Course Description:
This
course is equivalent to a semester-long college-level course that
investigates the complex systems of nature and humans’ impact
on the earth. The goal of the APES/IBES course is to provide students
with the scientific principles, concepts and methodologies required
to understand the systems 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. Because there is significant overlap in the AP and IB scientific
aims for the study of environmental systems, this course has been
designed specifically to cover all of the AP and IB course objectives.
Environmental
science is interdisciplinary; the course includes a wide variety
of topics from different areas of study. At the college level,
environmental science is offered from an array of departments,
including geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental
science, chemistry and geography.
Enduring Understandings:
1.
Science is a process
2.
Energy Conversion underlies all ecological processes.
3.
The Earth is one interconnected system.
4.
Humans alter natural systems
5.
Environmental problems have a cultural and social context
6.
Human survival depends on developing practices that will
achieve sustainable systems.
Class Policy
You are responsible for following the student ethics code
issued for Montgomery County Students, the rules of Bethesda-Chevy
Chase High School and the science laboratory safety rules.
Our classroom will be an environment in which all students will
be comfortable, safe and able to learn. Participate, ask questions,
contribute to discussions and group exercises. I expect you to
contribute to the “learning community” by doing the
following:
1. cooperating
with your teacher and classmates
2. respecting
the rights and property of others
3. carrying
out your student responsibilities.
Materials
• three-ring
binder
• paper,
pencil, blue/black pen (no other colors!)
• scientific
calculator
• textbook
(to be assigned)
• $10.00
Lab fee /semester
• Lab
notebook
Grading Policy
The
grades will be weighted. The make up of the grade will be as follows:
Summative
Assessments: 50%
The
approximate contributions to summative assessments are
Exams 40%
Projects
10%
Formative Assessments: 50%
The approximate contributions to formative assessments are
Quizzes
20%
Lab
Reports 20%
Classwork/Homework
10%
I will keep a record of your grades on the computer. You will
be responsible for keeping track of your graded assignments throughout
the term. If you would like to discuss the grade of any assignment,
missing assignment or makeup assignment, you are welcome to make
an appointment with me. I will not discuss your grade
during our class time.
Assignments are turned in on the due date.
- The due date is the date that the assignment is due, but
also the time at which I collect the assignment during that
class.
- If you do not turn in that assignment when I collect it in
class, it will be classified as “turned in by
the deadline”.
- The deadline date for an assignment is the end of the day
following the due date. When an assignment is not turned in
at the time which it is due but prior to the deadline, the assignment
will receive a 10% lower mark.
- An assignment not turned in by the deadline will receive
a zero.
- Before reassessment of quiz or lab, you must meet with me
for re-teaching of concepts. I am available at lunch or after
school, for discussion and/or review of material.
Attendance:
You are expected to attend ALL classes.
If you have an excused absence, please see me to establish a
schedule for making up assignments/lab. It is your responsibility
to follow up on what you have missed.
If you miss a laboratory period, the lab must be MADE
UP AFTER-SCHOOL.
If you are absent from school when an assignment is due OR an
exam is given, you are to submit the assignment on the first
day of your return to class. An unexcused absence results
in a zero for work due. The same policy holds for tests.
You are expected to be in the classroom, SEATED and ready to
begin the class when the bell rings, or else you will be marked
tardy. Personal needs should be taken care of BEFORE class. If
you are late for class, enter quietly and please sign in on the
“TARDY SHEET”.
Unauthorized collaboration, cheating and plagiarism
I
have ZERO tolerance for cheating, copying, or unapproved collaboration
of any kind. Science is a collaborative world – discussion
of subjects, labs, results and interpretations is acceptable.
However, written description of results and discussions for labs
should never be identical. No assignment should ever be identical
to another person’s work. Evidence of this will result in
zeroes for all parties involved with immediate notification of
parent/guardian.
Text: Living in the Environment: Principles,
Connection and Solutions
G.
Tyler Miller, Jr., Thirteenth Edition
- Test dates for this semester have already been established.
This is so you can put them onto your schedule NOW
and build your study schedule appropriately.
- There will a weekly quiz on Friday, except
when an exam is scheduled. Some quizzes will be multiple-choice
and others will be essay. Put those also on your schedule so
that you will be prepared.
- Labs and projects will be a major portion of class and assigned
throughout the year with due dates established well in advance.
- You will be required to maintain an “environmental
journal” with weekly entries to allow
you to apply course concepts to local environmental issues important
to you. The journal will be assessed monthly.
- There is a major research paper based on a scientific investigation
that you create collaboratively with other fellow scientists.
This will serve as the Group 4 project for the IB students but
is required of all ES students.
Semester
ONE:
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Chapters |
Test Date |
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Unit 1: |
Systems and Ecosystems |
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1 |
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3 |
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4 |
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Friday, Sept 21 |
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Unit 2: |
Geology, Mineral and Soil resources
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15 |
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10 |
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Friday, Oct. 12 |
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Unit 3: |
Evolution, Climate and Biodiversity
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5 |
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6 |
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7 |
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Friday, Nov. 9 |
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Unit 4: |
Community and Population Biology
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8 |
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9 |
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12 |
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Thursday, Dec. 21 |
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Unit 5: |
Water Resources and Use |
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14 |
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19 |
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24 |
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Tuesday, Jan. 8 |
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CUMULATIVE FINAL: |
Jan. 15-18 |
Semester
TWO:
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Unit 6: |
Food, Pesticides and Toxicology |
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11 |
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13 |
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20 |
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Monday, Feb. 11 |
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Unit 7: |
Air Pollution and Climate Change
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17 |
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18 |
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Friday, Feb. 29 |
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Unit 8: |
Solid waste, Renewable and Nonrenewable
Energy |
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15 |
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16 |
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21 |
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Wednesday, Mar. 19 |
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Unit 9: |
Sustaining Biodiversity and Creating
Sustainable Societies |
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22 |
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23 |
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25 |
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28 |
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Friday, Apr. 18 |
In-class MOCK AP
or IB EXAM: |
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APRIL 28 and 29, 2008 |
AP EXAM:
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Tuesday, May 13, 2008 |
IB EXAM: |
Paper 1 and 2, |
Wed. May 14, 2008 |
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Paper 3, |
Thurs. May 15, 2008 |
Final EXAMS: |
according to B-CC Exam Schedule |
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