AP Environmental Science SDUSD Class Highlights

AP Environmental Science educates students to become aware of what occurs in our environment and what it has to offer It reveals the bottom line of how the environment affects life on Earth. The course discusses important confounding variables that make up our current world. From subjects like types of ecosystems, biodiversity, ecology, the atmosphere, agriculture, population, conservation, resource consumption, land use, and pollution, AP Environmental Science covers it all. Hands-on labs and fieldwork as part of the curriculum give students a deeper understanding of environmental concepts and systems, and leverage creative thinking skills that help students analyze environmental issues.

The lab work closely imitates real-life scenarios that demonstrate and teach the learning idea. One of them was the cookie mining simulation to briefly examine the economics of mining and its effect on the environment. Another was working with different types of soils and learning about their characteristics as to how they fit in the environment. Outdoor activities were also part of the experience such as going to fields to sample grass populations and going to the quad to measure trees. The class offered opportunities for students to interact with the environment and students as well, through shared presentations and projects for students to learn from. Additionally, lab work was done with a partner or in groups.