A.P. Environmental Science Morgan.Robert.M@muscogee.k12.ga.us Course Overview: The course is designed to be the equivalent of a college level semester course in Environmental Science. Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field of study, integrating the concepts of biology, ecology, chemistry, math, sociology, economics, and law and using those concepts to come to an understanding of the natural world and the forces that affect it. The advanced Placement Environmental Science program is intended to prepare students to deal effectively with the increasing problems and questions related to environmental impacts and to plan for the maintenance and management of the environment in the face of population and industrial growth. The goal of the AP Environmental Science course 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. Another important part of the course is data analysis, measurement, statistics, dimensional analysis and other operations that require mathematical skills. An Advanced Placement Course is designed to be equivalent to an introduction level college course. This course will be conducted as such including content material, type, and form of assignment. The majority of the grade will be from exams, labs, and TMAs due to the amount of points assigned. Students and parents must be aware that even though the student may have made all A s before, they may not have had the challenge of an advance placement science class and the critical thinking required of this course. Earning a B in the advance placement class is a significant accomplishment. All should strive to do the best work possible; however, pressure to earn an A in a difficult class could cause undue pressure and possibly lead to problems in other classes. Class Profile: The course is a yearlong consisting of two eighteen week semesters. Independent work is an expectation of this course, and you will be required to master some content material with little assistance due to time constraints to allow for laboratory and field work. Labs must be completed even if after school time is required. On average, labs/activities will be conducted one class per week. Students must be prepared to work out doors for some of the labs and field studies. There may be instances when students will need to put in time outside of normal class and school hours. Timeliness and self discipline must be a part of the student s character to be successful in this class. If an assignment is due on a particular day, then it is due at the beginning of class that day. Do not ask to go print your assignment. All assignments need to be completed before the due date so that you can turn it in on that date. Excuses will be politely listened too, and then proper reductions will be accessed.
Tentative Schedule TOPIC READING ASSIGNMENTS Environmental Problems, Their Causes 1 And Sustainability Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy 2 Ecosystems: What are they and how do 3 They Work? Test # 1 Evolution and Biodiversity 4 Aquatic Biodiversity 8 Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity 11 Test # 2 Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity 7 Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach 9 Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: Managing and Protecting Ecosystem 10 Test # 3 Population Ecology 5 Applying Population Ecology: The Human Population 6 Food and Soil Resources 12 Test # 4 Water Resources 13 Water Pollution 20 Test # 5 Air Pollution 18 Climate Change and Ozone Loss 19 Test # 6 Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources 14 Nonrenewable Energy Resources 15 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 16 Solid and Hazardous Waste 21 Test # 7 Sustainable Cities 22 Economics, Environment, and Sustainability 23 Politics, Environment, and Sustainability 24 Environmental World Views, Ethics, and Sustainability 25 Final Exam Review, Field Studies A.P. Exam
Environmental Film Series Additional Reading Assignments:, Crash Course AP Environmental Science book. Teacher assigned reading, class handouts, web assignments Potential Field Trips: Water Works, Water Treatment, Land Fill, Lindsey and Bull Creeks Textbook: Living in the Environment: Miller and Spoolman 16 th Edition. A digital option is available. *Digital option requires student and parent signature and an agreement with student and parent that student will bring technology to class everyday as to access textbook.* Schoology sign up: Every student must sign up and register to use the schoology app. It is free and can be used on your phone, or other electronic device with internet service. When the student signs up, use your email as the user name. When completing the registration, use your real name when asked. No nick names or AKAs. Use a password that you will remember. The link for schoology is https://app.schoology.com/register.php?type=student The access code is FSFP7- VZV7P. Quizzes will be taken on schoology. Almost all assignments will be posted on schoology so that if you are absent, you still have access to the work. A link for the digital textbook can be found here also. Labs /Activities Due to constraints in time, space, equipment, money, and other resources, labs are conducted in a group setting. Labs to include the performance and lab reports will be completed in groups of three or four. These groups must function together and work as a team. Students pick their own lab partners. Cats of Borneo Activity Tragedy of the Commons Lab Something s Fishy (mark and recapture simulation) estimate population lab Moose and Wolves of Isle Royale (predator/prey relationships, graphical analysis of data) APES in the News Project (9 week collection of newspaper articles related to environmental issues) Make Your Own Ozone Test Paper Chemical Weathering Lab Energy Audit (long term data collection and analysis) Population Growth in Lemna minor lab Estimating Population size of daphnia pulex Chemical and Physical Analysis of Natural Water lab Estimating Air Pollution Generated by Everyday Activities lab Physical Characteristics of Soil lab Chemical Characteristics of Soil lab Population Density and Biomass Study lab Exploring Biodiversity lab Acid Deposition: The Threat from Above lab Dissolved Oxygen
Potential Videos: In an effort to present the most up to date information and events, short clips from You Tube may be utilized. All clips will relate directly with the topic being discussed in class and will not be more than 12 to 15 minutes. Some of these videos will be shown in their entirety or in part. If you object to your student watching any one of the listed, indicate so and which video on the signature portion of the syllabus. The student will be excused from only the listed objections. The Lorax A Civil Action An Inconvenient Truth The China Syndrome Medicine Man Instinct People Bomb Race to Save the Planet Series Silkwood Strange Days on Planet Earth (National Geographic) The Last Journey of the Leatherback Who Killed the Electric Car? The Meatrix Field Work Some activities will require outdoor work. Various environments, such as grassy areas, pine groves, deciduous forest, areas including primary and secondary succession, and water will be explored and sampled. Each student will participate in and complete a home energy audit, and calculate their individual and family carbon footprint. TMAs/Research/Term Paper There will be one major research TMA (4 th nine weeks) and possibly two to three smaller research topics during the other nine weeks. Since these assignments are time management assignments, not late work will be accepted. Grading Policy Unit Tests (~every 3 1/2 weeks) Tests will be a two day event. First day there will be 1 free response question. This question must be completed in twenty two (22) minutes. The second day will be 50 multiple choice questions, and must be completed in forty five (45) minutes. Test are formatted and graded AP style. For multiple choice 1 pt / correct answer, 0 pts/ blank, incorrect answer. Number of correct answers multiplied by.90. Free response questions graded using AP rubrics. Each point earned on free response is multiplied by 1.5. Utilizing modified AP scale, test will be assigned an AP score: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. Each score corresponds to a percentage to be placed in the grade book. Each test is worth 100 points in the grade book, however, each test is comprised of 60 total possible points; 45 points from multiple choice and 15 from free response question. Sixty percent (60%) of the score will come from the multiple choice and forty percent (40%)
will come from the free response question. They will be entered as two (2) separate grades for one (1) test. Example: Test 1 m/c, Test 1 frq. *See final page for percentage breakdown. SGM: AP Environmental Science is a course that has a MCSD Student Growth Measure (SGM) test. Students will take a pre-test at the beginning of the course and a post-test at the end of the course. Students have the opportunity to earn bonus points on a test grade in the 4 th 9 weeks based on the growth indicated when comparing their pre- and post- SGM scores. Students who meet the expected growth percentage will earn a 5% bonus on the 4 th 9 weeks test and students who exceed the expected growth percentage will earn a 10% bonus on the 4 th 9 weeks test. No student may earn higher than 100% on any test grade due to bonus points. Quizzes 1 grade; There will be one quiz a week. All quizzes are on line. Points vary Small TMAs Points vary Labs 1 grade. Points vary depending on complexity of lab. There will be four (4) major labs, three (3) smaller labs, and several lab activities for the year. After the mock exam, students will select one (1) of the major labs and write a comprehensive lab report to include: research, methods and materials, purpose, data (tables and graphs), data analysis, conclusion, error analysis, works cited, and abstract. Assignments Points vary Mock exam/final (end of second semester) utilizing latest AP scale, mock exam will be equivalent to 20% of second semester grade. All tests can be considered cumulative. With each successive test, students may see concepts from previous units. Grade will be based on total points earned with approximately 720 to 800 points per nine weeks. Homework Standing assignment: Students are expected to review (and re-write if necessary) class notes and handouts nightly in conjunction with your daily reading in the corresponding chapter of the textbook. Watch provided videos located on Schoology and/or google classroom. Reading and taking notes on the text is a must for success. Complete unit packets to include crosswords. Complete projects and/or lab reports (as assigned) Study for exams Make-up Work Missed exams/ Quizzes: If a unit test/quiz is missed, then the students must take the exam/quiz the next class day in class. Before or after school does not provide sufficient time to take an exam. A grade of zero will remain in the grade book until the test/quiz is scored. In the event of new material covered that will be tested, or a review session, students will have three (3) days to make the test or quiz up. Assignments: If a student misses an assignment due to an excused absence, then the student will have the appropriate time/days to make up the work. If the absence is unexcused then procedures form CHS Student Handbook page 22 will be followed. It states: Academic
Saturday School Academic Saturday School is designed for students to make up work missed when the student is absent and the absence is unexcused. For up to two days missed, the student must attend one Academic Saturday School. A student will not be allowed to attend Academic Saturday School more than two times or if the unexcused absence is due to suspension from school. The student will report to the Attendance Office to obtain Academic Saturday School slips that must be given to each teacher. The slip requests that the teacher provide an administrator with a list of the assignments the student missed. These assignments must be completed during Academic Saturday School. Students must report to the school on the designated Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and remain until 12:00 p.m. Lunch breaks are not provided and the student should bring all necessary items to complete the assignments. Late work assignments turned in late will lose 30% per day for every day the assignment is late. After two (2) days, 60% loss, work will not be accepted. Work is considered late if it is not turned in at the beginning of class the day it is due or when the instructor asks for it on its due date. Credit Recovery: Credit recovery will be done on the weekly quizzes. Each quiz is be available for one (1) week. Students may attempt the quiz as many times as needed (or desired) to earn the highest possible score. After one week, the quiz will be closed and the latest score the student achieved will be posted. Notebooks: You will be expected to keep an organized notebook for this class. In it will go all handouts, returned work, notes, copies of labs and lab results/reports, and articles. All notes should be kept in the "Cornell Notes" method. This notebook will be your portfolio for this class. Some colleges will want an idea of type of work required and completed. Materials & supplies Needed: Students need pen & pencil every day. Students should have graph paper, a few colored pencils or highlighters and a ruler. Students are encouraged to bring technology to class every day. *Technology required if student opts for digital textbook. Calculators are not allowed on test or quizzes. *Extra Credit* The final exam grade can be substituted for a low test grade during the 4 th nine weeks. There is no extra credit. If a situation presents itself that allows for a unique learning experience, then an extra credit assignment may be given. However, a low grade, or not making a grade you want is not a reason to give or allow extra credit. If the student has two zeros on any assignment for not completing an assignment, then extra credit will not be considered. Tutoring: Monday and Friday mornings from 7:35 till 8:05 and 3:30 to 4:00pm on Tuesdays. Academic Integrity: Any sharing of test or quiz information is a form of cheating. Utilizing work or information obtained from former APES students is also considered cheating. Your Honor Code must be
hand written and signed on every assignment turned in. Students must read and become familiar with the school s student handbook. I follow all of the school handbook s guidelines for academic integrity. Failure to follow these policies will result in a zero for all work of all students involved, a phone call to your guardian and a referral to Honor Council. Remember: plagiarism is considered cheating and a violation of the academic integrity policy. Rules: 1. Be inside the classroom before the bell rings. This includes having ready all material needed to participate in class. 2. Write down the daily standard/objective along with essential question. 3. Come to class prepared to discuss past lessons and assignments. 4. Do not eat or chew gum in class. 5. Respect all others including their belongings, views, and space. This is an advanced, fast paced class. Any behavior that disrupts other students or interferes with hearing, seeing, or understanding of the material will not be tolerated. Not following these rules will result in appropriate disciplinary action. Zero policy A STUDENT MAY NOT BE TORMENTAED, THREATENED, HARASSED, HUMILIATED, EMBARRASSED, OR OTHERWISE TARGETED BY ANOTHER STUDENT USING THE INTERNET, INTERACTIVE AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES OR MOBILE PHONE. INAPPROPRIATE PICTURES AS WELL AS ANY PATTERN OF WRITTEN OR VERBAL EXPRESSION THAT IS INTENDED TO RIDICULE, HUMILATE, INTIMIDATE, OR CAUSE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS UPON ONE OR MORE STUDENTS IS NOT PERMISSIBLE. THERE IS A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CYBER BULLYING Cell phone/technology usage: All technology is allowed and encouraged. However, students caught using technology inappropriately in the classroom setting will be subject to consequences. 1 st offense: warning. 2 nd offense: loss of in class technology usage for 2 days. 3 rd offense: Student will be referred to administration to start process of first time offender under cell phone section of CHS Student Handbook page 30. AP Scale for all Test Except Final Exam *Final Exam will be most resent AP Scale. Percent on Test out of 60 AP Score Equivalent Grade in the Gradebook possible points 100 5 100% M/C 45 FRQ 15 85-99 5 99% M/C 38.25 44.4 FRQ 12.75 14.85 75-84 4 90% M/C 33.75 37.8 FRQ 11.25 12.6 65-74 M/C 29.25 33 FRQ 9.75 11.1 3 80%
55-64 M/C 24.75 28.8 FRQ 8.25 9.6 45-54 M/C 20.25 24.3 FRQ 6.75 8.1 Less than 45 M/C 19.9 FRQ 6.6 2 70% 1 60% 0 50%
I have read and understand all policies in Mr. Morgan s syllabus. If I have any questions, I can contact Mr. Morgan at 706.748.2534 or e-mail him at morgan.robert.m@muscogee.k12.ga.us Student Signature and date: Parent Signature and date: My student may watch all videos listed: My student may not watch the following videos: