AP Environmental Science Alignment Guide

AP Environmental Science Alignment Guide (CED-Aligned, Unit 6 Focus)

This AP Environmental Science Alignment Guide is designed to help teachers use Switch Classroom lessons intentionally and efficiently in alignment with the AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description (CED). The guide maps classroom-ready lessons and activities to APES units, topics, and science practices so teachers can plan instruction that supports both conceptual understanding and exam preparedness.

Rather than serving as a curriculum replacement, this guide helps teachers identify where Switch Classroom resources reinforce key AP Environmental Science concepts, provide applied practice, and support students as they prepare for the AP Exam. Lessons are structured to align with CED expectations and emphasize systems thinking, data analysis, and evidence-based reasoning skills that students are expected to demonstrate on the exam.

The guide places particular emphasis on Unit 6, Energy Resources and Consumption. This is an area where students often struggle to connect real-world energy systems with environmental impacts and policy trade-offs. Unit 6 aligned lessons support students in analyzing energy sources, comparing environmental costs and benefits, and practicing reasoning skills that mirror exam style questions. Many lessons include opportunities for quantitative reasoning, CER-style argumentation, and interpretation of data representations commonly found on the AP Exam.

This alignment guide supports teachers at multiple points in the instructional cycle including lesson planning, unit sequencing, review, and exam preparation. It helps clarify how each resource connects to AP Environmental Science learning objectives so teachers can strengthen instruction, reinforce challenging topics, and build student confidence applying environmental science concepts in an exam context.