AP Environmental Science 2017-2018

Instructor: Erin Cosky

Email: CoskyE@santarosa.k12.fl.us
Room: 836
Email: CoskyE@santarosa.k12.fl.us
Website: http://coskygbhs.weebly.com/
Class Website: OneNote ClassNotebook on Microsoft 365. You will submit work through this
site, find notes, assignments and calendars. Reach it through Classlink > Office 365> OneDrive>
Shared with me (on the left) >APES 2017-2018
Remind App: You MUST sign up for this. We communicate through this app. To join, TEXT
81010, message should say @ecoskyapes
Twitter: Follow for science facts and classroom updates: @ErinCosky
Gradeline: Access through the school website http://www.gulfbreezehighschool.com/. Click on
CLASSLINK and find the gradeline app.

Textbook: Miller, Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment. 18th ed., Cengage
Learning, 2015.

Required Materials:
3-ring binder with dividers, labeled: Bellwork/Vocab/Prime Timers, Notes, Journal, Labs,
Handouts
Highlighters

Suggested Materials:
Internet Access at home and on mobile devise
An AP Environmental Review Study Guide book (you will be given one from the textbook
company but many others exist). I personally like 2016 Princeton Review and AP Environmental
Science Crash Course.

Prerequisites:
Student should have completed two years of high school laboratory science one year of life science
(scoring a 85% or better) and one year of a physical science prior to taking this course. In addition,
algebra is required and earth science is suggested.

Course Description:
This College Board approved AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-
semester, introductory college course in environmental science. Students will engage with the scientific
principles, concepts and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world.
The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems,
evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems and examine alternative solutions for resolving
or preventing them. Environmental Science is interdisciplinary, encompassing topics from geology,
biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry and geography.
Laboratory:
Laboratory investigations and field investigations are required for this course. All labs and fieldwork will
require a written report. You will have ONE full lab report due each 9-weeks. You will be required to
participate in all labs within the class and out in the field. You need to commit to making every effort to
be present during these labs. You will have ONE excused absence allowed for a lab day, where the class
will provide you with the data. After that, you will need to come in to make-up the lab. A minimum of
one class period a week will be devoted to hands-on lab or field work. Some colleges require students to
present their laboratory materials from AP science courses before granting college credit for laboratory,
so you should keep a portfolio to help you retain this material, the ClassNotebook will also serve this
purpose if you post your labs there.

AP Exam:
This AP exam will occur May 10, 2018. It is a THREE-hour exam, split into two 90-minute sessions.
Section I is a 100-question multiple choice test, which composes 60% of your exam score. Section II is
the free response, which is four questions that compose 40% of your exam score. Two questions are
synthesis and evaluation, one question is a data set and one question is document-based. To be effective,
youll need to organize your thoughts and construct an essay in 22 minutes. My goal is for 100% of my
students to achieve a passing score on the exam to receive college credit for the course. Hence the course
will reflect the rigor required to achieve this goal.

Tests:
Tests will be given approximately as entered on the course calendar. At the beginning of the year the
tests will be multiple choice only with the essays given as take-home assignments, which will be
increasingly incorporated into the test score. After Thanksgiving break, essays will be incorporated into
the tests taken during class. As the course approaches the exam, the essays will be timed in order to make
the testing environment as similar to the AP exam as possible.

Methodology:
Instruction will consist of class discussion, lectures, demonstrations and written assignments, including
homework, your APES notebook, reports and labs. This methodology requires that you complete reading
assignments, take notes and read PowerPoint lectures online to be able to participate in class discussions,
which will be an integral part of your learning and your grade.

Grading:
AP courses are weighted like honors courses, where an A = 5 points on your GPA, B = 4, etc. Students
should expect to work extremely hard for an A. A B in an AP course is an extremely good grade.
Component % of Grade

Tests 50
Projects and Labs 35
Daily = Quizzes, HW, 15
Journal, Prime Timers,
etc.

Late work:
Sometimes life gets in the way of turning your best work in on time. I will accept late work for up to 3
days after the due date. But do not make it a habit. You lose 10% per day, no exceptions. After that I will
generally not accept late work. Late work will get put on the bottom of the grading pile.

Course Outline: (check the ClassNotebook for the most up to date calendar and due dates)
Unit 1 Introduction to Environmental Science
Chp 1 and Environmental History supplements
o Tragedy of the Commons Lab
o Historical figure/event research paper
Chp 2 Science Overview
o Compound memorization
o Experimental Design

Unit 2 Earth Systems and Resources (10-15% of AP exam)

Chp 4 Geologic Time
Chp 14 Earth Processes
Chp 3 Atmosphere
Chp 8 and 13 Water Resources
Chp 12 Soil
o Soil Testing

Unit 3 The Living World (10-15% of AP exam)

Chp 3 Ecology
o Food Web and Bioaccumulation Lab
Chp 4 Ecosystem Diversity
o Chemical Cycles Project
Chp 7 Climate and diversity

Unit 4 Populations (10-15% of AP exam)

Chp 5 Population Dynamics
Chp 6 Human Populations
o Cemetery Lab
o World Summit

Unit 5 Land and Water Use (10-15% of AP exam)

Chp 10 Forestry
Chp 11 Fishing
Chp 12 Agriculture
Chp 14 Mining

Unit 6 Energy Resources and Consumption (10-15% of AP exam)

Chp 14, 15, 16 Non-renewable, renewable and nuclear

Unit 7 Pollution (25-30% of AP exam)

Chp 17 Human Health
o Toxicity Lab
 Chp 18 Air Pollution
Chp 20 Water Pollution
Chp 21 Solid and Hazardous Waste
o Wastewater treatment

Unit 8 Global Change (10-15% of AP exam)

Chp 19 Climate Change
Chp 22, 23, 24 Politics, Economics, Sustainability and Ethics
Chp 9, 10, 11 Sustaining Biodiversity

Summer Assignment
Must be turned in on the first day of school. It will be worth two test grades. Go to my website
or the Guidance website for a copy.

Yearlong Assignment
APES Notebook
1. You will be required to pick ONE outside spot that you can visit every month on the same
date. This can be the same spot on the beach, somewhere in your yard, a park near your
house or anyplace you can get to every month easily that you like. You will then journal
about this spot. What do you notice? How does it make you feel? What changes have
occurred since last month? Notice the ENVIRONMENT. It must be a natural location.
2. Entry must be about one page in length, hand-written (at the spot) or transposed into your
online ClassNotebook. Please try to avoid bringing technology to your spot.
3. Journal entries due dates will vary by class period, but will be at the same time each month.
You will have 10 total due, August May.

Service Learning Project

Service-learning is an activity that connects classroom curriculum with service projects. Service learning
allows students the opportunity so serve the community, while building social, civic, and academic skills.
A large part of the AP Exam evaluates the students ability to provide real life examples and scenarios to
larger environmental issues. Service learning gives students the chance to obtain personal experience in
environmental service.

First Semester Assignment: Due December 11, 2017

You will design a service learning project with up to 2 other students that deals with some
aspect of environment science. You will pick a topic that you have interest in and get it
approved. Any service project that encompasses some type of environmental advocacy or
education is appropriate. Some examples include; river or stream clean ups, tree planting, fire
restoration, trail maintenance, creating and installing storm drain warning signs, clean up a
vacant lot, organize a composting workshop, campus litter patrol, plant and maintain native
garden in the community. You may not do recycling, you must look beyond recycling, unless
it is a specialty item like athletic shoes or e-waste. Here is a good resource for ideas:
http://readwriteact.org/files/2013/01/55-Environmental-Service-Learning-Projects.pdf
 You will research your topic and write a one-page write up explaining the topic and the
problems associated with it. You will create an action plan or procedure addressing the issue
in our community. You will write an addition paragraph detailing the impact you think your
project with have on the issue AND the community. Keep in mind this is a college level
course. Everything in this should be detailed and specific. A rough draft will be due in
November.

Second Semester Assignment: Due May 18, 2018

You must carry out your action plan. This may be done WELL before the due date and I
encourage you to work throughout the year on this project. I will be checking in with you
on the status of your project monthly.
If this is a one-day project, you need to have an adult supervisor present to watch and
sign off on the project. You must take many pictures detailing your project. Your
service should last 3-4 hours and all group members must be involved.
If your project is larger than a one-day action or a dream idea, then you must show
evidence of the steps you took to organize the idea emails, interviews, letters, petitions.
Your work needs to cover at least the 3-4 hours of a single day project.
Either way you must present a summary of your project results, regardless of the
outcome, through images, documents and a reflection. The reflection summarizes what
you did, what was learned, and how this project relates to our curriculum. The reflection
should include environmental, economic, and social benefits of this project. (3-5
paragraphs) Each participant must write their own reflection.
Dear Parents/Guardians:

I am glad your student decided to join me for AP Environmental Science or APES! This is a
college-level course so I expect your students to do college-level work. You can find a copy of
your students syllabus online at http://coskygbhs.weebly.com/ or through the schools website. I
look forward to helping your student succeed and enjoy learning this year. Please sign and return
this sheet with the $10.00 lab fee as soon as possible.

You can always check your students progress on the gradeline through Classlink on the schools
website. Contact me anytime at CoskyE@santarosa.k12.fl.us. I am looking forward to a great
and engaging year!

Sincerely,

Erin Cosky

Video Release:
Given the nature of our science content the video clips we work with are often considered PG or PG13.
Sign below to give student permission to view PG/PG13 content. If you have any concerns please feel
free to contact me.

Solar Eclipse:
Monday, August 21, there will be a solar eclipse occurring across the United States. This event will be
visible in our area in the afternoon from about 12:00 pm until 3:00 pm. We will be going outside to view
the eclipse with special glasses. Viewing an eclipse directly without this protective eyewear can cause
serious damage to your eyes, even if you only stare at the sun for a brief period of time.

Student Name:
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Student Signature:
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Parent(s) Name:
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