AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Chapel Hill High School Douglasville, Georgia School Telephone: 7706516381 2017-2018 SYLLABUS Instructor: Katrina Henderson-Brewster e-mail: Katrina.henderson@douglas.k12.ga.us Room: E107 COURSE DESCRIPTION AP Environmental Science combines ideas and information from biology, chemistry and earth sciences, as well as the social science fields of economics and political science. Topics of study include water, energy, air and chemical cycles and systems, soil and biome processes, population and land development dynamics, human history and influences, community and ecosystem processes, natural resource exploitation and impacts, environmental economics and policy, and future choices. Instruction is developed in accordance with Common Core and standards-based instructional technique. Laboratory, field and internet-based research and investigations are emphasized to familiarize students with contemporary research, investigative and problem-solving techniques. Students analyze environmental problems, evaluate risks, collect data, prepare assessments, and investigate complex issues and solutions to prevent, resolve or mitigate environmental problems. Field investigations on site, field trips, schedules permitting and problemsolving exercises will focus on in-depth analysis of specific environmental topics and issues. THE EXAM The A.P. Environmental Science Exam created by the College Board and Educational Testing Service will be administered on Thu, May 10, 2018. This exam is three hours in length and consists of two parts: a multiple-choice section comprised of 100 questions and forming 60% of the grade, and a free response section comprised of four free-response questions and forming 40% of the grade. The multiple choice section is designed to cover the breadth of your knowledge and understanding of environmental science and includes thought provoking problems and questions based on fundamental ideas from environmental science as well as questions based on the recall of basic facts and major concepts. The free-response section emphasizes the application of principles in greater depth; you will need to organize answers to broad questions, demonstrating reasoning and analytical skills, as well as the ability to synthesize material from several sources into a coherent essay. There are three types of free response questions: data analysis, document based, and synthesis and evaluation. Preparing for the Exam (Helpful Info): https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-environmental-science/exam-practice COURSE MATERIALS Text: - FRIEDLAND AND RELYEA, Environmental Science (Second Edition) - A.P. Review PowerPoints and Notes - Study guide Outlines via website Supplies: - 1 composition notebook (Activators) - 1 notebook (2 inch 3 ring binder recommended) ( Worksheets, Notes and Lab report info) - Paper/pen /or pencil
Course Topics Unit 1: Earth Systems and Resources Unit 2: The Living World Unit 3: Populations Unit 4: Land and Water Use Unit 5: Energy and Resource Consumption Unit 6: Pollution Unit 7: Global Change (25-30% OF A.P. EXAM) Classroom Design: All A.P.E.S. students are expected to work at a college level rigor and communicate if they are having difficulties. The following lists are expected but not limited assignments to be completed with the proper templates provided. 1. Critical thinking activities 2. Labs (which will involve organized written/typed lab reports) 3. Current Events (students will be expected to keep up with issues that affect the environment bi-weekly) 4. Debates (students will participate in case-study issues and debate on view differences) 5. Free Response Question (FRQ practice) 7. Science Math Prep problem solving activities 8. PowerPoint s/ Papers/ Video Design/ Web Design/ Engineering Design 9. Flip classroom (students will be given a lecture to listen to a lecture at home and take notes and quiz and discuss. 10. Virtual quizzes. ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION You are expected to attend and participate in all class sessions and assignments. You should complete assigned reading and exercises before the date they are due, and you are expected to participate fully in labs, fieldwork, and other exercises, whether they be individual or team-based. See student handbook for school attendance policy. CLASS RULES This course is equivalent to a college level course, and you are expected to act as an adult at all times, whether in class, in the lab, or on a field trip. Disruption of class activities in any way will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary referrals as necessary. Cell phones must be kept turned off during school hours or they will be confiscated. Hall passes are available to make essential trips to the restroom, but overuse of this privilege will result in its termination. I expect all students to be responsible and courteous at all times. CLASS RULES/PROCEDURES/ DISCIPLINE PRACTICES Rules: 1. Be respectful, responsible, and resourceful- there is no horse playing in class or lab. 2. Follow instructions the first time given. There is no talking without permission. 3. THERE WILL BE A NO BAG POLICY!!! NO BAGS/BOOKBAGS ARE ALLOWED! 4. No electronic devices (will result in detention) (meaning no earphones allowed!) 5. No eating in class unless provided by teacher or instructed (will result in detention) 6. No getting out of seat during instructional time. (Students should stay in assigned seats) 7. No profanity (will result in detention) 8. No students allowed behind or near my desk (will result in detention) Consequences: 1. Warning/parent contact for lesser offenses 2. Detention/Behavior Assignment/Parental Contact 3. Administrative Referral
Procedures: 1. Enter the classroom in a timely, controlled, quiet manner, gather materials quickly, and get seated. If you are tardy you will automatically be given a detention so please be on time there are no warnings. (BE ON TIME) 2. Locate the daily agenda and objectives written on the board and copy them down. Ask any questions about the agenda or objectives for clarification. 3. Complete all activities and assignments given for the day. If you finish your assignment early, choose one of the things to do once work is completed activities. 4. There are no restroom passes ALLOWED. STUDENTS CAN ONLY GO FOR EMERGENCY! Do not interrupt instruction to ask. Do not abuse the privilege you have 3 EMERGENT restroom passes per 9wks sign your name when you leave. Students gone for more than 10 min will receive a referral. (Passes won t be given the first or last ten minutes of class-meaning do not leave the first ten/last ten minutes of class. It s best to go before class!! 5. Make sure you name, class, and period appear on all assignments and turn them into designated location. 6. At the end of the period, put away all your materials, including textbooks, in an orderly fashion, clean up any trash under or around your desk. Push in your chair. If the room is not cleaned up and materials put away properly, you will remain in the classroom until this is accomplished. 7. Stay Focused: Always be responsible for your Actions. THINGS TO DO IF CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS ARE COMPLETED: STUDY CLASS MATERIAL WORK ON YEAR LONG PROJECT STUDY A.P. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FLASH CARDS WORK ON CURRENT EVENTS READ CHAPTER FOCUSED ON IN UNIT SIT QUIETLY AND AVOID BOTHERING/INTERACTING WITH OTHERS Read!! Study A.P.E.S VOCABULARY! ****************************************IMPORTANT********************************** Parents please sign up for your Child s class REMIND, this is the way I contact parents and students to inform about quizzes/ test/ project reminders/ grade updates/ supplies needed/ instructional videos/ tutoring times/ due dates! -If you need immediate contact this system allows me to communicate with parents and students in a professional manner outside of school times! You are able to contact this line with a text between the hours of 6 am -8 pm. Any unprofessional or negative content will be REPORTED. -PARENTS to keep open lines of communication please sign up and sign up for infinite campus this can be easily downloaded to your phone to inform of any grade changes your child may have in the class. PLEASE SIGN Initial BELOW (PARENTS AND STUDENTS) IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP FOR REMIND! YOUR CHILD WILL RECEIVE 10 EXTRA BONUS POINTS ON THEIR FIRST QUIZ FOR BOTH SIGNATURES (PARENTS AND STUDENT) (P)-parent (S) - student First Period : Text the number: 81010 Text in the message area: @d3ge6h6 (P) (S) Second Period : Text the number: 81010 Text in the message area: @a8hekh (P) (S) Seventh Period : Text the number: 81010 Text in the message area: @g82267 (P) (S)
CLASSROOM POLICIES: 1. TARDIES: STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE TO CLASS ON TIME, FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A DETENTION. 2. PREPARATION: STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE PREPARED AT ALL TIME. This includes having your materials (notebook, writing instrument, and assignments) and your minds ready to work when the bell rings.) 3. TRANSFER STUDENTS: AVERAGES AND REPORT CARD NINE WEEK AVERAGES- THE TEACHER WILL ASSIGN EACH GRADE IN THE GRADE BOOK WITH THE STUDENTS TRANSFER AVERAGE. 4. ABSENCES: If you are absent, SEE MRS. BREWSTER AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS FOR MAKEUP WORK! Failure to do so is the students responsibility not the teacher!!! (Students will have three days to make up work from an excused absence after three days it will be a ZERO ). 5. SKIPPING: Skipping class is not acceptable. Students who skip parents will be notified, and contact will be made with grade level Principal. You will receive no credit nor have an opportunity to make up work that was due or done on that day. 6. TECHNOLOGY: students are not able to have cellphones or any other electronic devices without teacher s approval. Students will need to put their cellphones on silence and place them in their personal envelope at the beginning of class. (Parents don t worry all envelopes will be protected). 7. CHEATING: Academic Honesty is important students if found cheating will take an alternate essay exam after school and make the proper arrangements for a ride! Otherwise a zero will be given. Cheating will not be tolerated! 8. INSTRUCTION TIME: EVERY SESSION THE CLASS MEETS IS FOR BELL TO BELL INSTRUCTION, STUDENTS NEED TO EXPECT TO WORK THE WHOLE CLASS PERIOD REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION, I will rarely be absent, but on such an occasion, students are expected to make sure to follow the directions of the substitute teacher and complete the assigned work. 9. LATE WORK/EXTRA CREDIT: LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!!!! EXTRA CREDIT WILL BE GIVEN UPON THE WORK ETHIC OF THE STUDENT. 10. APPEALS: Student/parents have 5 business days from the date report cards are issued to appeal the final grade. Principal s ruling is final! 11. LAB SAFETY VIOLATIONS: The student will be removed from the lab and will receive no credit for the particular lab. If a violation is particularly dangerous or poses a particular risk to him/her or other students, the student will receive an immediate referral to the office. NOTE: Students will have received and student and parent will have signed a laboratory safety contract that explicitly states expected behavior as pertains to safe conduct of laboratories (includes those labs conducted outdoor). 12. PASSES: passes are only given for emergencies; students are expected to be in the classroom during instruction time. (THERE WILL BE NO LEAVING TO GET PASSES IF THE STUDENT IS LATE)
ASSIGNMENTS Class Assignments: Class assignments will include daily home assignments, team projects and research, reading and written work. Scientists and environmental professionals are expected to present their work products in a timely, neat, accurate and well-organized fashion, and you are expected to do the same in this course. Work must be submitted on the day it is due, or 20% will be deducted for each day late. Any assignments not turned in within two school (not class) days will receive a zero. Laboratories: Laboratory and field investigations are designed to complement the lecture portion of the course by providing opportunities to learn about the environment through firsthand observations, to test concepts and principles which have been introduced in class, to explore specific issues and problems in greater depth, and to gain an awareness of the importance of confounding variables which exist in the real world. Investigations will be diverse and will include indoor laboratory activities, outdoor activities, as well as field experience outside the confines of the campus. The labs are designed to invite students to think critically, to observe environmental systems, to develop and conduct well designed experiments, to utilize appropriate techniques and instrumentation, to analyze and interpret data, to present data orally and in the form of statistical and graphical presentations, to apply concepts to the solution of environmental problems, to form conclusions and to propose further study. All activities will be written in the lab composition book. Unit Study Guides: Unit Study guides are organized by major topics in environmental science. Students are responsible for answering the study guide questions, and summarizing case studies. They are given the day the unit begins and are due the day of the unit test. Students must complete the questions in their study guide composition book. EXAMS & GRADING Students will be evaluated through performance on unit exams (see pacing guide), chapter quizzes on the reading assigned as homework, laboratory investigations and lab reports, the APES Activator notebook, current events, group projects, and writing assignments. Grade Components: 50 % Unit Tests/Projects/lab 30 % FRQ/ Quizzes (AP Style) 20 % Activator NB/ CW/HW/Study guide Grading Scale: A 90 100 % B 80 89 % C 70 79 % D 60 69 % F below 59 % I have read the AP Environmental Science syllabus and understand all of its provisions. Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature Date Contact Info for parent: (#) (email)