Advanced Environmental Science homeschool curriculum.
Field or lab work and data give students a way into ecosystems, land, water, energy, and environmental policy.
A personalized lesson from the course
Water, energy, soil, waste, and habitat are connected through flows and limits; an intervention works only if it fits the system's budget and people.
- Lesson
- A Local System Has a Budget
- Goal
- Audit a local environmental system, identify one measurable pressure, and propose an intervention with tradeoffs explicit.
How a lesson works
A 10-minute reading
This example lesson comes from the unit on resources, risk, sustainability, and intervention. It moves from “Follow the flow” to “Every solution has a tradeoff” and builds to one idea: sustainability is a systems claim: the solution must fit the resource, timescale, and community that will carry it.
Help inside the reading
Our Always-On Mentor stays beside “A Local System Has a Budget” the whole way through, answering questions about any highlighted line and, during the Reading Check, clarifying a question without giving the answer away.
A check halfway through
Your child answers “Why should an environmental plan name who carries its costs?” before reading on, and the Reading Check at the end asks new questions.
A project your child hands in
Audit water, waste, soil, habitat, or energy in a local setting and propose one measurable intervention.
- Task
- Make the system boundary, baseline, constraint, and distributional tradeoff visible
- Hand in
- Environmental audit with flow map, baseline, intervention proposal, and monitoring plan
From investigation to evidence
Students study environmental systems through data, calculations, and field or lab work, then evaluate proposed responses to environmental problems. Advanced Environmental Science runs through 26 units and 182 skills, starting with the living world: ecosystems, the living world: biodiversity, and populations.
- Supervised field or laboratory investigations
- Environmental data and calculation sets
- Solution analyses that name costs and trade-offs
Units and skills
Advanced Environmental Science26 units · 182 skills
The living world: ecosystems7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to The living world: ecosystems
- Analyze visual representations connected to The living world: ecosystems
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about The living world: ecosystems
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving The living world: ecosystems
- Analyze environmental data connected to The living world: ecosystems
- Apply mathematical routines to The living world: ecosystems
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving The living world: ecosystems
The living world: biodiversity7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to The living world: biodiversity
- Analyze visual representations connected to The living world: biodiversity
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about The living world: biodiversity
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving The living world: biodiversity
- Analyze environmental data connected to The living world: biodiversity
- Apply mathematical routines to The living world: biodiversity
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving The living world: biodiversity
Populations7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Populations
- Analyze visual representations connected to Populations
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Populations
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Populations
- Analyze environmental data connected to Populations
- Apply mathematical routines to Populations
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Populations
Earth systems and resources7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Earth systems and resources
- Analyze visual representations connected to Earth systems and resources
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Earth systems and resources
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Earth systems and resources
- Analyze environmental data connected to Earth systems and resources
- Apply mathematical routines to Earth systems and resources
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Earth systems and resources
Land and water use7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Land and water use
- Analyze visual representations connected to Land and water use
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Land and water use
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Land and water use
- Analyze environmental data connected to Land and water use
- Apply mathematical routines to Land and water use
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Land and water use
Energy resources and consumption7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Energy resources and consumption
- Analyze visual representations connected to Energy resources and consumption
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Energy resources and consumption
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Energy resources and consumption
- Analyze environmental data connected to Energy resources and consumption
- Apply mathematical routines to Energy resources and consumption
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Energy resources and consumption
Atmospheric pollution7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Atmospheric pollution
- Analyze visual representations connected to Atmospheric pollution
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Atmospheric pollution
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Atmospheric pollution
- Analyze environmental data connected to Atmospheric pollution
- Apply mathematical routines to Atmospheric pollution
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Atmospheric pollution
Aquatic and terrestrial pollution7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Aquatic and terrestrial pollution
- Analyze visual representations connected to Aquatic and terrestrial pollution
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Aquatic and terrestrial pollution
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Aquatic and terrestrial pollution
- Analyze environmental data connected to Aquatic and terrestrial pollution
- Apply mathematical routines to Aquatic and terrestrial pollution
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Aquatic and terrestrial pollution
Global change7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Global change
- Analyze visual representations connected to Global change
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Global change
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Global change
- Analyze environmental data connected to Global change
- Apply mathematical routines to Global change
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Global change
Environmental legislation7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Environmental legislation
- Analyze visual representations connected to Environmental legislation
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Environmental legislation
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Environmental legislation
- Analyze environmental data connected to Environmental legislation
- Apply mathematical routines to Environmental legislation
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Environmental legislation
Field and laboratory methods7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Field and laboratory methods
- Analyze visual representations connected to Field and laboratory methods
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Field and laboratory methods
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Field and laboratory methods
- Analyze environmental data connected to Field and laboratory methods
- Apply mathematical routines to Field and laboratory methods
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Field and laboratory methods
Cumulative environmental solution7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Cumulative environmental solution
- Analyze visual representations connected to Cumulative environmental solution
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Cumulative environmental solution
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Cumulative environmental solution
- Analyze environmental data connected to Cumulative environmental solution
- Apply mathematical routines to Cumulative environmental solution
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Cumulative environmental solution
Safe experimental practice7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Safe experimental practice
- Analyze visual representations connected to Safe experimental practice
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Safe experimental practice
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Safe experimental practice
- Analyze environmental data connected to Safe experimental practice
- Apply mathematical routines to Safe experimental practice
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Safe experimental practice
Inquiry design and variable control7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Inquiry design and variable control
- Analyze visual representations connected to Inquiry design and variable control
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Inquiry design and variable control
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Inquiry design and variable control
- Analyze environmental data connected to Inquiry design and variable control
- Apply mathematical routines to Inquiry design and variable control
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Inquiry design and variable control
Raw data, uncertainty, and error7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Raw data, uncertainty, and error
- Analyze visual representations connected to Raw data, uncertainty, and error
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Raw data, uncertainty, and error
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Raw data, uncertainty, and error
- Analyze environmental data connected to Raw data, uncertainty, and error
- Apply mathematical routines to Raw data, uncertainty, and error
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Raw data, uncertainty, and error
Laboratory notebook and scientific communication7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Laboratory notebook and scientific communication
- Analyze visual representations connected to Laboratory notebook and scientific communication
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Laboratory notebook and scientific communication
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Laboratory notebook and scientific communication
- Analyze environmental data connected to Laboratory notebook and scientific communication
- Apply mathematical routines to Laboratory notebook and scientific communication
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Laboratory notebook and scientific communication
Dated evidence and changing conditions7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Dated evidence and changing conditions
- Analyze visual representations connected to Dated evidence and changing conditions
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Dated evidence and changing conditions
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Dated evidence and changing conditions
- Analyze environmental data connected to Dated evidence and changing conditions
- Apply mathematical routines to Dated evidence and changing conditions
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Dated evidence and changing conditions
Competing contemporary perspectives7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Competing contemporary perspectives
- Analyze visual representations connected to Competing contemporary perspectives
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Competing contemporary perspectives
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Competing contemporary perspectives
- Analyze environmental data connected to Competing contemporary perspectives
- Apply mathematical routines to Competing contemporary perspectives
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Competing contemporary perspectives
Multiple quantitative representations7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Multiple quantitative representations
- Analyze visual representations connected to Multiple quantitative representations
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Multiple quantitative representations
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Multiple quantitative representations
- Analyze environmental data connected to Multiple quantitative representations
- Apply mathematical routines to Multiple quantitative representations
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Multiple quantitative representations
Graph construction and interpretation7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Graph construction and interpretation
- Analyze visual representations connected to Graph construction and interpretation
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Graph construction and interpretation
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Graph construction and interpretation
- Analyze environmental data connected to Graph construction and interpretation
- Apply mathematical routines to Graph construction and interpretation
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Graph construction and interpretation
Written mathematical justification7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Written mathematical justification
- Analyze visual representations connected to Written mathematical justification
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Written mathematical justification
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Written mathematical justification
- Analyze environmental data connected to Written mathematical justification
- Apply mathematical routines to Written mathematical justification
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Written mathematical justification
Research ethics and design7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Research ethics and design
- Analyze visual representations connected to Research ethics and design
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Research ethics and design
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Research ethics and design
- Analyze environmental data connected to Research ethics and design
- Apply mathematical routines to Research ethics and design
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Research ethics and design
Evidence quality and limitations7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Evidence quality and limitations
- Analyze visual representations connected to Evidence quality and limitations
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Evidence quality and limitations
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Evidence quality and limitations
- Analyze environmental data connected to Evidence quality and limitations
- Apply mathematical routines to Evidence quality and limitations
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Evidence quality and limitations
Advanced Environmental Science cumulative assessment7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Advanced Environmental Science cumulative assessment
- Analyze visual representations connected to Advanced Environmental Science cumulative assessment
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Advanced Environmental Science cumulative assessment
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Advanced Environmental Science cumulative assessment
- Analyze environmental data connected to Advanced Environmental Science cumulative assessment
- Apply mathematical routines to Advanced Environmental Science cumulative assessment
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Advanced Environmental Science cumulative assessment
Advanced Environmental Science exam-mode practice7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Advanced Environmental Science exam-mode practice
- Analyze visual representations connected to Advanced Environmental Science exam-mode practice
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Advanced Environmental Science exam-mode practice
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Advanced Environmental Science exam-mode practice
- Analyze environmental data connected to Advanced Environmental Science exam-mode practice
- Apply mathematical routines to Advanced Environmental Science exam-mode practice
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Advanced Environmental Science exam-mode practice
Advanced Environmental Science reflection and transfer7 skills
- Apply environmental concepts to Advanced Environmental Science reflection and transfer
- Analyze visual representations connected to Advanced Environmental Science reflection and transfer
- Analyze an environmental text or claim about Advanced Environmental Science reflection and transfer
- Design or evaluate an investigation involving Advanced Environmental Science reflection and transfer
- Analyze environmental data connected to Advanced Environmental Science reflection and transfer
- Apply mathematical routines to Advanced Environmental Science reflection and transfer
- Propose and evaluate an environmental solution involving Advanced Environmental Science reflection and transfer
Questions parents ask
How does Advanced Environmental Science prepare my student for AP Environmental Science?
- Advanced Environmental Science follows the AP Environmental Science framework unit by unit, as its skill tree shows. Your teen explains and applies the ideas in written responses and projects, so the work shows which skills are secure and which need more practice.
How does a homeschooler register for an AP exam?
- An AP coordinator at an AP-authorized local school arranges registration. Use College Board’s homeschool exam guidance to find a host school. That school sets its deadlines and outside-student policies; its coordinator orders the exam, collects fees, and tells your child where and when to test.
Which course title goes on a homeschool transcript?
- Advanced Environmental Science, not AP Environmental Science. The AP designation requires College Board Course Audit authorization of the course, which framework alignment does not give. We generate the transcript with that title, ready for you to sign as homeschool administrator.
How can AP scores earn college credit?
- Colleges award credit under their own AP score policies. College Board reports scores on a 1–5 scale, separately from our coursework grades; check the college’s required score and whether it grants credit, placement, or both.
Who arranges the labs and equipment?
- We provide the lab sequence, instructions, and analysis questions, grade each investigation report as soon as it is submitted, and keep it with the course record. Your family supplies the equipment, a safe workspace, and an adult present for hands-on work.
Advanced Environmental Science, with the teaching and records handled
Start your 14-day free trial
$49/month after the trial.