Welcome Mr Walls Room 408 AP Environmental Science

Welcome Mr. Walls Room 408 AP Environmental Science APES

Email address: gwalls@pylusd. org Phone (714) 986 -7500 xt 14408 My dog Skipper

This is my fifth year at Yorba Linda High School My son graduated from YLHS My daughter is a Junior at YLHS My wife is a counselor at YLHS My dog Skipper wishes he could come to YLHS

Previously I worked 8 years at Valencia High School teaching Earth Science, Biology & Robotics

Prior to that I was a Biologist with the California Department of Fish & Game

I graduated from the University of California at Irvine with a degree in Environmental Biology, Political Science and Modern European History

I was also in the United States Marine Corps. I called in airstrikes and jumped out of airplanes. Semper Fidelis Nobody gets left behind.

Pros & Cons of AP Courses Pros 1. Higher Grade point avg. 2. Might make you desirable to colleges 3. Worth about $1, 000 4. If you like the subject matter is should be interesting. 1. 2. 3. 4. Cons More work College classes are more fun than high school classes. You need sleep/you have a life If you do not like biology & earth science APES will be boring!

The biggest problem students face in APES is managing their time. of my students took 4 or more AP classes in 2014 -2015 44% of my students took 4 or more AP classes in 2013 -2014 Students with 3 or more AP classes and sports and family commitments have many conflicting responsibilities.

AP Environmental Science Potential based on PSAT Critical Reading and Math Score PSAT Critical Reading + Math Score Probability of Scoring a 3 or better on APES exam 128 90% 120 80% 114 70% 110 60% 106 50% 102 40% 98 30% 92 20% 84 10%

2015 YLHS AP Survey Data 48% of my students took 4 or more AP courses this year. 6% took 1 AP class. 58% spent 1 hour a week studying, 25% spent 2 hours a week studying and 17% spend more than 3 hours a week studying. 41% thought class was somewhat easy, 59% thought the class was medium to somewhat difficult. 81% of the students thought that class helped them be a better student. 96% of the students would recommend the class

2015 Data on Stress 17% of the students found the class caused them no stress. 50% of the students found the class caused them some stress. 33% of the students found the class caused them moderate amounts of stress. No students found the class to cause high or extreme amounts of stress.

2014 YLHS AP Survey Data 44% of my students took 4 or more AP courses this year. 24% took 1 AP class. 49% spent 1 hour a week studying, 36% spent 2 hours a week studying. 40% thought class was somewhat easy, 34% medium 76% of the students thought that class helped them be a better student. 95% of the students would recommend the class

AP stands for Advanced Placement Many students think AP stands for Always Procrastinate.

APES 2014 Current Grade Distribution 36% A, 47% B, 14% C, 3% D, and 0% F 73% of my students passed the 2014 AP exam. 60% of my students got a 4 or better on the exam. The national pass rate was 48%

College Board AP Topic Outline 1. Earth Systems and Resources (science concepts, atmosphere, water, soil) Chapters 1 -4 and 8 and 9. Represent 10 -15% of the AP test. 2. The Living World (ecosystems, energy flow, diversity, biogeochemical cycles) Chapters 3 -6. Represent 10 -15% of the AP test. 3. Population (population biology concepts and human populations) Chapters 6 & 7. Represent 10 -15% of the AP test. 4. Land Water Use (agriculture, forestry, rangelands, mining, fishing, economics) Chapters 8, 10, 11 and 20. Represent 1015% of the AP test. 5. Energy Resource and Consumption (energy concepts, consumption, fossil fuels, nuclear energy, hydroelectric power, conservation and renewable energy) Chapters 12 & 13. Represent 10 -15% of the AP test. 6. Pollution (water pollution, air pollution, ozone depletion, waste disposal and generation, human health and environmental risks) Chapters 14 -17. Represent 25 -30% of the AP test. 7. Global Change (ozone, global warming and loss of biodiversity) Chapters 15, 18 and 19. Represent 10 -15% of the AP test.

Textbook by Friedland & Relyea

Grading Policy Labs every ten days. (20%) Class work every two days. (10%) Tests every two weeks. (60%) Homework read 2 pages per night/vocabulary. (5%) Surprise quiz once a week to ensure that you are reading. (5%) Quarter finals at the end of each quarter and Semester finals at the end of each semester.

I accept late work – 10% penalty for work 1 -3 days late. I usually post the grades to AERIES within 3 days of assignment completion

APES exam on May 2, 2016 For Juniors, I will raise your 1 st and 2 nd semester grades to an A if you score a 5 one) t s in on the APES exam. n tte rt o (S ri w of I will raise your semester 1 or semester 2 to a B or give you a 5% boost (whichever is better) if you score a 4 on the APES exam. I will raise 1 semester grade by 3% if you score a 3 on the exam.

Summer Work 1. Read Pages 1 - 22 of your text, Environmental Science for AP. Quiz on chapter 1 on day 1. 2. Watch the 4 tutorials on dimensional analysis and metric conversions. 3. Answer the 22 Summer Math Questions on the syllabus. 4. Vocabulary (define and draw a picture for the 5 words on syllabus)

You make the difference.