AP Environmental Science

Avon Lake City Schools 

Curriculum Framework

AP Environmental Science

Course Overview:

This program provides an opportunity for high school students to pursue and receive credit for college level Environmental course work while in high school. In order to give the students this opportunity, the course is designed to meet the expectations set forth by the AP Environmental Course Description and the AP Environmental Learning Objectives which can be found at www.apcentral.collegeboard.com. The AP Environmental Science course is the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science, through which students 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, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography. Students are required to take the AP Environmental exam. Prerequisites: Regular or Honors Biology, and Chemistry or concurrent with Chemistry, and recommendation of science staff. This class meets eight periods per week for ½ unit of credit each semester. FEE: $25 plus AP Exam Registration

Textbook (Title and Publishing Company): 

Environmental Science for AP, Friedland and Relyea

Online/Supplemental Materials:

College Board- AP Classroom

Assessments: 

First Quarter Assessment (cumulative) - Midterm (cumulative) - Third Quarter Assessment (cumulative)- Fourth Quarter AP Exam

Content/Topics/Learning Goals

Subject to Pacing and Schedules

1st Quarter- 

AP Topic Outline:

Earth Systems and Resources (10%–15%)

  • Earth Science Concepts (Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and latitude)

  • The Atmosphere (Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis effect; atmosphere-ocean interactions; ENSO)

The Living World (10%–15%)

  • Ecosystem Structure (Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species; keystone species; species diversity and edge effects; major terrestrial and aquatic biomes)

  • Energy Flow (Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological pyramids)

  • Natural Ecosystem Change (Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession)

  • Natural Biogeochemical Cycles (Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter)

2nd Quarter- 

AP Topic Outline:

The Living World (10%–15%)

  • Ecosystem Diversity (Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services)

Earth Systems and Resources (10%–15%)

  • Global Water Resources and Use (Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use; surface and groundwater issues; global problems; conservation)

  • Soil and Soil Dynamics (Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main soil types; erosion and other soil problems; soil conservation)

Population (10%–15%)

  • Population Biology Concepts (Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship)

  • Human Population

Land and Water Use (10%–15%)

  • Agriculture

  • Forestry (Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests)

  • Rangelands(Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federal rangelands)

  • Other Land Use

  • Mining (Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties)

3rd Quarter- 

AP Topic Outline:

Land and Water Use (10%–15%)

  • Fishing (Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties)

  • Global Economics (Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and treaties)

Energy Resources and Consumption (10%–15%)

  • Energy Concepts (Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics)

  • Energy Consumption

  • 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)

  • 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)

  • Hydroelectric Power (Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts)

  • Energy Conservation (Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit)

  • Renewable Energy (Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal; environmental advantages/disadvantages)

4th Quarter -  

AP Topic Outline:

Pollution (25%–30%)

  • Pollution Types

  • Impacts on the Environment and Human Health

  • Economic Impacts (Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability)

Global Change (10%–15%)

  • 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)

  • Global Warming (Greenhouse gasses and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global warming; reducing climate change; relevant laws and treaties)

  • Loss of Biodiversity

Last Updated:

September, 2023