1. AP Environmental Science Instructor: Karen Evens

2. Why AP?  Better prepared for college  Grade boost  (an A is a 5 instead of a 4 in the GPA)  Colleges are looking for AP experience  Passing the AP in May –(with a 3, 4 or 5 will result in the class counting when you go to college)

3. Topics Covered in Course   I. Earth Systems and Resources (10–15%)   A. Earth Science Concepts – –(Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons, solar, intensity and latitude)   B. The Atmosphere – –(Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect; atmosphere–ocean interactions; ENSO)   C. Global Water Resources and Use – –(Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use; surface and groundwater issues; global problems; conservation)   D. Soil and Soil Dynamics – –(Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main soil types; erosion and other soil problems; soil conservation)

4.   II. The Living World (10–15%)   A. Ecosystem Structure – –(Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species; keystone species; species diversity and edge effects; majorterrestrial and aquatic biomes)   B. Energy Flow – –(Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological pyramids)   C. Ecosystem Diversity – –(Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services)   D. Natural Ecosystem Change – –(Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession)   E. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles – –(Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter)

5.   III. Population (10–15%)   A. Population Biology Concepts – –(Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship)   B. Human Population – –1.Human population dynamics – –(Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling times; demographic transition; age-structure diagrams)   2. Population size – –(Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies)   3. Impacts of population growth – –(Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction

6.   IV. Land and Water Use (10–15%)   A. Agriculture   1.Feeding a growing population – –(Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture; Green Revolution; genetic engineering and crop production; deforestation; irrigation; sustainable agriculture)   2.Controlling pests – –(Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest management; relevant laws)   B. Forestry – –(Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests)   C. Rangelands – –(Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federalrangelands)   D. Other Land Use – –1.Urban land development – –(Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization) – –2.Transportation infrastructure – –(Federal highway system; canals and channels; roadless areas; ecosystem impacts)

7. – –3.Public and federal lands (Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests; wetlands) – –4.Land conservation options (Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration) – –5.Sustainable land-use strategies   E. Mining – –(Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties)   F. Fishing – –(Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties)   G.Global Economics – –(Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and treaties)

8.   V. Energy Resources and Consumption (10–15%)   A. Energy Concepts – –(Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics)   B. Energy Consumption – –1.History (Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis) – –2.Present global energy use – –3.Future energy needs   C. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use – –(Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas; extraction/purification methods; world reserves and global demand; synfuels; environmental advantages/disadvantages of sources)   D. Nuclear Energy – –(Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor types; environmental advantages/disadvantages; safety issues; radiation and human health; radioactive wastes; nuclear fusion)   E. Hydroelectric Power – –(Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts)   F. Energy Conservation – –(Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit)   G. Renewable Energy – –(Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal; environmental advantages/disadvantages)

9.   VI. Pollution (25–30%)   A. Pollution Types – –1.Air pollution (Sources—primary and secondary; major air pollutants; measurement units; smog; acid deposition—causes and effects; heat islands and temperature inversions; indoor air pollution; remediation and reduction strategies; Clean Air Act and other relevant laws) – –2.Noise pollution (Sources; effects; control measures) – –3.Water pollution (Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; groundwater pollution; maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage treatment/septic systems; Clean Water Act and other relevant laws) – –4.Solid waste (Types; disposal; reduction)   B. Impacts on the Environment and Human Health – –1.Hazards to human health (Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships; air pollutants; smoking and other risks) – –2.Hazardous chemicals in the environment (Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous waste; cleanup of contaminated sites; biomagnification; relevant laws)   C. Economic Impacts – –(Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability

10.   VII. Global Change (10–15%)   A. Stratospheric Ozone – –(Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes of ozone depletion; effects of ozone depletion; strategies for reducing ozone depletion; relevant laws and treaties)   B. Global Warming – –(Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global warming; reducing climate change; relevant laws and treaties)   C. Loss of Biodiversity – –1.Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and extinct species – –2.Maintenance through conservation – –3.Relevant laws and treaties

11. Textbook  AP approved  Living in the Environment – Miller

12. Necessary materials  Textbook stays at home  Notebook, paper, pens, pencils, highlighters, calculator in class  Recommended – colored pencils, index cards, a AP Environmental Science review guide

13. Grading  Based on tests, quizzes, activities, projects, FRQ’s, homework  90 - 100% = A  80 – 89% = B  70 – 79% = C  60 – 69% = D  Below 60% = Fail

14. Homework  Given out as we start a new chapter  Due when the chapter test is given  Usually at least a week is given for chapter homework  Test should be read nightly  Studying for tests  Thinking about FRQ’s

15. So what are FRQ’s  Free Response Questions  Actual questions from past AP’s  90 minutes of the AP is for 4 FRQ’s –Approximately 22 minutes per question  Each week (first class of the week) there will be an FRQ  Hint for FRQ goes up on Sunday evening (or earlier) –If the student can narrow it down to which FRQ they think it is going to be they can go to the AP Central website and review the answer

16. Websites  Grant to AP Environmental –http://ap-env-sci-a-per- 1.granths.org/modules/groups/integrated_hom e.phtml?gid=3246841&sessionid=bcfc6ec444a 30762d484a26fc72444ae http://ap-env-sci-a-per- 1.granths.org/modules/groups/integrated_hom e.phtml?gid=3246841&sessionid=bcfc6ec444a 30762d484a26fc72444aehttp://ap-env-sci-a-per- 1.granths.org/modules/groups/integrated_hom e.phtml?gid=3246841&sessionid=bcfc6ec444a 30762d484a26fc72444ae  AP Central Released Questions –http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/e xam/exam_information/2003.html http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/e xam/exam_information/2003.htmlhttp://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/e xam/exam_information/2003.html  Students have learned how to get to both websites  Students are to use their FRQ cheat sheet to narrow down possible questions from the hint.  Cheat sheet is linked at Grant website

17. Absences  Greatly discouraged  Students will be given make-up assignments when absences are cleared  Make-up tests may be a completely different format.

18. Contacting me  Grant High School – (818) 756-2700  Email – kje2566@lausd.net kje2566@lausd.net  Send a note with student

19. Credentials  Bachelor’s in Cell Molecular Biology –Minor in Chemistry  Master’s in Environmental Science  Teaching Credential

20. Philosophy  Educating students  Opening their eyes to things around them  Making them more well rounded  Introducing them to possible career choices  Inspiring confidence in their abilities

21. Apology  Sorry if your kids come home with just a little bit of information and act like they are experts  Part of this is the nature of teenagers  Part is due to the fact that we cover the gamut of topics and discuss trivial facts

22. Questions  This PowerPoint is linked to my Grant website