A.P. Biology a brief introduction ~ Summer Assignments
A.P. Biology is an in depth inquiry-based study of four Big Ideas:
Big Idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life
Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis
Big idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes
Big Idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties
Our major goal of the class is to foster a love of learning and enjoy biology. Our secondary purpose is to prepare the students for the A.P. Biology Exam in May, and it is expected that students enrolled in A.P. Biology will take the exam (and get college credit!).
Chemistry note: To truly comprehend the biologic concepts presented in A.P. Biology, one needs a solid foundation in chemistry. Thus, the completion and understanding of high school chemistry is a recommendation/prerequisite for A.P. Biology. If you would like to review important chemistry content see the list on the other side of this document.
Scientific Inquiry: The class has changed from knowledge/memorization of scientific facts to application of concepts. This can be more difficult for students as it is a different way of being assessed. The labs have an inquiry component where it is left up to the students to design and implement experiments. If you do not feel comfortable writing a hypothesis or understand the difference between independent and dependent variable, control vs. constants, please check out the attachments.
Facts about the Class and the Exam
The A.P. Biology Exam is 50% multiple choice and 50% free response. It is inquiry-based, which means you will need to know a lot of biology, but also how to use your mind well and apply that knowledge to unknown situations. AP Exam: The Gold Star Standard!
The following link by Paul Andersen is helpful to understand the new format of the exam: The New AP Biology Exam: A user’s guide
AP BIOLOGY SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
Summer Assignment(s): We want you to enjoy your summer so please pick and choose whatever you think will peak your interest in studying life science and have fun doing it. The following are options. Choose one or both depending on your time and interest.
Option 1: Science non-fiction
1. Pick either Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin, Survival of the Sickest by Dr. Sharon Moalem, or The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Sklootto read.We have some of these books in the library or in my room to check out or you can order your own copy to annotate.
2. Research current events that relate with the content in your book and make connections between the two.
3. Upon return to school you will participate in a book talkothers who also read the same book.
Option 2: Field Work
This option is designed to get you to go out and have fun in the natural world around you. It is specific to San Diego but if you spend your summer somewhere else you can modify to that area. Complete the task listed, and provide the appropriate documentation (indicated in parentheses). You must complete 5 of the following options, documented as listed.
- Get current news; try to get some biology related, at least once per week. (copy of article, URL and one-sentence summary of each item)
- Grow a plant from seed. (take pictures of different stages of the development, bring plant to class on the first day of school)
- Go to at least on state park and take a walk. (photos and map)
- Hike one of the popular hikes in San Diego, i.e. potato chip rock, Torrey Pines, Iron Mountain, etc. (Take a picture at the top)
- Go to a museum in Balboa Park, they are free on Tuesdays. (photo at your favorite exhibit and stub or brochure)
- Go to tide pools along our coast. (identify 3 sea creatures, photos)
- Play a board game with your family. (picture of family playing and photo of winner)
- Sleep outside, either in your backyard or go camping. (photo and 8 sentence summary of your experience)
- Try a geocaching experience in San Diego. (photo and brief description of a successful trip)
- Set up a beach clean up with friends. (photo)
- Go to Sea World, SD Zoo, or Safari Park. (photo of favorite animal and brief description of why and map of the park)
- Take your family on a picnic to Julian, Laguna, or Cuyamaca. (photo at a landmark in the area and of the picnic)
- Go bird watching at the beach, lagoon or mountains. (identify 3 different species and take photos of them)
- Go kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, or some other fun water sport. (photo of you in action)
- Feed a garden snail lettuce and observe its radula. (video of snail eating)
- Visit one of the piers in San Diego at sunset. Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Crystal Pier in PB to name a few. Watch the people catch fish. (Photo of you with the sunset backdrop)
- Go to the botanical gardens in Balboa Park. Please appreciate the diverse plant life. (photo with your favorite species)
- Read a National Geographic magazine of your choice from beginning to end. I have some in my classroom you can take home for the summer. (photo of your favorite story and the cover)
- Google “biological coloring worksheets.” Choose three different concepts to print out and color. (bring to class the first day of school)
- Read the book “Make it Stick: The science of Successful Learning” by Peter C Brown et.al. (list 3 new strategies you will incorporate into your learning this year)
Have any questions? Contact us at:
Email: or twitter feed: @JCheskaty
Email: or twitter feed: @theNotoriousPYT
Pre-requisite knowledge: Please understand that this part is completely optional and is only here if you need some review.
Chemistry “Stuff to Know” for AP Biology
1.You may use any resource you want to review these concepts. Chemistry text, AP Biology text, or the Internet.
Law of Conservation of Mass
Polar and Non-polar*
Isotopes*
Molecular and Ionic Substances
Organic Compounds (carbs, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids)
Acid-Base Reactions
Oxidation-Reduction*
Molar Concentrations
Ionic Bonds, Covalent Bonds, Electronegativity *
Laws of Thermodynamics and Equilibrium (ΔG especially) *
Properties of Water
Science as a Process:Experimental Design
In any experiment there are two types of variables that havea cause-and-effect relationship: the independent variable andthe dependent variable. The independent variable(IV)is changed or manipulated, and can be thought of as the cause. It followsthe If in a hypothesis. The dependent variable (DV) is what youmeasure, and can be thought of as the effect. It follows thethen in a hypothesis. Constants are all of the other factors thatmust remain the same so that the only systematic difference isthe independent variable.
Read the following hypothesis and identify the IV and DV. List conditions that you would set up as constants and predict the control set-up vs. experimental set-up.
Hypothesis - If a hamster is given a choice of food items to eat, then it willchoose the item with the highest protein content, because proteinis an important component of a hamster’s diet.Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Constants
Experimental Conditions or Groups
Control Condition or Group
Inquiry: Experimental Design
The direction in which plants grow is affected by conditions such as light, gravity, and contact with an object. In this part of the experimental design section, you will be required to design an experiment as this is frequently tested on the AP exam.For the following problem, choose an external condition to test to see its effect on plant growth. Write out a detailed step-by-step procedure required to conduct your experiment. Please include a materials list.
Problem:
How does changing an external condition affect plant growth?
Please identify the following in your personally designed experiment:
Hypothesis –Independent Variable
Dependent Variable (include a data table)
Constants
Experimental Conditions or Groups
Control Condition or Group