apes syllabus student handout-2020-2021

Page |1

2 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 0

AP Syllabus 2020-2021
Instructor: Mike Peters
Contact Information: 606-862-4699

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 do 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 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 0

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 1
Unit 2
Unit 3

Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Unit 7
Unit 8
Unit 9
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

5

Exam
Weighting
0

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
5

100%

6-8%
6-8%
10-15%
10-15%
10-15%
10-15%
7-10%
7-10%
15-20%
0


2 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 0

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:
1. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher with regards to completing missing
assignments.
2. Missing assignments must be submitted to the teacher within three days after the student has
returned to school.

3. 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 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 0

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 9 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:
1. Articles must be mounted in a notebook or photo album
2. Collection must have a Table of Contents
3. Must contain a minimum of 28 articles of at least 500 words each (9 each / 9-weeks grading
period)
4. Articles submitted must cover issues that have occurred during the current semester
5. Contain no more than 5 articles from the internet.
6. Each article must have the date and source of the article
7. Each article must be summarized on 3x5 index card and be attached to the article
8. In addition to the index cards, the student must have a minimum 2 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.