Welcome to AP Environmental Science!
Welcome to AP Environmental Science! In this course we will be learning about such topics as the living world, population, Earth systems and resources, land and water use, energy resources and consumption, pollution, and global change. While studying these topics we will gain a better understanding of the interrelationships in the natural world. In turn, this will allow us to 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.
There are certain requirements and expectations that must be met in our class in order for students to succeed. Please read the following information regarding our class:
Classroom Rules
1- You must be seated, quiet and ready to learn when the bell rings.
2- Come to class prepared with all materials- including pens and pencils!
3- Treat others in the class how you would want to be treated.
4- If absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed.
Materials
- 3-ring binder with loose-leaf used only for APES
- A designated APES folder at home to keep all completed units
- Blue or black pens and #2 pencils
- Textbook: Environmental Science for AP Second Edition- Friedman and Relyea
Grading Policy
Exams- 50%
Exams will include multiple choice and free response sections modeled after the AP Examination. In order to ensure greater retention of past material which is necessary for the AP Exam, tests may include a section containing cumulative material from previous tests. There will be a review before each test and extra help will be offered as needed.
Quizzes/Homework - 25%
Quizzes will be given approximately once a week on covered material. They will be either multiple choice, free response, or verbal. Homework will include readings, AP review questions and current event articles. Students should be able to readily access the Internet in order to research and report on current environmental issues. Although not always graded, homework is essential for success in our class. When no written homework is assigned, students are expected to read and review their text and notes each night. In APES, students MUST put in a great deal of work on their own in order to be successful in class and on the AP Exam.
Labs/Projects- 25%
Laboratory investigations and projects are essential to our study of APES. Not all labs will be able to be made up as they involve fieldwork. Attendance is essential! When fieldwork is scheduled, students will always be given prior notice so they are prepared for the outdoors. All labs, including those outside, will follow social distance protocols. Labs have been adjusted so that student safety is given top priority at all times.
Academic Honesty
Any form of cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated and will be subject to discipline by the administration. Students caught giving or receiving answers to a test, quiz, homework or lab will receive an automatic zero.
The AP Exam
The AP Environmental Science Exam created by the College Board and Educational Testing Service will be given at 8 AM on Thursday, May 9th, 2024. We will be working on AP exam material as soon as our studies begin so that students have ample time to become accustomed to the AP questioning style and understand what is expected of them.