I use Withgott and LaPosada’s Environment, the Science Behind the Stories, 5th edition for AP® Environmental Science. I’ve used Withgott for 15 years and love it. My students find it accessible and readable.
The following is my Withgott pacing plan based on the new Course and Exam Description.
Pacing Plan
This is my Withgott pacing plan for the amount of time I spend on each chapter. Until this year, I taught on a traditional calendar from the middle of August through the first week of June–every day for 55 min. Now I teach on the Block with 240 min per week with students. Both have the same pacing plan.
The alignment with the new CED units, topics, and science practices can be found on this PDF.
This is my alignment and pacing for going in the order of the CED with withgott.
It is important to backwards plan. Mark every special day, holiday on your school calendar, then the date of the AP Exam and work backwards.
Stick to it! This is item #1 on the 15 most important things a new AP teacher should know.
| Chapter in Environment: The Science Behind the Stories by Withgott and Laposata | Time | Labs | |
| 1. Science and Sustainability: An Introduction to Environmental Science | |||
| 2. Earth’s Physical Systems: Matter, Energy and Geology | 2 weeks for Chapters 1 and 2 including math diagnositic | Chapters 1 and 2 Exam | |
| 3. Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology | EcoColumns (lasts 3 months) | ||
| 4. Species Interactions and Community Ecology | 3 weeks for Chapters 3 and 4 | Chapters 3 and 4 Exam | |
| 5. Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology | 2 weeks for Chapter 5 | Productivity Lab | Chapter 5 Exam |
| Skip Chapter 6 | |||
| 7. Environmental Policy: Making Decisions and Solving Problems (only the case study and 7.1) | |||
| 8. Human Population | 2 weeks for Chapters 7.1 and 8 | Cemetery Lab | Chapters 7 and 8 Exam |
| 9. Soil and Agriculture | Chemistry of Soil with Ecocolumns | ||
| 10. Agriculture, Biotechnology, and the Future of Food | 3 to 3 1/2 weeks for Chapters 9 and 10 | Salinization Lab | Chapters 9 and 10 Exam |
| 11. Biodiversity and Conservation Biology | |||
| 12. Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas | 2 weeks for Chapters 11 and 12 | Chapters 11 and 12 Exam | |
| 13. The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities | Climate and Cities Experimental Design Lab | ||
| 14. Environmental Health and Toxicology | 2 Weeks for Chapters 13 and 14 |
Chapters 13 and 14 Exam Fall Semester Final Exam |
|
| 15. Freshwater Systems and Resources | |||
| 16. Marine and Coastal Systems and Resources | 3 weeks for Chapters 15 and 16 | Ocean Acidification Experimental Design Lab | Chapters 15 and 16 Exam |
| 17. Atmospheric Science, Air Quality and Pollution Control | 2 Weeks for Chapter 17 | Chapter 17 Exam (exam is only one chapter due to the quantity of difficult information) | |
| 18. Global Climate Change | 2 weeks for Chapter 18 | Tree Rings and Climate Lab | Chapter 18 Mini-Exam |
| Pass out 6 week study plan for AP Exam | |||
| 19. Fossil Fuels, Their Impacts, and energy Conservation | |||
| 20. Conventional Energy Alternatives | |||
| 21. New Renewable Energy Alternatives | 3 Weeks for Chapters 19, 20, 21 | Chapters 19, 20, 21 Energy Exam | |
| 22. Managing our Waste | |||
| 23. Minerals and Mining | 1 1/2 weeks for Chapters 22, 23, 24.1 | Cookie Mining Lab | Chapters 22 and 23 Mini-Exam |
| Review for AP Exam | 3 weeks including the final exam before the AP exam | Final Exam | |
| After the AP Exam | Solar Cookers |
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