Environmental Science Letter

A letter for APSI Environmental Science participants.

May 2019

Dear A.P. Environmental Science Teachers

Welcome to A.P.E.S. I am looking forward to working and teaching each of you my favorite subject. I have been teaching APES since the start of the course in 1998. It is a wonderful course to teach as it’s all about our ever-changing planet and how man is making an impact. There is something new to add every year to make it exciting. I will be reviewing all the areas you will need to know for the coming year such as population, soil, water, air, health, etc.  We will be doing activities and labs both inside and outside as well as covering how to write AP Environmental essays. I have had the experience as an AP Reader the past 14 years so I will share with you what I have learned.

You will be given a notebook of activities.  It might be helpful to bring notebook dividers so you can separate packet into topics. The material is presented by topic. We will go through each topic, I will cover the activities we do not do so you will be comfortable doing them when you return to your school. I would also like you to bring a favorite activity or lab to share with others.  Please bring about 30 copies, 3 hole-punched.  You will have an opportunity to tell the others how to do the activity on the last day. 

Make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes and clothes that are comfortable for indoors and outdoors, especially as it will probably be hot outside. Also, bug spray for the activities outside.  If possible we will be taking some field trips that you would be able to duplicate in your local area. Just to let you know closed-toed shoes are required at the Waste Water Treatment Plant and in the lab.

This year you will be given a new course description from College Board.  We will take class time to learn how to use it. This will take priority over some of our other activities as you will begin using this new program in the fall of this year. Please bring your textbook with you as you will be given time to set up your class according to the new course description. A laptop computer will be needed during the workshop to be able to access the new Course Exam Description (CED) and the AP Community. If possible also bring your school calendar as we will be setting up your course

I look forward to working with you.  If you have any questions before the workshop, please feel free to email me at or 1-336-707-2585.

 

Respectfully,

Flo Gullickson

AP Environmental Science Consultant