Welcome to AP Environmental!Annotate “About the Exam”

Include questions in the margin AND answer all

questions

Big Themes for APES

• APES exam in May – 60% MC, 40% FR• MC is largely content driven• FR involves content but also common themes that can be applied to

many different situations and/or conditions• You must possess a great comfort level with these themes when

fulfilling the FR questions on the exam• Lets examine some of these themes.

Tragedy of the Commons• Many resources and places on our planet are

owned by everyone in general and no one in particular simultaneously.• These resources and/or places are often

depleted or devastated by humanity due to this peculiar relationship.• Examples?

• Solutions? Private ownership? Increased Regulation? How could these be accomplished? Difficult situation, isn’t it!

Sustainability

• What does it mean when an environmental, cultural or economic process is described as sustainable?• What resources can be described as sustainable?

_________________• What processes are now functionally unsustainable but could be

changed to be so?• What is the ultimate outcome of unsustainable processes?

Feedback• Natural systems must be self governing as there

is no outside agent to flip a switch.• Negative feedback is typically good• Please overcome negative = bad relationship

• Input System Output, system function accomplished, negative feedback tells the system to cease functioning• Positive feedback can be bad for the system due

to the ultimate exhaustion of resources and collapse of the system

Population Growth• Two types of growth• Logistic (S curve) growth approaches a level

asymptotically sustainable• Exponential (J curve) growth continues indefinitely

until a crash occurs typically due to unsustainable positive feedback• Rule of 70 is vital here!

• Slowing or stopping population growth is a common item in free response rubrics.• Industria question, 2005-2 also

HIPPO or the causes of extinction

• Leading cause of extinction is habitat destruction and/or habitat fragmentation• Next leading cause is invasive species• Synonyms for “invasive”?

• Pollution is the first “p”• Population is the second “p”• Poverty could be a third “p” if needed• Overharvesting is the “o”• How serious is the present extinction event?

Spasm or Mass?

Ecology or how the Earth functions

• Matter cycles while Energy goes through• Cycles hydrologic, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous

and sulfur

• Pretty much everything starts with photosynthesis then up trophic levels while governed by 10% rule.• Different productivity levels by ecosystem

• Great biodiversity is the desired state• Comes about due to evolution (spec & ext)

• Humans now endemic to the whole planet so as we go so goes the Earth, for now.

The Demise of Civilizations• The close study of failure is the best means of

avoidance of its repetition.• Famous example is Easter Island• Anasazi Maya• Mesopotamia• Rwanda• Montana• Successes? There have been a few.• Others? Synergy, Trade Offs and Precautionary

Principle

AP Env Sci is a game!

•You have to get your piece to the final location to get an A•Winner gets a prize

In Class • Block 1—Monday mingles,

discussion, activities and labs

• Block 2--Activities and labs

• Block 3—Self-directed and assessments

At Home

• Watch video and take notes

• Go through ppt and take notes

• Readings

Flippped Classroom

Your notes should look like this

This class game is organized into collaborative groups. This can enhance learning of all players and helps you move ahead.

How do you know the group is working like a team?

Successful Groups

•Work together.•Listen to each other.•Speak politely to one another.•Complete all tasks in a timely manner.•Help each other and do not allow copying.•Share tasks

Group Task: Syllabus Scavenger Hunt and Hand prints•Read syllabus and get ready for the first scavenger hunt game

Make a hand print on a piece of paper:•Make 5 positive adjectives describing yourself•Name on front

Syllabus Scavenger Hunt

Q1—What is your grade based on?

Q2--

Q3

Q4

Q5

All talented. Character may overshadow talent

Character

• What do you do when no one is looking• Below the surface

Watch and Reflect on Softball Video Clip

•How does this tie in with your life or this class?•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaXVk5GBx-s

Academic Dishonesty Policy•All students share the responsibility of maintaining honesty during testing and other class assignments. Those who allow others to copy their work are just as guilty of cheating as those who do the copying.

•Students are expected to NOT plagiarize other sources. All work must include citations.

Pledge

•I pledge to conduct myself with honor and integrity

In this class we score the game, not the practice!

Class Logistics

• Your grade is based on performances on a “game” ie tests, quizzes, lab reports, projects• You will receive a mastery checklist for each enduring understanding

with “practice” assignments to help you achieve mastery• There are readings and videos as well as activities that will help you

master the concepts in this class

Summer Homework—missing or check mark

• Math

•Current Event

•Chapter 3

No Holiday Homework!!!

•Less than 5 missing=No holiday homework

•More than 5 missings= Holiday assignment to clear the missings

Science is Creative

Think-WRITE-Pair Share

How would you design an experiment to test if ants count their steps?

There is no right or wrong way… be creative

This clip shows one way…it is not the only way

•See if you can identify their independent (what they changed) and dependent (what they measured/counted)

Can Ants Count

• Independent:____________________• Dependent: _____________________• Data supports that__________________________

• What we should ask of the researchers-what was their sample size-how many times did they run trials-is the data statistically significant

EXIT TICKET – needs to be completed before you leave• Complete the index card provided with the following information

(Please write clearly!):1. On the FRONT of the card put your full name – first, last, and any

nickname you prefer to be called 2. On the BACK of the card include all of the following:• Your parent(s) and/or guardian(s) full name and their best contact

number• Language(s) spoken at home• Parent/Guardian(s) e-mail address