review the theory of island biogeography and analyze

data to determine how the size of the island and the distance from

the mainland affect the biodiversity.

Other Activities

Data Analysis of CO2 in the Atmosphere

Case Studies

Complexity in Conservation - Students engage in a role-playing

activity as jurors; they discuss the case of a Texas man and

collectively decide whether the cat killer should be acquitted or

convicted.

Videos

An Inconvenient Truth

Global Warming

Chapter 19

greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect

impacts and consequences of global

warming

reducing climate change


Loss of Biodiversity

Chapters 7, 9-11

habitat loss

overuse

pollution

introduced species

endangered and extinct species

maintenance through conservation


Review and AP Testing

Lab and Field Work

The scientific principles and disciplines are an integral part of the course. A variety of laboratories/fieldwork includes data collection,

the application of mathematical analysis by the student and data interpretation. All laboratory/fieldwork includes an analysis and an

interpretation component. The laboratories and/or fieldwork section includes identification and analysis of environmental problems.

Students discuss possible resolutions to the problem and sustainable ways in managing the environmental problem. On average,

students spend a minimum of one class per week engaged in laboratory and/or field work.

For most labs, students will work in cooperative groups due to limited supplies and equipment. However, when supplies/equipment

allowed, students will work independently to ensure that all students can individually design and conduct scientific investigations

related to environmental science. In addition, this provides students the opportunity to analyze a unique set of data, perform any

required calculations, and draw the appropriate conclusions based on their own collected data.

Unit Lab Title Approximate

Number of Class Periods

1

Investigating Earth’s Atmosphere: the Coriolis Effect 1

Soil Formation and Properties 2

The Effect of Soil Salinization on Seed Germination 2

2

Primary Consumer Energy Flow 2

Primary Productivity 2

Biodiversity in Leaf Litter 2

Carbon Lab 1

Owl Pellet Analysis 1.5

3

Population Growth in Lemna Minor 2

Power of the Pyramids 1

Disease Lab 1

4

Biogeochemical Cycles 3

Effects of Refrigeration on Bananas 2

Biomagnification through a Food Chain 1

Land Uses Effects on Soil 1

Effects of Nitrogen on Plant Growth 12

Copper Extraction Lab 2

Happy Fishing 1

5

Energy Lab 1

Electrical Production Analysis 2

What is a Half Life? 0.5

Nuclear Fission from phET 1

Solar Oven Design 2

6

Air Pollution Generated by Fossil Fuel Consumption 2

Acid Deposition 1

Water Quality Testing 23

Biodegradable Materials and their Effects on Dissolved Oxygen 1

Colorimetric Determination of Free Chlorine in Drinking Water 2

LD50 Testing 1

Human Health Risk Assessment 1

7

Analyzing Factors that Affect UV Radiation 2

The Greenhouse Effect from phET 1

Factors that Impact Biodiversity 2

Approximate Total Number of Class Periods for Labs and Field Work 50

2 Students will be doing a majority of lab work outside of class, so the length of this experiment only reflects time spent in class

setting up, analyzing, and discussing the results of this experiment. 3 Additional time will be spent testing water quality off campus and not during the normal school day.

ap environmental science 2012-2013 course...

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