Course Title: AP Environmental

Text: ENVIRONMENT The Science Behind the Stories 4th Edition By: Jay Withgott and Scott Brennan Instructor: Mr. Brad Gilbert
Room: 8 E-mail: bgilbert@upperdarbysd.org Office: Room 8 Office Hours: 7-7:30am, 2:41-3:20pm Contact Number: (610)-622-7000 Ext. 622

What is Environmental Science? " Environmental science is the study of the natural sciences in an interdisciplinary context that always includes consideration of people and how they have influenced the systems under examination. It includes many aspects of biology, earth and atmospheric sciences, fundamental principles of chemistry and physics, population dynamics, and an appreciation for biological and natural resources." Course Description and Objectives APES is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in Environmental Science. The goal of APES 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. In May, all students will take the Advanced Placement Exam in Environmental Science. The course meets five times a week for 79 minutes one semester and 40 minutes other semester. The labs and fields studies are purposively chosen to be carried our over a period of several days or weeks. The students are required to participate in several all day field study experiences throughout the year.

Course Outline:
Topic Text Reference Activity/Lab

UNIT 1
Science and Sustainability: Introduction to Environmental Science Chap 1 The Lorax Film by Dr. Seuss Easter Island- case study analysis How do people upset the balance of nature Ive Got Mine: Tragedy of the Commons Simulation Lab Rachel Carsons Silent Spring(AE) video analysis Pesticides Found in Most US Rivers-reading analysis Earths Physical Systems: Matter, Energy and Geology Chap 2 Clean Green Energy Beneath Our Feet: The Geysers in California: case study analysis The Five Bottle Challenge: Identification of Unknown Chemicals using Inductive Reasoning (need to find) Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology Experimental Design Purification of an Impure Solid (need to find) Elementary Rock Identification Lab with Report Nutrient Cycle Presentations Wonderful World of Dung - video analysis (need to find) Oil Spill in the Gulf- case study

Chap 5

UNIT 2
Species Interactions and Community Ecology Chap 4 Black and White, and Spread All Over: Zebra Mussels Invade the Great Lakes; case study analysis Interactive Mapping of Global Biomes Reconstructing an Terrestrial Food Web Student Centered Biome Project Predicting Changes in an Ecosystem: An Exercise with a Food Web Ecological Experiments in the Field: Stream and Creek Food Chains ****BioBottle Project**** (2-weeks) Test 2

UNIT 3
Evolution, Biodiversity and Population Ecology Chap 3 Striking Gold in a Costa Rican Cloud Forest: case study analysis Modeling Evolution Lab Bacteria Bottles: examination of exponential growth. The Kaibab Deer Study Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Chap 11 Saving the Siberian Tiger: case study analysis Cane Toads video analysis Endangered Species Project Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas Chap 12 Certified Sustainable Paper in Your Textbook: case study analysis

UNIT 4
Human Population Chap 8 Chinas One-Child Policy: case study analysis Human Population Growth ZPG Field Trip Survivorship Curves (Drexel Hill Cemetery) World In The Balance(NOVA) - video analysis

UNIT 5
Fossil Fuels, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution Chap 19 Oil or Wilderness on Alaskas North Slope? case study analysis Home Energy Use Survey Chap17 LA and Its Sister Cities Struggle for a Breath of Clean Air-case study analysis Air Pollution Lab: Students will measure air pollution levels of

SOx, NOx, and COx with field equipment Conventional Energy Alternatives Chap 20 Swedens Search for Alternative Energy- case study analysis Nuclear Chemistry Lab Radioactivity of Common Substances and Shielding Effectiveness Chap 18 Rising Seas May Flood the Maldives- case study analysis An Inconvenient Truth video analysis Heat - A Global Investigation video analysis Drilling in the Arctic- Mock Trial New Renewable Energy Alternatives Chap 21 Germany Goes Solar- case study analysis Solar Energy Video Analysis Solar Oven Design and Construction

Global Climate Change

UNIT 6
Soil and Agriculture Chap 9 Iowas Farmers Practice No-Till Agriculture: case study analysis Soil composition and classifications Lab Fertility of Soils Lab Race to Save the Earth video analysis (bookmarked website) Agriculture, Biotechnology, and the Future of Food Chap 10 Possible Transgenic Maize in Southern Mexico: case study analysis Energy in Food Lab Food, Inc. video analysis Minerals and Mining Chap 23 Mining for.. Cell Phones?; case study analysis Cookie Mining Lab Poison In The Rockies video analysis (bookmark website) Unit 7 Freshwater Systems and Resources Chap 15 Gambling with Water in the Colorado River Basin- case study analysis Sources of Water Contamination Lab Marine and Coastal Systems and Resources Chap 16 Determining the Health of Streams Lab Collapse of the Cod Fisheries- case study analysis Flow video analysis (amazon) Environmental Policy: Decision Making and Problem Solving Chap 7 San Diego and Tijuana: Sewage Pollution Problems and Policy Solutions- case study analysis Field Trip Waste Water Treatment Plant

Watershed Demonstration

UNIT 8
Environmental Ethics and Economics: Values and Choices Chap 6 The Mirarr Clan Confronts the Jabiluka Uranium Mine- case study analysis The Cost of Recycling: Students will compare recycling vs. substitution, economically and environmentally: Groups of students will conduct a cradle to grave investigation of one recyclable item and suggest alternatives to that items use.

The Urban Environment: Creating Livable and Sustainable Cities

Chap 13

Managing Growth in Portland, Oregon- case study analysis Timeline of Environmental Laws Chart: Students will construct a large chart of important environmental laws, when they were established, what they control, and who is in charge of enforcement. The chart will be displayed for discussion and review for the exam.

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Chap 14

Poison in the Bottle: Is Bisphenol A Sage?: case study analysis LC50 Lab - Salt affects on Lettuce Seed Germination (need to find) LD50 Lab Herbicide Effects (need to find) Homo Toxicus- video analysi (need to find)

Managing Our Waste

Chap 22

Transforming New Yorks Fresh Kills Landfill: case study analysis Landfill Field Trip What can I do to reduce my impact? Lab (need to find) Bio-remediation of Oil Spills (need to find) Modern Marvels: Garbage video analysis (need to find)

Sustainable Solutions Final Project

Chap 24 Text

De Anza College Strives for a Sustainable Campus- case study analysis Final Project: Final Exam

Expectations and Grading

INTERNET ACCESS: Students must access the internet to obtain additional class notes, worksheets, HW assignments, and additional information. Access can be at home, the school library, or the public library. CLASS RULES: 1. Bring materials to class every day. (textbook, notebook, paper, pens and pencils, calculator) 2. Do your homework. That is the only way to be successful in this course. 3. Do not talk when someone else is talking. 4. Stay in your seat until the bell rings; I will dismiss you. 5. It is YOUR responsibility to get missed assignments. 6. When you come into class, immediately read the objective and agenda on the white board and take out the appropriate materials to answer your warm-up. 7. Come to class on time. Your 1st and 2nd unexcused lateness will result in after school detentions with me, 3rd an administrative detention, 4th Administrative Discipline Referral Form (possible ISS), 4+ continued Administrative Discipline Referral Forms (possible Saturday Suspension, OSS, referral to principle). 8. Follow all written and verbal instructions the first time. 9. Cell phones and portable music devices should be kept out of sight and turned off during school hours. If found by me detentions will be issued as above in #7, as well as the device being taken and held by me as follows: 1st offense the device will be kept until the end of class. The 2nd and 3rd + offense will result in device being held until parent retrieves in main office. 10. Dress code should follow lab safety requirements and school policy. 11. Except in a true emergency, you may not leave the classroom without a hall pass 12. Follow the UDHS Academic Honesty Code. ***Note: Eating is not permitted in class, unless necessary due to a medical condition or a no lunch roster. (Please talk to me if either of these is the case.) Drinking of water is allowed in class when you are at your desk on days we are not doing a lab. Consequences for violations will follow the UDHS Discipline Policy. ABSENCES: Review the attendance policy in your UDHS student handbook Following excused absences: check with me for classroom activities, homework assignments, and class notes turn in homework from a previous day before class begins If you are absent the day of a lab or test, see me the day you return to arrange a make-up date. Following Unexcused absences: students will not be permitted to make-up missed assignments, including labs, tests and quizzes. LABORATORY PRIVILEGE: To retain lab privilege, students must:

Follow all instructions and rules on the laboratory safety sheets and all verbal instructions. Wear protective eyewear at all times (Federal Law). Refrain from loud talking, running, throwing, horseplay, and performing unauthorized lab procedures. Come to lab prepared with all lab materials - including any completed pre-lab assignments. Dress according to pre-lab instructions (short-sleeved clothing, no open-toed shoes, etc.)

LABORATORY REPORT FORMAT Your Formal Lab Reports must be submitted within 6 school days from completion of the lab. Follow the criteria below: 1) Name of all persons in the lab team and Date of experiment. 2) Block. 3) Title of the Experiment 4) Problem a. Write the purpose of the lab in question format. i. Ex. Which car will emit the most emissions and why? 5) Hypothesis a. Write a If..then..because.. statement explaining what you think will happen in the lab. 6) Procedure a. Write a brief summary of what you did. (Do not re-write the instructions from the printed lab sheet!) This should be an overview of the method you used to do the activity. Flowcharts of the major steps and diagrams of the set-up are a good addition to your report, and will help you to remember the activity more clearly later. Do not write in first person and do not use personal pronouns. i. Ex. Incorrect: I measured the mass of it. ii. Ex. Correct: The mass of the aluminum cylinder was measured. 7) Data a. List your measurements/ observations in a table following the guide of the lab instruction sheet. i. Every number must have a unit. (Ex: grams, mL) 8) Analysis a. Calculations and Graphs i. List formulas and mathematical manipulations. ii. Illustrate your graphs. 1. Most of your graphs will be based on the two-dimensional Cartesian model (use graph paper). Make sure to title your graphs and label the axes with a name and units. b. Questions: Answer any assigned questions. i. Use your notes and text for support. ii. Do not write in first person or use pronouns. iii. It is not necessary or desirable to re-write the question, however, your answer should be a complete statement such that reading the original question is not required for understanding. 1. Ex. Incorrect: No they did not. Ex. Correct: The experimentally determined value for the density did not agree with the theoretical value. 2. Ex. Incorrect: The density was not accurate due to human error. Ex. Correct: A small amount of solid residue spattered out of the evaporation dish when it was heated. 9) Conclusion

a. RACE (Restate problem, Answer problem, Cite evidence of learning, Extension and Errors) b. Refer back to the lab to answer each part with concise answers.

**Failure to follow this format will result in a 10% reduction in grade per infraction. Your Formal Lab Reports must be typed in a size no smaller than 12 point font- no hand written labs! Graphs and Data Tables may be submitted in ink, but they must be neat (use a ruler). There is nothing better than being concise- do not submit long-winded reports! PROJECTS/ PAPERS/ LAB REPORTS: All projects, papers and/or lab reports must be turned in on the date they are due or on the first day a student returns to school. Late papers will be penalized 10% per day, a 0 (zero) will be assigned after 5 days. HOMEWORK: Late work will not be accepted. Late HW will only be accepted from students who had an excused absence; this work is due within the 2 days following an absence. Students who have completed 100% of the homework assignments on time in a marking period will receive citizenship points on their marking period average. I expect each student to spend approximately 30-40 minutes each night doing the assigned problems or reviewing the day's material and reading the material planned for the next day. It is imperative that students complete all assignments thoroughly and on time. All questions are to be answered completely. All written answers are to be answered using complete sentences. All problems are to be solved showing the original question, the formula used, all steps in the solution, and the final answer with the correct significant figures and appropriate units. TESTS & QUIZZES: Tests and quizzes (over 15 minutes in length) will be announced ahead of time. All students present in class will take the test or quiz - no exceptions. If a test or quiz is missed due to an excused absence, you must set an appointment with me to take it within the 2 days following the absence. Students who miss an appointment to make up an assignment or assessment will receive zero credit for that assignment. Unannounced quizzes cannot be made up. If you had an excused absence, you will be excused from the unannounced quiz. TUTORING: I am available for extra help before and after school. I recommend that students who are having difficulty with any of the work contact me for assistance. VALUES and ATTITUDES 1. Honesty is highly prized in the scientific community and is essential to the scientific way of thinking and acting. Report and record what you actually observe, not what you think you ought to see or what you think the teacher wants. Follow all school policies related to academic honesty 2. Curiosity and skepticism are a high priority. Raise questions about the world and seek answers by making careful observations and trying things out. Remain open to new ideas about how the world works Notice and criticize the reasoning in arguments in which fact and opinion are mingled or the conclusions do not follow logically from the evidence. Support statements with facts found in books, articles, and databases and identify the sources used. SKILLS

Find answers to questions about nature by using ones hands and senses as well as ones head. Develop the habit of using tools and computation skills to solve problems. Read analog and digital meters on instruments Choose appropriate units for reporting various magnitudes Measure materials in prescribe amounts, exercising reasonable safety

GRADING MP 1: MP 2: MP 3: MP 4:

Tests: 40% Quizzes: 20% Homework: 10% Lab exercises/activities: 20% Class Participation: 10%

Tests: 40% Quizzes: 20% Homework: 10% Lab exercises/activities: 20% Class Participation: 10%

Tests: 40% Quizzes: 20% Homework: 10% Lab exercises/activities: 20% Class Participation: 10%

Tests: 40% Quizzes: 20% Homework: 10% Lab exercises/activities: 20% Class Participation: 10%

S1 grade = MP1 (0.40) + MP2 (0.40) + Midterm Exam (0.20) S2 grade = MP3 (0.40) + MP4 (0.40) + Final Exam (0.20)

ABCDE-

92-100 83-91 75-82 70-74 <70

Detach this sheet and hand in

AP Environmental Signatures below indicate that we have read, understand and agree with the Expectations and Grading for the AP Environmental course.

Students Signature Date

Parents/Guardians Signature Date