apes syllabus student handout-2020-2021

Page |1 - 2 AP Syllabus 2020-2021 Instructor: Mike Peters Contact Information: 606-862-4699 mike.peters@laurel.ky.schools.us Planning – 6th Period Description: The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science The goal of this interdisciplinary course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world The course will focus on the identification and analysis of environmental issues of the past, present, future, and proposed future solutions The course will require students to develop their critical thinking skills as demonstrated through a variety of methods including but not limited to lecture, activities (guided and open), labs, formative and summative assessments, and alternate forms of assessment such as presentations Teacher’s Philosophy / Approach The emphasis of the course is on the understanding of systems and processes As such, the topics in AP Environmental Science not lend themselves to short-term memorization of facts The course is a laboratory and field-based course that takes advantage of local environments and resources In addition, lectures and laboratory activities will supplement the required reading and homework assignments Finally, Kentucky does not have marine environments or estuaries and has limited coniferous forests Kentucky does have deciduous forests, river systems, and clearly defined watersheds Therefore, outside laboratory activities will be dependent upon the season and its related weather Examples of affected labs would be water quality testing, soil analysis, testing ozone levels, and biodiversity Scheduling: The class is a two-semester course (one year) that is taught for 60 minutes a day It is open to any Junior or Senior student who has completed the following: Integrated Science I (earth/universe, introduction to chemistry/physics, biochemistry) Biology Student should also have completed or be enrolled in Algebra II Sophomores may be accepted to the class by teacher recommendation and special approval by guidance Course Assessment  Tests (Multiple Choice, Free Response Questions, Quizzes)  Homework (Personal progress checks, Princeton Review assignments, Albert AP reviews)  Presentations  Lab Reports  Independently read books  Journals  Current Events Dialectical Journal Activities, labs, field investigations: 25% Homework: 25% Tests-formative & summative: 50% 100% Page |2 - 2 AP Exam Preparation The course is designed to prepare students to take the AP Environmental Exam The three-hour long exam will contain eighty multiple-choice questions constituting 60% of the final grade as well as three free-response questions constituting 40% of the exam grade emphasizing to a greater depth the application of the principles of a solid environmental program of study Please note: taking the AP Exam does not exempt the student from taking semester final exams All students will take semester final exams Text: Living in the Environment, 18th Ed., by G Tyler Miller, Jr., 2015 Additional Texts: Environmental Science, 2nd Ed., by Friedland and Relyea, 2015 Environmental Science, 13th Ed., by William P Cunningham and Mary Ann Cunningham, 2015 Cracking the AP Environmental Science Exam, 2017 Ed., by The Princeton Review, 2017 Laboratory Manuals Living in the Environment, 18th edition, Miller, G; Spoolman, S, 2015 Lab Manual For Environmental Science, Edward Wells, 2009 A Demo A Day, George R Gross, Margaret A Holzer, Edward A Colangelo, 2001 Other Resources: Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, 1962 Wild Ones, by Jon Mooallem, 2013 An Inconvenient Truth, Paramount 2006, DVD The Hidden Destruction of the Appalachian Mountains, OVEC 2003, DVD Mountain Top Removal in Kentucky, OVEC 2003, DVD Kilowatt Ours, Jeff Berry 2008, DVD The Lorax, Universal Pictures 2011, DVD Project WILD Curriculum & Activity Guide Project WILD Aquatic Curriculum & Activity Guide Project WET Curriculum & Activity Guide Project Food, Land & People Curriculum & Activity Guide (FLP) Race to Save the Planet video series Outline: Unit Start-up Introduction Unit Unit Unit Unit Unit Unit Unit Unit Unit Closing Unit Title Class outline / expectations / Summer Assignment Presentations Environmental Problems/Sustainability The Living World: Ecosystems The Living World: Biodiversity Populations Earth Systems and Resources Land and Water Use Energy Resources and Consumption Atmospheric Pollution Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution Global Change Review and take APES and final exams Chapter Reference(s) Days Syllabus/class materials Exam Weighting 1,23,24,25 3,4,5,7,8, 4,5,8,9,10,19 5,6,11,12,17,23 3,4,7,12,14,18,19 1,10,11,12,14,22,24 1,2,5,8,12,13,14,15,16 7,17,18,22 3,8,11,13,14,15,20,21,24 3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,18,19,24 Exams 15 14 11 12 11 18 16 11 19 19 100% 6-8% 6-8% 10-15% 10-15% 10-15% 10-15% 7-10% 7-10% 15-20% - 2 Page |3 Field Trips (time and weather permitting)  Laurel County Recycling Center  Laurel County Freshwater and Wastewater Treatment Plants  Laurel Ridge Landfill (waste disposal and landfill gas to electricity)  James River Coal Company Bledsoe Operations  TVA Bull Run Fossils Plant Clinton Tenn (coal fired electric power plant)  Wolf Creek Dam, Corps Of Engineers (hydroelectric power) and Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, US Fish and Wildlife Services  Smoky Mountain National Park Make-up Policy: It is the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher with regards to completing missing assignments Missing assignments must be submitted to the teacher within three days after the student has returned to school Any assignments turned after the three-day time period will have the final grade for the assignment(s) reduced by 10 percent for each day past the three-day time period Electronic Device Policy: Use of electronic devices is prohibited during classroom hours Students may use district approved electronic devices before school, after school, during their lunch period, and between classes Food and Drink Policy: No food or drink is allowed in the science classroom due to federal regulations Students With Special Needs: All students with Individual Education Plans, Gifted Student Services Plans, or other issues needing accommodations and approved by the Laurel County Board of Education, will be served according to the provisions specified within the plan Summer Registration Assignment: All students registering for the AP Environmental Course must complete the Summer Registration Assignment during the summer break The summer assignment is designed to provide a basic foundation for the student to begin the AP Environmental course of study The assignment encompasses a review of the basic math skills needed to be successful within the course It also provides a working vocabulary that is necessary for the understanding of the course materials Finally, the assignment provides an introduction to the myriad of environmental laws and regulations The assignment is due the first day of school Failure to complete and submit the assignment by the due date will result in removal form the class Special Notes: *Students will be utilizing Argument Driven Inquiry (ADI) as a means to explore and research the various aspects of environmental science ADI is NOT a teacher produced work, but rather a student driven work that allows the student freedom to explore and devise its own methodologies and ideas to answer a prompt provided by the teacher Some students are not familiar with independently produced work Please rest assured that independently produced work is fully aligned with the standard research procedures of all colleges and its well within the scope of the class and the talents of the student The teacher will provide assistance As such, please relax and be supportive of your fellow students and encourage them to embrace the work and not stress too intently 2 - 2 Page |4 *During the 1st semester, students will independently read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Weekly quizzes will be given as formative assessments to monitor progress *During the 2nd semester, students will independently read Wild Ones by Jon Mooallem Weekly quizzes will be given as formative assessments to monitor progress * Students will maintain a year-long APES journal Students will reflect weekly over the topics for week The journal will be graded every weeks *Over the course of each semester, students will be required to construct a current events dialectical journal dealing with environmental issues in the news The journal must adhere to following: Articles must be mounted in a notebook or photo album Collection must have a Table of Contents Must contain a minimum of 28 articles of at least 500 words each (9 each / 9-weeks grading period) Articles submitted must cover issues that have occurred during the current semester Contain no more than articles from the internet Each article must have the date and source of the article Each article must be summarized on 3x5 index card and be attached to the article In addition to the index cards, the student must have a minimum page summary over their favorite article for the grading period *The syllabus allows for a one-week intensive review for the AP Exam It also allows for the State testing windows in the Spring and Fall that affect the Juniors and Seniors In addition, as there is an approximate two-weeks of time from the AP exam to the end of school, the syllabus provides enrichment in support of the course work in that the students will work on an independent research project dealing with the designing and building of a “green” house This project must include cost, materials, location, construction, and design  ... progress * Students will maintain a year-long APES journal Students will reflect weekly over the topics for week The journal will be graded every weeks *Over the course of each semester, students... allowed in the science classroom due to federal regulations Students With Special Needs: All students with Individual Education Plans, Gifted Student Services Plans, or other issues needing accommodations... is the student? ??s responsibility to contact the teacher with regards to completing missing assignments Missing assignments must be submitted to the teacher within three days after the student