Name: ______________________ Period: _____

Summit Preparatory Charter High School

Course: Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES)
Instructor: Ms. Swanson (aswanson@summitps.org)
Course Website: http://swansonAPES.weebly.com
Welcome to APES! We have an exciting year of Environmental Science ahead of us! I am happy to have you in this class
and I look forward to getting to know you better. You have A TON to learn this year and I think you will find this class to
be both interesting and challenging. Your success, therefore, will depend both on your in-class and after-school efforts.
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WHAT IS AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE?
The goal of AP Environmental Science is to provide you 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. Environmental Science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of
topics from different areas of study (biology, geology, chemistry, physics, etc). It is designed to to be the equivalent of a
one-semester, introductory college course in Environmental Science.
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DAILY CLASS REQUIREMENTS
It is important to come to class prepared, and to be on time. On time means that you are seated, with all course materials
before class begins. Failure to do so will result in a tardy. It is required that you bring the following items with you each
day:
1. Charged chromebook 3. Notebook/ paper
2. Writing utensil 4. Binder or folder
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BEHAVIOR
Expectations:
RESPECT-
Walk into class, get started silently on the warm-up
No cellphones in class (after one warning it will be taken for the remainder of class)
Professional Courtesy (close computers when someone is talking)
One voice
Assume best intent
INTEGRITY-
Bathroom one at a time, not during first 10 or last 10
Headphones only during independent work and/or when directed by teacher (music only on computer, not
phone)
CURIOSITY/COURAGE-
Ask questions, seek to understand!
Speak up, try new things, be open minded!

RESPONSIBILITY
Do nothing to hinder teaching and learning (create a safe space for yourself and others to stay focused
and feel comfortable taking risks)
PLAYLISTS (30% of Grade)
 (21%) Power focus Areas: Fishing and Global Economics, Loss of Biodiversity, Ecosystem Structure, Energy
Flow in Ecosystems, Natural Biogeochemical Cycles, Pollution Types: Water, Global Water Resources and Use,
Agriculture, Energy Use, Fossil Fuel Resources and Use, Alternative Energy, Pollution Types: Solid, Pollution
Types: Air, Human Population Concepts, Climate Change.
(9%) Additional Focus Areas: Mining, Plate Tectonics and Geologic Time, Ecosystem Diversity, Biomes,
Stratospheric Ozone, Global Water Resources Case Studies, Land Use, Soil Dynamics, Population Biology
Concepts, Human Population Case Studies, Human Health and Hazardous Chemicals, Weather and Ocean
Circulation, Seasons and the Atmosphere.
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PROJECTS (70% of Grade)
Projects will be assessed based on cognitive skills. Each skill is listed below the project. Dates are subject to change.
Sustainability: 9/4-9/22
Identifying patterns and relationships, justifying/constructing and explanation, discussion/contribution,
preparation, norms and active listening
Personal Impact Project: 9/25-10/20
Selecting relevant sources, asking questions, predicting/hypothesizing, designing processes/procedures,
interpreting data/info, selection of evidence, introduction and conclusion
Ecocolumn: 10/23-12/15
Asking questions, predicting/hypothesizing, designing processes/procedures, identifying patterns and
relationships, modeling, making connections and inferences, introduction and conclusion
Current Events: 12/18-12/21
Presentations will continue throughout the rest of the year
Selecting relevant sources, oral presentaiton, multimedia in oral presentation, precision
Sim City: 1/8-3/2
Comparing/contrasting, modeling, justifying/constructing an explanation, argumentative claim, selection
of evidence, explanation of evidence
Global Issues Network: 3/5-4/6
Synthesizing multiple sources, asking questions, interpreting data and info, making connections and
inferences, critiquing the reasoning of others, oral presentation
Political Activism: 5/7-6/1
TBD
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CHEATING POLICY
I take cheating of any sort very seriously. If you cheat on any assignment, you will not be graded. Cheating includes, but
is not limited to:
Copying someone elses work or allowing your work to be copied (unless sharing data)
Plagiarism (copying from a book, magazine, or internet site)
Talking during or using unauthorized notes on an assessment
Having a cell phone or personal electronic device during an assessment
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ABSENCES
It is important to be in class every day. In the event you are not in class for any reason, it is YOUR responsibility to make
up any work you missed. In the event that you miss a class, you must attend my office hours to check in with me and
make up any missed work. Most assignments will be through the platform, but any handouts can be found in the black
bins in the back of the classroom.
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EXTRA HELP
This class will be challenging and will require a lot of work and effort. If you need extra help, please feel free to attend
my office hours on Wednesdays from 3:35-5:00 or by appointment!

I have reviewed the policies of this class and understand that I am expected to follow them.

____________________________________________ __________________________________________
X Student Signature Date X Parent/Guardian Signature Date