Course Syllabus

Wellesley High School Course Overview and Expectations

AP Environmental Science, Mr. Bateman

Office Hours - Wednesday 6:55-7:30AM or by appointment. 

Welcome to AP Environmental Science!  I hope this year will be exciting, fun, and challenging.  In this course, we will explore the major concepts in environmental science, emphasizing problem solving, laboratory exercises, and application of environmental science to everyday life. This is a college level course and you are expected to sit for the AP exam on May 9, 2024 at 8:00am. The cost for the exam is $98. If you do not sit for the exam, you are required to take an exam or do a project that is equivalent to the exam.

The APES curriculum covers 9 units: Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Populations, Earth Systems and Resources, Land and Water Use, Energy Resources and Consumption, Atmospheric Pollution, Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution, and Global Change. For each unit, you will need to read modules in our textbook and watch videos to prepare for each class.  Being prepared for each class will help you achieve success in the class. 

Science is loaded with many facts.  Knowing and understanding these facts is a key to being successful in any science course, including Environmental Science.  Being a GOOD, active listener AND being able to take notes in class are critical skills that MUST be developed; these skills will serve you well in college.

It is important that you ask questions about material that you don’t understand at the time the material is being discussed or well before an exam or quiz.  Periodically reviewing your notes will enable you to identify questions you have as well as learn the material as it is being covered.  I am generally here before school in my office, Room 358 or in rooms 341 or 339.  I usually get to school around 7:15,  and I will hold office hours once a week after school, usually on Wednesdays. If you would like to meet with me on a specific day, please ask me during class or send me an email. In fact, in this day and age, you should definitely send me an email first! My free blocks, when I can easily meet, are yellow, green, and blue. 

Policies and Procedures:
(Remember that at all times the policies and rules outlined in the WHS Student Handbook apply to you in this class)

Materials you will need or want:
1.Your laptop 2.Headphones 3.Three Ring Binder 4.Loose Leaf Paper 5 Pens/Pencils (often many colors are useful) 6.Calculator 7.AP Environmental Science Review Book (many students find this to be a helpful review tool) 

How you will be graded:
Grades are determined by averaging all work assigned during the school year.  The categories, and the approximate weights, are:

• Tests and Quizzes: 70% 
• Labs/Homework/Class work/Preparation: 30%. Labs are generally completed in pairs or in groups. When you submit your labs on Canvas, you need to make sure EVERYONE’S name is on the lab that you submit. Additionally, EVERYONE needs to submit the lab on Canvas, even if you completed it in a group. The labs are due on the date designated. If you hand in your lab late, your grade will be reduced by 10% each day that it is late. Homework is due on the assigned date.  If you hand in your homework late, your grade will be reduced by 10% each day that it is late. Basically, I am asking you to get your work done in a timely fashion. Getting work in on time will allow you to stay current with the class discussion and will prevent you from falling behind. You will need to work diligently, if we expect to finish the curriculum by May. 

Attendance
Students are responsible for any material or assignments missed during an excused absence from school.  If it is known ahead of time that you will be absent, please inform me so that we can make arrangements.  An unexcused absence will result in a 0 for any quizzes, tests, or labs.   

Unexcused tardies will result in a lower class preparation  grade at the end of each term.  Class participation will be calculated with respect to how well you participate in class discussions, lab activities and general appropriate behavior while in class.  For each three unexcused tardies to class, instead of submitting them to the main office for detentions, it will be noted in your grades. Please be on time, especially for labs, which start at 7:30AM!

Academic Honesty/Integrity

Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.  This includes the sharing of HW and most documents and copying internet sources. If they should occur, a failing grade for that particular activity will be assessed for both parties involved. The appropriate house master will be contacted as well as parents/guardians.  REMEMBER: Your score on the AP test will be a direct reflection of your honest input. 

Canvas & AP Classroom 

All course materials will be on Canvas. Units will be outlined in module format and links to all documents, assignments, powerpoints, labs, etc. will be found within these modules. The Canvas Calendar will be updated regularly with due dates, assessment dates, etc. The announcement feature will be regularly used for any and all updates, especially if there is a last minute change (like a canceled class- this is rare, but it happens occasionally).  Please check Canvas regularly for course information and updates.  If you are absent, this is a good place to check. I strongly encourage you to download the canvas app to your cell phones and  allow push notifications so you have the most up to date information possible.

We will also be using AP Classroom this year. This is a resource being provided by the College Board to allow you to practice with AP style questions. The assignments are required, will count toward a completion grade, and will help to ensure proper preparation and success. Assignments will include watching videos and taking personal progress checks for each Unit of the curriculum. 

Textbook

The textbook used for this class is Environmental Science: AP Edition, 2nd edition.  This book has a cost of $150 and the expectation is that you will use this book throughout the year, keep it in very good shape and return it at the end of the year. There is no need to bring the book to school each day, as we have extra copies in the classroom and you will have an electronic copy available to you on Canvas. If you do not return the textbook, or pay for the missing text, you will receive an incomplete for the year until a check or the book is received. 

Make-ups and Extra time

Please do not procrastinate on work you have missed.  I expect you to follow along in Canvas and see what you have missed online, but I also want you to see me about make-up work the day you return to school, even if we don’t meet the day you return.  Students who come into school tardy after environmental science class are expected to take the quiz/test that day.  More importantly, it is expected that you take your unit tests on the day they are scheduled. 

If you are allotted extra time on a test, you must make arrangements with Mr. Bateman before the day of the test. This includes anyone on a 504 and IEP. For those of you who have a DCAP, you must discuss this with me in person.

SNOW DAYS: If a snow day is called the day of a quiz or test, the quiz or test will be given the next school day.  If a snow day is called the day before a quiz or a test, the quiz or test will be given on the assigned day, as students are expected to have their notes at home to review nightly. If there are extenuating circumstances, I will send an announcement on Canvas during the snow day, so make sure you check your email and Canvas on a snow day. 

Food and Cleanliness

No science teacher at the high school has their own classroom. We share the classrooms with 2 or 3 other teachers. As a result, we must be conscious of the space around us inducing its cleanliness and functionality. We must make sure that we pick up after ourselves after every lab or classroom activity. Failure to do so will result in a lower preparation grade for the course. Along those lines, it is unbelievably disheartening to see APES students coming into class with cups from Starbucks and Dunkin. As a result I am asking you to refrain from doing so. It is not necessary. Lastly, because I detest  picking up food scraps, I am implementing a no food policy in the classroom. If you want to eat something, it will have to be before you get to class or after you leave. 

Classroom Safety

Please read the safety contract before you attest below. 

I look forward to working with you this year.  Don’t forget that I am here to help you succeed in environmental science.  I hope this will be a rewarding year for all of us.  

Parents/Guardians: please feel free to contact me via email (batemank@wellesleyps.org ).  Email is the best way to get in touch with me.  I will reply to your email as soon as possible.  I look forward to meeting you during the year.

APES Parent Night Video

Sincerely,

Ken Bateman