AP Biology

Course Overview

Advanced Placement Biology is a yearlong course that allows students to be exposed to

college level material within high school. Classes are held five day’s a week for 55
minutes. One day per week classes are 45 minutes long. Students are also required to
attend a Saturday session during fourth term to prepare for the exam. The overall topics
in this course include: Ecology, Atoms and Molecules, DNA, Cells, DNA, Cellular
Respiration and Photosynthesis, Cell Division, Genetics, Evolution, Diversity of Life,
Plants, and Animals. Students complete several labs during each unit. Many labs
require a formal lab write-up. Students are expected to complete summer work prior to
September, read the textbook, complete chapter study guides, complete all labs, and
exams.

Each student receives a calendar with daily lecture or lab and homework assignments.
Students are expected to complete vocabulary and answer study guide questions for each
chapter. Students are also expected to answer and discuss chapter objectives as provided
by Biology 5th Edition by Campbell. The study guide and objective questions provide
opportunity for students to think about the over lapping themes: energy transfer,
continuity and challenge, regulation, interdependence, and evolutionary significance of
form and function.

Course Textbook and other Resources

• Biology 5th Edition by Campbell, Reese and Mitchell. Publisher: Benjamin

Cummings.

• CD Rom with Fifth edition “Biology” by Campbell and Reese.

 • Biology: Concepts and Connections 5th Edition by Campbell. Reece, Taylor, and
Simon. Publisher: Benjamin Cummings.

• AP Biology Flash Cards by Barrons

• Five steps to a five on the Advanced Placement Examination: Biology by Anestis

and Freedson

• University of Minnesota Medical Lab Trip (heart/lungs, nervous system)

• Wards AP Biology Lab Sets (12) with CD-Rom

Course Grading

• Exams/Quizzes/Homework 60 %

o Multiple Choice
o Matching
o Short Answer
o Essay
o Lab Practical
o Vocabulary
o Chapter Questions
o Unit Objective Questions
o Projects

• Labs 40 %

o All Wards AP Biology Series Labs

o All extension labs as assigned by teacher
 o Hands-on with specific directions
o Hands-on Inquiry

Classroom Components
LECTURES (75 % of class time): During a typical week we spend several days in
lecture. Lectures are presented using an LCD projector. Lecture outlines are given to
each student to help them better organize classroom notes. Students are to complete 1-2
hours of homework each evening. They are to complete a study guide with multiple
questions for each chapter. The study guide highlights various vocabulary term students
should become familiar with. Students are encouraged to join study groups with class
members. Questions are discussed in the classroom the following day. Students are
expected to organize all work according to units of study. Students are to file all work in
their Biology binder at the end of each unit. The binder in kept in the classroom and is
used for review and is taken with them at the end of the year.

LABS (25 % of class time): When not in lecture students will complete hands on labs.
Students work individually or in small groups (2-4) to complete these labs. All formal
labs are to be typed with data sheets, tables and or graphs attached. All students in AP
science courses are to follow a district/school rubric adapted for individual content areas
(Biology, Chemistry and Physics). Some labs are informally assessed.

EXAMS: Students take final unit exams as well as short quizzes during longer units.
Exams consist of both multiple choice questions and essay question from previous AP
exams. When quizzes are given they consist of multiple choice, matching, and short
answer questions. Students take a full-length exam prior to the AP College Board Exam;
this is done on a weekend.

Course Outline
Length of UNIT TOPIC/S CHAPTER LAB/s and or
Unit ASSIGNMENT PROJECT/s
Summer 1 Ecology and Read and  Individual
and One Behavior complete study controlled plant lab
Week guides for: 50, 51, (Formal).
 Interactions 52, 53, 54, 55  AP Lab 12:
 Individual and Dissolved oxygen
Group Behaviors and temperature
(Formal).
 AP Lab 11A:
pill bug behavior
(Formal).
Two 2 Atoms and Read and  Buffer Lab
Weeks Molecules complete study (various
guides for: 2, 3, 4, homogenates)
 Bond types 5, 6, (Formal).
 Water  Molecular
 Carbohydrates Models.
 Lipids  Enzyme Lab
 Proteins with apple, potato,
 Nucleic Acids chicken, liver
 Enzymes (heat/pH changes)
(Formal).
 AP Lab 2:
Enzyme Catalysis
(Formal).
Two 3 Cells Read and  Prepared
Weeks complete study Prokaryotic vs.
 Cell types guides for: 7, 8, 11 Eukaryotic
  Cell parts and Microscope Lab.
function  Cell edible
 Membrane model (2-D).
 Transport  AP Lab 1:
 Communication Diffusion and
Osmosis (Formal).
 Cell size using
math cube as
model.
Three 4 DNA Read and  DNA
Week complete study extraction from
 Structure and guides for: 17, 18, cheek cell Lab.
function 19, 20  DNA Model.
 Transcription  AP Lab 6:
 Translation Molecular
 Virus Genetics (Formal).
 Bacteria  Genetic Ethics
 Genetic Research and
Engineering Presentation.
 Biotechnologies
 Ethics
Two 5 Cellular Respiration Read and  AP Lab 4A:
Weeks and Photosynthesis complete study Plant Pigment
guides for: 9, 10 Chromatography
 Cycles and steps (Formal).
for each  AP Lab 4B:
Photosynthesis
(The light
 Reaction)
(Formal).
 AP Biology
Lab5: Cell
Respiration
(Formal).

Two 6 Cell Division Read and  AP Lab 3:

Weeks complete study Mitosis and
 Mitosis guides for: 12, 13 Meiosis (Formal).
 Meiosis  Evolution
paper timeline.
 Soladaria Lab.
Two 7 Genetics Read and  AP Lab 7:
Weeks complete study Genetics of
 Monohybrid guides for: 14 Organisms
crosses (Formal).
 Dihybrid crosses
 Pedigrees
 Karyotyping
Winter 8 Evolution Read and  AP Lab 8:
Break and complete study Population
Two  Evidence guides for: 22, 23, Genetics and
Weeks  Mechanisms 24, 25, 26 Evolution
(Formal).
 Evolution
paper timeline.
 Fossil Lab
(how are fossils
 made: casts and
molds).
Three 9 Diversity of Life Read and  Bacteria (5)
Weeks Evolutionary complete study Gram-staining Lab
Relationships guides for: 27, 28, (Formal).
29, 30, 31, 32, 33,  Prokaryotic
Introduction to: 34 Diversity Lab.
 Prokaryotes  Moss, fern
 Protists (sori),
- Endosymbiosis gymnosperm
 Plants (cones)
- Evolution of angiosperm
vascular tissue (flowers)
 Fungi Introduction Lab.
 Animals
Two 10 Plants Read and  AP Lab 9:
Weeks complete study Transpiration Lab
 Transport guides for: (Formal).
 Behavior of 35, 36, 37, 38, 39  Celery Lab:
Plants Vascular tissue
observation.
Four 11 Animals Read and  AP Lab 10A:
Weeks complete study Blood Pressure
 Digestion guides for: 40, 41, Lab (Formal).
 Circulation 42, 43, 44, 45, 46,  AP Lab10B:
 Gas Exchange 47, 48, 49 Fitness Test
 Immune Systems (Formal).
 Homeostasis  AP Lab10C:
 Hormones Heart Rate and
  Reproduction Temperature
 Nerves (Formal).
 Muscles  Sheep Brain
 Sense Organs Dissection Lab.
 Tobacco Worm
Dissection Lab.
 Senses Lab.
3 Weeks A Review  Review Unit Labs chosen
objectives and according to areas
 Overview review goals of need.
of each unit  Complete Unit
 Short labs for review Packets
review
3 Weeks B Individual Project Complete
individual project
 Controlled of student choice.
experiment Must cover AP
 Research paper Theme or AP Lab.
 Children’s book
 Plant scavenger
hunt
 Teach Elementary
School students