Courses

Environmental Science

This institute is designed both for new AP Environmental Science teachers and also for experienced AP Environmental Science teachers who have not recently participated in a summer APSI. This 4-day institute will provide an overview of the entire AP Environmental Science (APES) curriculum. Each day, important concepts will be discussed and related specifically to APES free-response questions, and laboratories associated with these concepts will be performed by participants. The major goal is to expose participants to both content and hands-on activities important to teaching a successful APES course. A “how to” session will be presented helping participants prepare a course syllabus or outline that correlates with the new APES course description. Experienced teachers may be asked to write and share possible FRQ’s or MC questions. Participants are urged to bring electronic materials/favorite web sites to share as some class time will be reserved for sharing and question/answer sessions. Participants should bring a copy of their school calendar for the coming year, items for doing water-testing (shoes that can get wet or a pair of boots), a scientific calculator of some type, a laptop computer or iPad with internet access and a spreadsheet program (Google sheets or excel), and pens or pencils. A significant amount of time will be spent discussing and analyzing the new Course and Exam Description. Time will be included in the Institute for participants to begin planning or to revise syllabi for the following year. Participants will be expected to have read and answered the 2020 Free Response Questions before the Institute begins.

AGENDA

Tuesday – Morning Session

  1. Introductions & “I’ve Got Mine” Activity
  2. The AP Course
    1. Acorn Book
    2. Examples of syllabi
  3. Importance of Field Work & Labs
    1. Integrating concepts into labs & inquiry-based learning
  4. The Exam
    1. Multiple choice (60%) – no “guessing penalty”
    2. Free response (40%)
      1. Types of questions
      2. Discussion on interpreting questions and writing good responses (handout)

Lunch: “FLOW”

Tuesday – Afternoon Session

  1. Biodiversity Measurements
    1. Shannon Biodiversity Index Simulation (Parking Lot Lab)
    2. Benthic Bugs and Bioassessment (PPT & Project WET Activity)
  2. Protocols Activity – “Hottest and Coldest” – GLOBE Project Resources
  3. Inquiry and Water Quality Measurements (PPT & Descriptive Learning Cycle Inquiry Activity)
  4. Introduction to Study of Pond Ecosystems
  5. Field Preparation for Tuesday
  6. Homework
    1. Read through Lab 6 – Determining the Health of a Pond Ecosystem
    2. FRQ #2 – 2001 (Food Web/Ecological Interactions)
    3. FRQ #4 – 2001 (Stream WQ)

Wednesday – Morning Session

  1. Gather Equipment for Field Activity
  2. Field Activity: Determining the Health of a Pond Ecosystem (Possible collection of organisms for BioBottle Project)
  3. BioBottle Project – Planning, Design & Construction

Lunch: The Lorax

Wednesday – Afternoon Session

  1. Review and Discuss Monday Homework
    1. Construction of Rubrics and Grading of FRQ’s
    2. FRQ #2 – Food Webs, Ecological Interactions & Experimental Design
    3. FRQ #4 – Stream Water Quality and Experimental Design
  2. Stream Quality Monitoring Handout & Discussion on Lab Design
  3. Depth Profile and Compensation Point Activity
  4. Introduction to Study of Pond Ecosystems
  5. Field Preparation for Waste Water Treatment Plant
  6. Homework
    1. Energy Calculations
    2. FRQ #4 – 2005 (ANWR)
    3. FRQ #1 – 2007 (Waste Water Treatment)

Thursday – Morning Session

  1. Field Trip to the Waste Water Treatment Plant)
    1. Preliminary Design of WWT Plant Lesson
  2. Debrief trip to WWT Plant & Discuss FRQ #1 – 2007
  3. Discuss Tuesday Homework Problems

Lunch: “Wonderful World of DUNG!” – video & question sheet (just seems kind of appropriate ;-)

Thursday – Afternoon Session

  1. Syllabi Review and Construction – Part 1
  2. Air Pollution Lab Review – Carolina Biological
  3. Explorations in Soil & Food Resources
    1. Earth Apple
    2. The Wealth Beneath Your Feet – Soil Lab (also discuss Lettuce Lab)
  4. Onondaga Lake Case Study
  5. Homework
    1. FRQ #1 – 2000 (Power Plant Calculation)
    2. Onondaga Lake Case Study & Calculation Problems

Friday – Morning Session

  1. Review Homework Activities
    1. Onondaga Lake Case Study and Problems
    2. FRQ #1 – 2000 (Power Plant Calculation)
    3. Wastewater Treatment Plan Lesson Design
  2. Human Population
    1. Bacteria Bottles
    2. Demographic Facts of Life
    3. Human Population Growth
    4. Power of the Pyramids
    5. Human Population Changes – Survivorship Curves (The Cemetery Lab)
  3. Discuss Tuesday Homework Problems

Lunch: “Cane Toads” – video and question sheet

Friday– Afternoon Session

  1. Syllabi Review and Construction – Part 2
  2. Participant Activity Exchange
  3. Review textbooks & lab resources
  4. Workshop Evaluation & Suggestions

Very engaging with suggestions and hands on materials were outstanding. Offsite visits were great to show how materails can be incorporated.

–Past Client

Instructor:
Anne soos

Anne Soos is past Head of the Upper School at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Princeton, NJ, and also served as Science Department Chair.  She retired from The Hun School of Princeton in June 2018, where she taught AP Environmental Science and AP Chemistry, among other science classes.  She has taught biology and chemistry at both the introductory and AP levels and has taught APES since the program was introduced in 1998.  She has been an AP reader for biology and was a reader for environmental science until she retired.  As an AP Consultant, Anne has presented a number of one-day AP workshops and has led AP summer institutes at Goucher College, Baltimore, MD; Rensselaerville, NY; Lewes, DE; La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA; Middlesex County College in Edison, NJ; and for the Everett School System in Everett WA.  Anne has edited and/or reviewed a number of APES texts and review books for various publishers.

Email Instructor >

 

Institute Faculty

The faculty have been selected for their teaching expertise, creativity, innovations in teaching and experience with the AP* Program curriculum. All faculty members are endorsed and certified by the Middle Atlantic Regional Office of The College Board and have demonstrated a commitment to excellence that is second to none.

Daily Schedule

Classes are scheduled from Tuesday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Class check-in begins at 7 a.m. with as brief orientation at 7:20 a.m.

Participants receive a catered lunch at a waterfront restaurant each day.

Morning and afternoon coffee/snack breaks are provided each day.

An Opportunity for Learning and Interacting

Instructors encourage sharing among participants that will enhance the knowledge and skills of all participants for effective teaching. The opportunity to exchange and communicate with instructors and colleagues within the Middle Atlantic Region and beyond is a valued support resource for the entire school year.

Course Questions?

Questions/concerns about your particular course can be addressed by going to course description and clicking on the instructor’s name. You will then be able to e-mail the instructor. Any problems call the Lewes Summer Institute office at 302-644-0277.