IHS AP Environmental Science
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." John Muir
Welcome to APES
Why do we need
a summer assignment?
What makes this course so interesting?
A new scorpion from California reveals hidden biodiversity in the Golden State
Date: April 27, 2016
Source: Pensoft Publishers
Recent fieldwork has uncovered a new species of scorpion in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in northeastern California. It is related to several species in its genus, and is only the fourth new species of scorpion to be described from California in the past twenty years.
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Environmental science teaches you how to recognize and interpret problems in the world around you and provide solutions for those problems. (AP does it at a college level.) Basically, we have much to cover and only one period to do it in.
By completing the summer assignment you will feel, and be better prepared to be successful for the remainder of the year. You have four tasks for the summer assignment. The first is to give you an overview of what you will be studying for the remainder fo the year. The movie "Home" covers many topics that we will be discussing this coming year. After you view the movie you will have a better idea of what to expect from the class.
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Second, you really need to go outside and explore the world around you. You will collect 10 plant samples based on a theme. You will design a dichotomous key that will help identify each plant by looking at similarities and differences. No worries, I have a great deal of support material and am willing to work with you on this part. The plant collection will be turned in one week after school starts so that I can help you if needed.
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Third, We will cover each topic at a fairly good pace. If you review the material that you should already know, you will not fall behind. (There will be a quiz on the second week on this material and you may use your notes for the quiz.)
Please visit the summer assignment page for additional information and support materials on the plant collection
The Characteristics of plants handouts can be used to develop your dichotomous key.
http://www.euintheus.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/environment-1-612x336.jpg
http://www.euintheus.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/environment-1-612x336.jpg
Students will learn about the natural world through hands on laboratory investigations and observations
They will also use field work to study both human-made and natural environmental problems in your local ecosystem.
Welcome to your website. I am so excited about teaching your AP Environmental Science class this year. I plan to make this the first of many happy and productive years exploring the environment.
The goal of this course is to pass the AP exam at the end of the year. I hope that we can work together to help each other accomplish this goal. When you pass the exam you will get college credit for one semester in Environmental science.
This website will provide additional resources to help you succeed. It is currently under construction but will be fully functional by the beginning of the year. If you would like additional information that is not included in the site simply ask.
I am looking forward to meeting and working with you this year. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.