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High School AP Environmental Science

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Suggested Prerequisites

Algebra 1 and two years of high school science, with labs

Description

With the current changes in global climate, rising sea levels, and warming oceans, it's crucial for you to understand the state of Earth's systems and the consequences of human activities. This course offers you a global perspective on your world and your role in it. You will explore the scientific principles and concepts needed to understand the connections between the ocean, land, and atmosphere that shape the natural world and make Earth a planet capable of sustaining life. Through laboratory activities, whether hands-on or virtual, you'll delve deeper into these relationships and reflect on your learning. Additionally, you will identify and analyze both natural and human-made environmental problems, exploring your own ecological footprint to see how your actions impact the world around you. By evaluating the risks associated with these problems and investigating alternative solutions like clean energy, sustainable practices, and conservation, you can contribute to resolving or preventing future environmental issues.

Module One: Ecosystems

-Availability of resources and species interactions

-Characteristics of aquatic and terrestrial biomes

-Biotic and abiotic interactions in biogeochemical cycles

-Cycling of energy and matter through trophic levels

-Food chains and food webs


Module Two: Biodiversity and Populations

-Categories of ecosystem services

-Ecological tolerance

-Island biogeography and evolution

-Impact of natural disruptions on ecosystems

-Types of ecological succession

-Survivorship curves

-Resource availability and population growth

-Age-structure diagrams


Module Three: Earth’s Systems

-Geological changes and plate boundaries

-Characteristics and formation of soil

-Environmental factors and the atmosphere

-Solar radiation and atmospheric process

-Earth’s geography and weather/climate


Module Four: Natural Resources 

-Concept of the tragedy of the commons

-Agricultural practices and the environment

-The impact of using natural resources on natural systems

-The effects of mining and urbanization

-Components of sustainability

-Solutions for reducing ecological footprints

-Advantages and disadvantages of pest control and management

Module Five: Energy Resources

-Differences between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources

-Trends in energy consumption

-The use of fossil fuels and environmental impacts

-The effects of nuclear energy use on the environment

-Types and uses of renewable energy

-Methods for energy conservation

 

Module Six: Air Pollution

-Sources and effects of air pollutants

-Causes, effects, and methods to reduce photochemical smog

-Thermal inversion related to pollution

-The effects of acid deposition on the environment

-Human activities resulting in noise pollution

 

Module Seven: Water and Land Pollution

-Point and nonpoint sources of pollution

-The effect of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on ecosystems

-Bioaccumulation and biomagnification

-Human impacts on aquatic ecosystems

-Methods and effects of solid waste disposal

-Sources of human health issues related to pollution

 

Module Eight: Global Change

-The importance of stratospheric ozone to life on Earth

-Sources and potency of greenhouse gases

-The impact of climate change on ecosystems

-The causes and effects of ocean warming

-The causes and effects of ocean acidification

-Human activities and threats to biodiversity

-Environmental problems related to invasive species

NCAA-Approved Courses

Our NCAA approved courses are updated often. Please visit the NCAA Eligibility Center and use our school code to see all current eligible courses. The FlexPoint Virtual School NCAA High School code is: 850171