Welcome to Biology - Weebly



[pic] AP® Biology [pic]

2015-2016 Green Run High School

Mrs. Ashley Karunaratne

(e-mail: Ashley.Karunaratne@)

Course Description:

AP Biology is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes — energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions. AP Biology includes the topics regularly covered in a college biology course for majors. The textbook used for AP Biology is used by college biology majors and the labs done by AP students are the equivalent of those done by college students.

The two main goals of AP Biology are to help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology and to help students gain an appreciation of science as a process. Primary emphasis in an Advanced Placement Biology course should be on developing an understanding of concepts rather than on memorizing terms and technical details. Essential to this conceptual understanding are the following: a grasp of science as a process rather than as an accumulation of facts; personal experience in scientific inquiry; recognition of unifying big ideas that connect the major topics of biology; and application of biological knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social concerns.

Course Prerequisite:

The AP Biology course is designed to be taken by students after the successful completion (B or better) of a first course in high school biology and one in high school chemistry. It aims to provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology.

Resources:

Textbook: Biology in Focus AP edition (2014).Campbell & Reece

Lab book: AP Biology: Investigative Labs: An Inquiry-based approach (Student Manual) (2012). The College Board (**This is not a required purchase. Teacher will provide handouts/supplemental resources for all lab investigations)

IMPORTANT NOTE:

It is highly recommended that you purchase an AP Biology Review book. In addition to preparing for the AP exam, these texts are a valuable resource when studying for unit tests and will also support your understanding of course material. These books can be bought new or used from Amazon and also at most bookstores.

Suggested titles:

1) Cracking the AP Biology Exam, 2015 Edition (College Test Preparation) by Princeton Review

2) Kaplan AP Biology 2014-2015 by Linda Brooke Stabler, Allison Wilkes M.D., and Mark Metz

3) 5 Steps to a 5: AP Biology 2014-2015 (Published by McGraw-Hill)

Technology Information:

Course Website:

Course Objectives:

This course is designed to prepare you for the AP Biology exam and for college level Biology courses.

Core concepts called enduring understandings and their application via the science practices are the basis of the AP Biology curriculum. These concepts are organized around biological principles called big ideas that permeate the entire course:

• The process of evolution explains the diversity and unity of life.

• Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.

• Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes.

• Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.

Course Outline

|First Semester |

|Unit |Weeks of Instruction in Class |

|1 – Biochemistry |3 weeks |

|2 – Cells and Cell Transport |3 weeks |

|3 – Botany |1 week |

|4 – Body Systems with Cell Communication |5 weeks |

|(Nervous, Endocrine, Immune) | |

|5 – DNA and Cell Reproduction |2 weeks |

|6 – Molecular Genetics |2 weeks |

|Second Semester |

|7 – Genetics |1 week |

|8 – Evolution |4 weeks |

|9 – Energy and Metabolism |3 weeks |

|10 – Ecology |3 weeks |

The Laboratory

The laboratory experience is essential to the AP Biology course. As previously stated, the curriculum framework includes seven science practices that will be emphasized in the investigatory lab work. Students are required to complete inquiry-based labs set forth by The College Board AP Program. Since one-fourth (25%) of the credit in most college introductory biology courses is derived from laboratory work, it follows that approximately the same degree of emphasis should be placed on laboratory experience in an AP course. Descriptive and experimental laboratory exercises will be assigned that will provide the maximum opportunity for students to learn a variety of skills and those facts, principles, and concepts of general biology covered in lectures, reading, and discussion. In addition, good laboratory exercises can present novel material not covered in other parts of the course. Laboratory work should encourage the development of important skills such as detailed observation, accurate recording, experimental design, manual manipulation, data interpretation, statistical analysis and operation of technical equipment. Laboratory assignments offer the opportunity for students to learn about problem solving, the scientific method, the techniques of research, and the use of scientific literature. Laboratory investigations also encourage high-order thinking, which may include evaluating and monitoring progress through an investigation, generating ideas, and formulating hypotheses

Lab notebook: Students will be provided with a composition notebook at the beginning of the school year. Most labs performed during class will be recorded in these lab notebooks. When labs are due the notebook will be turned in and graded.

Evaluation

This course will use several different methods to evaluate student progress. Assessments are designed to mimic the AP Biology Exam by including multiple choice and free response questions. Laboratory investigations will include a formal written report in the lab notebook. Quizzes, projects, and group presentations are also used as forms of student evaluation.

**Students are expected to take the AP Biology Exam given by College Board on Monday, May 9th, 2016. **

A. Grading System: Grading is based upon a weighted system whereby each category is given a certain percentage towards a student’s grade. Students and parents are expected to keep track of their grades by using Student Portal.

a. Tests: 40 %

b. Labs: 25 %

c. Quizzes: 20 %

d. Assignments (class work and homework): 15 %

B. Make-up/Late Work: If a student is absent from class, it is his or her responsibility to find out what work he or she missed and then make arrangements to make-up that work. All work must be made up within 3 class meetings after returning. Arrangements can be made for those students with special circumstances regarding their absence.

****Late work (labs/classwork and homework) will be accepted for full credit only up until the date of the corresponding Unit Test.

C. Student/Parent Portal:

When viewing grades in student/parent portal, please note the following:

• When a student does not turn in an assignment, a “Z” will be entered as the grade. Any assignment which a student receives a “Z” for can be made up within the guidelines of the make-up work and homework policies (See above).

• If a student submitted work but received no credit for the assignment, a “0” will be entered as the grade.

• If a student is absent and excused from an assignment, an “X” will be entered as the grade, meaning the student does not have to make-up the assignment and it will not count against their overall grade.

Required Class Materials:

1) A two inch 3- Ring Binder (Rings attached to back, not middle - called a D-ring binder – is really sturdy to last for the entire year!) or AVID Binder

2) One package of dividers-- 4 tabs (Sections: Tests, Quizzes, Labs, Assignments)

3) Loose Leaf Paper-- College rule preferred

4) Pencils & Pens

5) Pack of Colored Pencils

6) Notecard Box

7) Index cards – 3x5 (at least 100 cards)

Progress Report and Report Card Dates:

|Quarter |Progress Reports |Report Card |

|1st quarter |October 8th |November 10th |

|2nd quarter |December 15th |February 8th |

|3rd quarter |March 4th |April 19th |

|4th quarter |May 17th |June 24th (mailed) |

After-School Tutoring:

• Tutoring/Review Sessions will be held on Thursdays after school from 2:15-3:30pm.

• These Thursday sessions are designated for after-school help or remediation. If a student needs tutoring or has “redo” or make-up work to complete, they may stay after with Mrs. K. in Room 220 until 3:30pm.

Questions:

If there are any questions regarding these expectations or the class in general, please call the school at 648-5350 and leave me a message in my voicemail box #77210. For a quicker response email me at Ashley.Karunaratne@.

Student Expectations Acknowledgement Form

Dear Student and Parent/Guardian,

Please read and discuss my class/lab expectations. Once you have read and discussed, please sign below and return this sheet to me. The course expectations are to be placed in front of the student’s notebook and are to remain there throughout the school year. To make future communications much easier, please include your e-mail address and phone number. I look forward to a fun and successful year working and learning with one another. Please contact me with any questions and concerns.

Sincerely,

Ashley K. Karunaratne

AP Biology Teacher

Green Run High School

[pic]

I hereby state that I have read and agree with what is expected of me in and out of the science classroom.

Student signature _____________________________________________________ Date __________________

I hereby state that I have read and agree with what is expected of my child in and out of the science classroom.

Parent signature ______________________________________________________ Date _________________

Parent Phone # _____________________________________________________________

Parent e-mail address ________________________________________________________

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download