AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Teacher Mr. Dan Shannon dshannon@moeller.org Help Sessions Room 204 (Biology Classroom) Individual – 715–735 AM, M-Block, and 245-315PM Quote “The expectations for each student couldn’t be higher.” Textbook Living in the environment, 16 ed. By G. Tyler Miller, Jr.; Brooks/Cole; Cengage Learning; 2009 Supplemental Readings: “Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice: An ethnobotanist searches for new medicines in the tropical rain forest”; by Mark Plotkin; Penguin Books; 1994 “When Smoke Ran like Water: Tales of environmental deception and the battle against pollution.”; by Devra Davis; Basic Books ( a division of Perseus Books); 2002 About AP Environmental Science This course is a college level course designed for Sophomore and Junior Year students who are interested in an accelerated science course. AP ES is taught in an activity and inquiry based style. A Student who takes AP ES will be able to analyze complex problems, propose a means to test them, think independently, present ideas in a logical manner, and defend his ideas using factual data and reasoning. Classes may meet in various locations depending on the activity planned. The expectations are that students who choose this course are willing and able to prepare independently, read voraciously, involve themselves in group and individual projects, and learn the process of science from an environmental point of view. We spend approximately 25% of class time planning and running laboratory or field experiments. We take field trips and bring in guest speakers to further our understanding of complex topics. Pre-requisite Courses Honors Biology with an 85% average /College Prep Biology completion with a 90% average and permission of instructor. Required Supplies Tablet PC, pen
General Overview of AP Environmental Science Major/Sub-Topics First Semester Prerequisite Unit Four principles of sustainability Data Collection and Graphing atomic structure and bonding (ionic, polar and non-polar covalent, hydrogen bonding) hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions solutions and pH Nutrient Cycling – water and SPONCH. Living World: Ecology Unit History of the Earth – football field timeline Natural selection; Macro- and Microevolution; Intra- and Interspecific Competition Habitat selection Biodiversity Succession Laws of Thermodynamics; Primary Productivity – Gross and Net Populations, Communities Biomes Endangered Plants and Animals Population Dynamics Unit Population biology and dynamics measuring population size population data analysis calculation of change population size over time Human Population – environmental, societal, behavioral effects on the growth of a human population in various countries Water Issues Unit Distribution and availability of water Aquatic Ecosytems and Biodiverstiy Physical Dynamics of a Lake Groundwater Personal water useage quantification; Salinization Lab Tragedy of the Commons Pollution and Water Purification Bottled water Water Protection Laws and Community Awareness.
Duration 18 Weeks 2 weeks
6 weeks
4 weeks
6 weeks
Second Semester Toxicity, Pesticides, and Agriculture Unit Toxicity, dosage, Human Physiology (endocrine,excretory, immune, nervous systems) LD50 testing Waste products and Hazardous wastes Pests, Farming, and Genetically Modified Organisms Atmospheric Issues Unit Atmospheric structure and Chemistry Weather and Climate Biomes and Geographic Relationships Air Pollution Climate Change Resources and Energy Unit Earth Structure – Crustal Features The Rock Cycle, Soil structure and composition Minerals and Mining Techniques Non- Renewable and Renewable Energy Sources Electricity Types – Transmission and Storage Biodiversity, Politics, and Economics Sustainable land useage Modern Cities Land Preserves and Designations, National Park Systems, Government Subsidies and Capitalist Markets Environmental Law and Litigation Environmental Worldviews
18 Weeks 5 Weeks
5 weeks
5 weeks
3 weeks