Course Description
Environmental science is the study of the living world, incorporating everything from geology, chemistry and biology to evolution, weather and human impacts. Students will apply their understanding of earth systems, resources and ecology to explain how biomes respond to various stimuli such as land, water and energy use as well as pollution. In addition to its curriculum and content goals, A.P. Environmental Science serves to prepare students for the academic rigors of college level classes. Students will need to construct experiments, synthesize and analyze data and discuss and debate scientific issues regularly as a part of this class, and the class is designed to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts and methodologies needed to understand and analyze the environment.
AP Environmental Science is designed to be a challenging , rewarding and fun course. The class is fast-paced, academically demanding and centered around student engagement. There will be a number of research and field experience opportunities for students centered around local wild life centers, parks and the high school's new greenhouse. As with all AP classes, AP environmental science is treated as a college course: students will be expected to be independent and highly motivated learners.
Environmental science is the study of the living world, incorporating everything from geology, chemistry and biology to evolution, weather and human impacts. Students will apply their understanding of earth systems, resources and ecology to explain how biomes respond to various stimuli such as land, water and energy use as well as pollution. In addition to its curriculum and content goals, A.P. Environmental Science serves to prepare students for the academic rigors of college level classes. Students will need to construct experiments, synthesize and analyze data and discuss and debate scientific issues regularly as a part of this class, and the class is designed to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts and methodologies needed to understand and analyze the environment.
AP Environmental Science is designed to be a challenging , rewarding and fun course. The class is fast-paced, academically demanding and centered around student engagement. There will be a number of research and field experience opportunities for students centered around local wild life centers, parks and the high school's new greenhouse. As with all AP classes, AP environmental science is treated as a college course: students will be expected to be independent and highly motivated learners.
How to Use This Website
This website has been designed to supply you with important online readings, links, videos and assignments from class. However, this website's most important function is to supply you with supplemental reading to the textbook to strengthen your understanding of class concepts. For example, in the first chapter, the book discusses the controversy surrounding fracking, but does not really describe what fracking is or how it works. For your benefit, I have compiled an explanation of how fracking works. You should read both the text and the website to improve your understanding of the class's curriculum. Using only one will limit your knowledge base.
This website has been designed to supply you with important online readings, links, videos and assignments from class. However, this website's most important function is to supply you with supplemental reading to the textbook to strengthen your understanding of class concepts. For example, in the first chapter, the book discusses the controversy surrounding fracking, but does not really describe what fracking is or how it works. For your benefit, I have compiled an explanation of how fracking works. You should read both the text and the website to improve your understanding of the class's curriculum. Using only one will limit your knowledge base.
Summer Assignment
- The AP Environmental Science textbook and summer assignment are available in the Guidance Department. An electronic version of the summer assignment is also available in the link below.
- The summer assignment will be collected the first day of class. Late work will be penalized.
- Summer Assignment and Response Pages
Grading System
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Late Policy
APES is for all intents and purposes a college level class. APES students are expected to serve as role models to their peers and perform at the highest level possible. Unexcused late work will only be accepted one day late and only for a maximum of 50% credit. |
Environmental Science in the News
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Works Cited
- Friedland, Andrew J., and Rick Relyea. Environmental Science for AP. 2nd ed. New York: W.H. Freeman, 2015. Print.