APES

Advanced Placement Environmental Science - offered in even years

This University Level Course is designed to make us aware of the interconnections of the natural systems of our world and how these systems can be affected by humans. In each unit we will take time to discuss and learn about topics together. Students will be gaining knowledge by reading or watching videos prior to the topic being covered in class. This allows us time to to focus on questions and building skills during class. There will be reading quizzes to help you get feedback and keep pace. These are formative and can be taken up to three times in order to achieve mastery of concepts. We will dive deeper into concepts through labs, debates, projects, activities, and field trips. These will allow you to apply your knowledge to hands-on activities and real world scenarios. Environmental Scientists use many tools to understand nature: observation, research, experimental design, calculation,s and modeling and you will be asked to do the same. APES is about the world around us so we will be using campus and local resources as an extension of our classroom.

APES is also a CTE course at BHHS! This means you will become more familiar with the types of jobs and job prospects in environmental careers (because there are SO MANY!) As a CTE course, APES is also attached to a National Recognized CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) - FFA (Future Farmers of America) which is SO much more than the name implies

Course at a Glance

Materials Required

1 " Binder - to be kept in class

Notetaking System - to be kept with you

*such as spiral notebook, composition notebook, loose-leaf paper in second binder that can be transferred

to binder 1

Textbook: Environmental Science for AP by Friedland and Relyea. 4th Ed.

Optional but will likely be available in the classroom

Calculator, sticky notes, notecards, colored pencils, highlighters, colored markers

Pathways to Success

Keep up with the assigned reading/video notes
Complete all activities/labs with the intent of learning the material
Be prepared to not be perfect. But do not give up. Use the opportunities available to get the most learning possible.
But do not badger your teacher 😁, you will get the same opportunity as every student. No more, no less.
Stay organized!
Work respectfully and productively with your group/team

How to earn your APES grade

APES is a university-level course that is taught by me but managed by the College Board. By passing the AP Exam, you can earn university-level credit (check your preferred universities to see what score you need according to their standards). Your grade should directly correlate to your score on the APES exam.

Passing an AP class (A-C) and exam can increase your chances of being accepted into some universities because that grade shows your determination! B's are very good grades in APES! (Keep that in mind if you are used to earning A's and begin to struggle to maintain that. )

Grade Scale

Same as district grade scale

Weight of Grade

90% - Assessment (some labs, quizzes, projects, binder organization, tests, final exams)

10% - Learning Completion (practice work, some labs, notes, etc.)

The fine print...

Homework (Reading/Video Notes)

As stated above, APES is a university-level course. While we will do many engaging things during class time you will also be required to do the bulk of the learning through reading and/or watching videos before the activities. You are responsible for keeping up with the reading/video prep work. That will be the majority of your homework. Reading/Video Notes are a requirement for this course and will be gathered through different avenues depending on the unit. However, you will also have projects and labs that will occasionally need to be completed at home as well.

Reading/Video Notes will be gathered three times per year and grading for completion. (10%) However, these notes will be important for success on reading/video quizzes. Students are required to show me their notes before any retake attempt is allowed on quizzes.

I provide fill int he blank note sheets for text reading but you may choose to take your own notes as well. Make sure to label and organize those notes when including them in your binder.

Expected Time Needed outside of class: approximately 5 hours per week

*If you are a student that requires more time to complete tasks the time needed may be longer.

Reading/Video Quizzes (90%)

Quizzes will be given on Fridays once Unit 1 starts.

Open Note (binder)
Retakes on quizzes must take place before or after school during the Unit window.
Students must be prepared to show me their completed reading/video notes before retaking
The retake quiz may vary slightly from the previous quiz but will still cover the same material in the reading for that week.
Students may have up to 2 attempts on a quiz within the unit window.

Activities (some labs) (10%)

We do MANY activities in APES to help you better understand the material.

Do your part completely! And ONLY do your part!
Graded on completion only - that means NO blanks and usually at BOC (beginning of class).
You will earn 100% for completing on time, 70% for completing late (even if it is three minutes after class starts), 0% for incomplete, 0% for missing
You may turn in any late activities up until the Unit Test. After that point, we will have moved on and that opportunity is lost.

Tests/Projects/Other Labs (90%)

Tests are given at the end of each unit. Projects will be dispersed throughout the course. Assessment labs will be used to assess specific lab skills.

Test grades reflect YOUR knowledge and are not a gift from the grade fairy (me).
Students may correct their tests in the classroom within the time permitted. However, directions must be followed to earn that credit.
Project grades are final, late projects are only accepted within the unit window (original rule).
- ONLY exception to this rule and on a case by case basis. Late projects turned in outside the unit window may earn 50% based on completion only.
Lab Grades are final with few exceptions. Late Lab grades may only earn 50% - 70% of the total grade earned. (This depends on the lab and skill assessed.)
Final exams happen once per semester. These grades are final.

Binders (90%)

This is where we will store all of your graded and ungraded work. You will be able to use this binder when completing re-takes. But the biggest benefit is having all the material organized for AP Exam review!

Graded on random selection of assignments/activites
Organization and ease in which you located random selection
Graded three times per year

General Pathways to Success and Expectations - Click Here

Academic Integrity

Work Completion

I know you all want to do your best! The BEST way to do your best is to dig deep and challenge yourself to complete the learning with the intent of learning. Copying activities/notes is not the best way to achieve that learning. As such, you heighten the chance of additional stress when you don't perform well on an assessment! I may or may not notice on work completion assignments that are only worth 10% of your grade.

Assessments

Tests/Quizzes - attempting to cheat on tests will result in closure of your test. It will be a case-by-case basis for whether you will be allowed to complete the test.

Labs/Projects - Individual assessments that are turned in matching another student's will share the earned grade between the two students with no change for raising the grade.

Final Exam - Just don't.

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