ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP®) Environmental Science
Textbook: Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet, 7th Edition
Note: this is only a protion of the outline.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP®) ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Instructor: Ms SimunRedondo Union High School, (310) 798-8665; Voice mail-X4107, E-mail: msimun@rbusd.orgWeb: http://simun.inspiringteachers.com/Textbook: Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet, 7th Edition, Daniel B. Botkin PrerequisitesSuccessful completion of biology and chemistry with a grade of “B” or better, one year of algebra, and/or teacher recommendation. Course Description
An Advanced Placement Environmental Science course in a secondary school is designed to meet the objectives of an introductory environmental science or ecology course at the college level, and is structured to prepare college-bound students for the Advanced Placement Examination for college credit in science. The main goals of this course are 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 or preventing them and to provide students with the conceptual framework, and to appreciate, understand and use the processes of science. Environmental issues are more pressing than ever before in our history, and great care will be taken to incorporate current research, ideas, theories and methodologies into this course to ensure that the material presented is current, dynamic and relevant to the students. Emphasis is placed on the methodologies of problem solving in science: observation, hypothesizing, experimentation, and interpretation. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are emphasized heavily. These studies involve several major unifying constructs: science is a process; energy conversions underlie all ecological processes; the Earth itself is one interconnected system; humans alter natural systems; environmental problems have a cultural and social context; and ultimately human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems. This interdisciplinary transition course from high school to college biological and physical sciences and will help students perform successfully in college. This thorough presentation of advanced sciences involves the use of concepts learned in both biology and chemistry courses. ScheduleClass meets three times per week, once for 50 minutes and twice for one hour and fifty minutes. This allows adequate time to complete some labs in one class period. Approximately forty to fifty percent of class time is spent engaged in activities, laboratory work and field work. RequirementAll students will take the Advanced Placement Environmental Science Examination (which may allow them to obtain college credit). Course ObjectivesAs a result of completing Advanced Placement Environmental Science, students will:· Develop a conceptual framework for modern interdisciplinary sciences and understand that science is a process that helps us learn about, understand and change the world.· Understand the means by which scientific information is collected, how it is interpreted, and how one formulates hypotheses and theories from available data and makes further predictions.· Gain the knowledge and insight necessary to make decisions and judgments when science is applied at the social level. This is a course in environmental science rather than environmental studies, and consequently includes a strong laboratory and field investigation component. The goal of this component is to complement the classroom portion of the course by allowing students to learn about the environment through firsthand observation. Experiences both in the laboratory and in the field provide students with important opportunities to test concepts and principles that are introduced in the classroom, explore specific problems with a depth not easily achieved otherwise, and gain an awareness of the importance of confounding variables that exist in the “real world.” In these experiences students can employ alternative learning styles to reinforce fundamental concepts and principles. Because all students have a stake in the future of their environment, such activities can motivate students to study environmental science in greater depth. This course will provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of how energy flows through systems and how this conversion process relates to current relevant social and environmental issues. This course will provide students with information to help them understand natural cycles on Earth and how human activities alter these cycles. They will them be able to make decisions regarding how to change human activities to minimize or mitigate the effects of these activities. Long term vision and planning will be an integral part of these decisions and attitudes. Grades
Grades are calculated using a point system, based on the total number of points a student accumulates relative to the total possible points that may have been earned. Laboratory activities and assessment are emphasized; failure to complete laboratory reports following the specified format or regular assessment failure will result in a failing grade for this class. Assignments Pointso Tests (3 to 4 per quarter) 75-100 each testo Homework, Quizzes, Labs, Fieldwork 300-400 per quartero Final 200 each semester Coursework· Testso Exams will cover one or several chapters. The format is similar to that of the A.P. exam, including multiple choice, short answer and/or essay.o If you are absent the day of a test, you are expected to take the test the day you return to school. Ten percent will be deducted from your test score for each day after the originally scheduled test date.o Semester final exams are worth two exam scores (200 points).o Take-home exams cover large amounts of material contained in the textbook and student notes.o Several practice AP exams will be gives, along with numerous practice free-response questions (in a variety of formats). · Quizzeso Announced quizzes cover one or two sections of the text, or lab work.o Unannounced quizzes are either open book, or used to test previously assigned laboratory preparation or homework.o Take-home quizzes may be given for review, or for covering easier topics that need not or cannot be covered in class. Take-home quizzes may be on the text website. · Activitieso Prior to topic lectures, students will engage in a preparatory activity that may involve reading and discussing relevant current articles.o Students will read science journal articles (Nature, Science, etc.) for homework and prepare a three-minute oral presentation for the class. Each student will complete one per semester. · Laboratory Worko Each laboratory activity is worth points, and must be kept in a laboratory notebook.o In general, laboratory activities cannot be made up due to the expendable nature of lab materials, and safety requirements. If you miss a lab activity, you will not receive participation points, but will still write up the lab in your notebook to attain the information and lab report points, or in certain cases prepare a written essay as a substitute.o Formal written laboratory reports following a specified format are required for all major laboratory experiments; failure of individual students to complete lab work or reports will result in a failing grade for this class (this is a laboratory course).o Students may be asked to assist in laboratory preparation, set-up and clean up. · Field Worko Our field project this year consists of two parts: water sampling and bacteriological assessment (with Surfrider), and a pilot plastic pollution characterization and assessment study (with Algulita Marine Research). The majority of the sampling, data assessment and publication will be done in class, but some weekend and afternoon work will be required. Students will engage in 4 hours of field work outside of class hours during the school year to experience biology in action! This is a pilot project which, if successful, may serve as a model for other similar projects elsewhere. Students will sample water quality and sort and characterize “trash” from the local shoreline on a bi-weekly basis. Students will present their findings at a meeting in the spring. · Homeworko Since this course includes extensive reading and completion of the entire text, prior to the May examination date, an average of 45-90 minutes of preparation per night is advised and expected.o Homework is assigned on a chapter-by-chapter basis, which includes the outline note-taking, chapter questions, and take-home essays and web-based quizzes.o Routine: for each assigned chapter, read the chapter and take notes in a notebook, complete any worksheets, data tables and assigned homework for that topic. For review, read the text, review notes, and utilize the textbook website. Outline notes on the assigned chapter are due the day of the lecture on that chapter. Worksheets, quizzes and homework are all due the day of the test for that set of chapters. Use the text web site for animations, practice, diagrams, etc. · Lectureo Lecture and discussion using Powerpoint presentations will accompany each topic. Additional visuals may also be used (DVD, CD rom, web sites, newspapers, journals, etc.)o Notebook§ Students will keep a three-ring binder with dividers, to be checked on a quarterly basis for points (part of the homework grade).§ The notebook is to be subdivided according to the following topics: 1. Introduction to the Environment and History2. Human Population3. Biogeochemical Cycles and Soil4. Ecology and Interactions5. Land Usage6. Energy Resources and Consumption7. Water and Water Quality8. Climate and Climate Change9. Air and Air Quality10. Earth Systems and Resources11. Waste · Late Assignmentso Assignments are due at the beginning of the period on the specified due date. No late homework will be accepted. Late = ZERO. o Illness policy – one day to make up the work for each day missed (District policy), unless otherwise specified by your instructor. For anticipated absences, including school activities, you are expected to turn in your assignments on time with the rest of the class.o Long-term projects, such as lab reports, are due at the beginning of the period on the due date regardless of absences. Late long-term projects will be accepted at a penalty of 10% grade reduction per day. It is your responsibility to determine what assignments you have missed.o · Academic Honestyo Every student is expected to complete her or his own work. During tests and quizzes, students are warned to keep their eyes on their own paper only. Copying homework or laboratory reports, re-marking answers on tests, and plagiarizing material are all considered cheating. Cheating is dishonest and unethical. Period. The RUHS and RBUSD policies will be followed and enforced. Remember, it is all about the learning! Thank you.o Collaborative group work is done in class. Reports and other written work will be completed and submitted individually. Need Help?!?!?If you need help or have a question, just ask!! I am here to help. By appointment I can meet with you most days before or after school, and some days during lunch and snack.
