AP Environmental Science

2017-2018
Summer Assignments

First, thank you for choosing to do the AP Environmental Science course with me. I am looking
forward to working with a motivated and successful group, all of whom should be well able to
take the AP exam in May next year.

If you are interested in environmental activities and in Environmental Science as a study, and if
you are willing to devote energy and time to the course, you will be very successful. Interest and
a desire to better understand the environment and our connections/relationship to it are clearly
the two most important prerequisites for this course.

Although your primary summer assignments must be to relax and enjoy the summer, I am
asking you to complete what should be a very manageable, three assignment for this course that
are intended to get you thinking about some of the issues we will cover during the next school
year.

Feel free to email me if you have questions: josborne@liceocampoverde.edu.ec. All of these

assignments, as well as your textbook link and other course information are posted on your
Blog: https://2bguapeslcv.wordpress.com/. You MUST register and sign up to the Blog,
becoming a follower. I will know when you do that, that you have received these Summer
assignments.

1. Letter of introduction: Please write and email a short letter of introduction to me.
Address your letter to John Osborne
The Subject title should be: APES: Introduction to [Insert your name]
Due date: By Friday August 18th

In your introduction, please share information regarding the following:

1. Please offer a brief description of who you are and how you are identified by your
friends
2. Your interests out of school
3. Anything you wish to share regarding family-siblings-guardian(s) and their careers or
interests
4. Please briefly state what you might be looking forward to the most in AP Environmental
Science
5. Write about anything that you might be excited/anxious about regarding AP
Environmental Science.

Your letter should be relatively formal because its not a text message and I am your teacher!

2. A poster concept map which links the 7 concepts we will study in Environmental Science.
These topics, themes or concepts are:
1. Earth's Systems and Resources
2. The Living World
3. Population
4. Land and Water Use
5. Energy Resources and Consumption
6. Pollution
7. Global change
You already know what is meant by a concept map. Don't forget that you can use CMap Tools.
You will need to consult the textbook, which is linked on the Blog. This exercise will thus force
you to look very briefly through the textbook, to find out what the book and the course are all
about, as well as to specifically find the information you need.

The concept map will have a central concept - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. Around this will
be located the 7 sub-concepts, each with a 4 or 5 line summary about what is its content and
focus.

To be delivered first day back in school. For grading!

3. Find time to watch these 4 video films and review two of them. They are all available on
YouTube:
I. The Greening of Eritrea (17 mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=2CvRy97TJVE&list=PLCru93WgymzWkBAbD1M36XbokuD8Ep5CG
II. Baraka. Stunning. With music (1hr 37mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Btds6k0XlEQ
III. Affluenza / Escape from Affluenza (1hr 48mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=QtveS1kZqYA
IV. Empty oceans, empty nets (56 mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=0VbcfQfmwPw

'The Greening of Eritrea' is obligatory; you must watch and review the film.
'Baraka' is just a stunning film. If you enjoy it, then you are ready for the APES course!
'Affluenza / Escape from Affluenza' is long byt carries a strong message for us all.
'Empty oceans, empty nets' discusses one of the most serious environmental issues
facing us today. You must watch and review the film.

How to make the reviews

Your film review should contain the following:
1. Brief reference to the directors, sponsors, protagonists, writers, etc. of the film. Who
made the film possible? Also the date of the film.
2. What is the 'message' the film is carrying?
3. What is the significance of the message for all of us and for the planet Earth?
4. What is your opinion about the film? (Make sure you justify all that you write here.)
a. What impresses you?
b. What distresses or disturbs you?
c. Is there anything which makes you critical or want to know more?
5. What will you remember about the film?

Each of these reviews should be completed as a visual presentation - a poster - in front of

which you will be able to discuss and support what you have written.

To be delivered at the end of Week 1 back at school. The last APES class of Week 1.

John Osborne
July 2017