AP Biology - Hazleton Area High School



AP Biology

Instructor: Mr. Jeffrey Koch

Contact Info: kochj@

Course Overview:

Using evolutionary thinking as a unifying concept, this first year college level biology course has students making interconnections between the big ideas within the AP Biology Curriculum Framework. On completing this course, the student is expected to take the Advanced Placement Biology Examination.

My philosophy is to create an exciting, stimulating, and inquiry-based learning environment by challenging the students with a vast amount of hands and minds-on opportunities to increase their knowledge and skills in biology. My goal for this course is for the students to leave my classroom with a greater appreciation about science and the world around them.

Lab techniques are learned through researching journal articles, hands-on labs which make up at least 25% of instructional time, and field trips to at least the local hospital’s microbiology department and Nescopeck State Park. [CR7] Labs will emphasize development and testing of hypothesis, collection, analysis and presentation of data, as well as discussion of results to discover unanswered questions about the particular topics addressed. A minimum of two labs in each big idea will be conducted. [CR6] Students are required to report on all laboratory investigations. [CR8] The student-directed and inquiry-based laboratory investigations used throughout the course enable students to apply the seven science practices as defined in the Curriculum Framework.

Materials:

Campbell, N.A., Reece J.B., Urry, L.A., Cail, M.L., Waserman, S.A., Minorsky, P.V. and Jackson, R.B. Biology 10th edition, Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, 2014. [CR1]

Additional Readings and Videos: From various scientific libraries (handed out in class)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Skloot, Rebecca.

Readings:

Include AP Biology Central Website/textbook/journal/additional websites, which are structured around the enduring understandings within the big ideas as described in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework. [CR2] Students are provided with guided reading questions and are required to take notes.

Lectures:

At least 3 hours per week. Lectures will consist of teacher, student, or Internet/web driven, which are structured around the enduring understandings within the big ideas as described in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework. [CR2] Students are required to take notes.

Activities/Projects/Labs: 3 hours per week. Some activities and projects are expected to be performed outside of class time and students are expected to hand in lab reports for evidence of completion. In addition a non-spiral lab notebook is required for the course. At least twelve out of the thirteen required AP Biology Labs will be conducted throughout the year. [CR6]

Assessment: A variety of formative and summative assessments will be used throughout the course; including: activities, labs, projects, quizzes, and exams. [CR4]

AP Biology Course Scope and Sequence (tentative): [CR3, CR5]

Semester 1:

Summer:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Skloot, Rebecca.

Properties of Water Lab

Biology Picture Collage

Tentative Sequence of Lecture Topics

1. Properties of Water (Summer) – handout

2. Evolution & Ecology – Chapters 23, 52 – 56

3. Macromolecules – Chapters 2 – 5

4. Cellular organization and transport – Chapters 6 – 7

5. Thermodynamics and energy transfer – Chapters 8 – 10

6. Mitosis/Meiosis – Chapters 11 – 13

7. DNA and Genetics – Chapters 14 – 18

8. Biotechnology – Chapters 20 – 21

Tentative Laboratory Schedule

1. Properties of Water

2. Artificial Selection

3. Animal Behavior

4. Microscope & Cell Structure

5. Osmosis & Diffusion

6. Enzymes

7. Energy

8. Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, & Fermentation

9. Cell Reproduction: Mitosis and Meiosis

10. Genetics

11. Biotechnology I – DNA extraction and determination

12. Biotechnology II – PCR and Restriction Enzyme Analysis; DNA analysis by gel electrophoresis

Tentative Projects

Project #1 – Biology Picture Collage (Summer Assignment)

Project #2 – Darwin Project

Project #3 – Clay Caterpillars

Project #4 – Sustainable Agriculture

Project #5 – PA Trout in the Classroom

Project #6 – Bioethics

Semester 2:

Tentative Sequence of Lecture Topics

1. Mechanisms of Evolution – Chapters 22, 24, & 25

2. The Evolutionary History of Biological Diversity – Chapters 26 – 34, 19

3. Plant Form and Function – Chapters 35 – 39

4. Animal Form and Function – Chapters 40 – 51

Tentative Laboratory Schedule

1. pGLO Bacterial Transformation

2. Antibiotic Selection of Bacteria

3. Primate and Human Evolution: A Skull Comparison

4. Evolution in Action: Statistical Analysis

5. Identification of Bacteria using Gram Staining

6. Effects of UV Light on Yeast Cells

7. Investigation of Mushroom Growth

8. How Does Temperature Affect Daphnia Heart Rate?

9. Transpiration Lab: What factors, including environmental variables, affect the rate of transpiration in plants?

10. Flower Dissection Lab: What are the parts of a flower and what are their functions?

11. Meiosis and Tetrad Analysis Using Sordaria fimicola

12. Homeostasis: A Balancing Act: Explaining how positive and negative feedback influence homeostasis in the human body

13. Squid Dissection: Investigating Adaptation in Animals

Tentative Projects

1. Animal Evolution Project

2. Maple Syrup Making

3. Seed Germination

4. Wildflower Collection

5. Sustainable Agriculture

6. Independent Project

September:

Properties of Water (Summer)

Darwinian Evolution

Darwin Project (ongoing)

Artificial Selection: Lab 1

Sustainable Agriculture (ongoing)

Ecology

Clay Caterpillar Project (ongoing)

Animal Behavior: Lab 12

Chemistry and Organic Molecules

The Biology Project: Biochemistry – University of Arizona Website Activity

Identifying Macromolecules in Our Foods Activity

Enzyme Activity: Lab 13

October:

Cell Structure and Function

Cells Alive! Website Activity

Microscope Techniques for Observing and Measuring Different Types of Cells Activity

Cell Transport and Homeostasis

Diffusion and Osmosis: Lab 4

November:

Energy

Energy Dynamics: Lab 10

PA Trout in the Classroom Activity (ongoing)

Photosynthesis

Stomata Peel Activity

Photosynthesis: Labs 5

Cellular Respiration

Cellular Respiration: Lab 6

Alcoholic and Lactic Acid Fermentation Activity

December:

Cell Communication and the Cell Cycle

Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis: Lab 7

Cancer

The Biology Project: Cell Biology – University of Arizona Website Activity

Mendelian Genetics

The Biology Project: Mendelian Genetics – University of Arizona Website Activity

Learn. Genetics – University of Utah Website Activity

Mathematical Modeling: Hardy-Weinberg: Lab 2

Protein Synthesis

Comparing DNA Sequences to Understand Evolutionary Relationships with BLAST: Lab 3

Epigenetics

Learn. Genetics – University of Utah Website Activity

Genes and Gene Regulation

PhET Simulations – University of Colorado Website Activity

January:

Biotechnology

Learn. Genetics – University of Utah Website Activity

Biotechnology: Bacterial Transformation: Lab 8

Biotechnology: Restriction Enzyme Analysis of DNA: Lab 9

Bioethics (Stem Cell Research, Antibiotic Resistance and the Problems with Improper Antibiotic Use, Genetically Modified Food, The Use of Genetic Information)

National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science (NCCSTS) – University at Buffalo Website Activity

February:

Mechanisms of Evolution

Animal Evolution Project

Phylogeny

Cladograms

Taxonomy

March:

The Evolutionary History of Biological Diversity

Kingdom Biology

Characteristics of Life

Viruses, Bacteria, Protists

April:

Fungi

Plants

Maple Syrup Making

Seed Germination

Sustainable Agriculture

Animals

May:

Plant Form and Function

Wildflower Collection

Animal Form and Function

AP Biology Exam

June:

Independent Projects

Grading:

|1st Half |2nd Half |

|Midterm Exam (Covers all of 1st half) (20%) |Final Exam (Cumulative) (20%) |

|Quizzes (4 – dropping the lowest each half) (15%) |Quizzes (4 – dropping the lowest each half) (15%) |

|Projects (3 each half) (20%) |Projects (3 each half) (20%) |

|Lab Write-Up & Lab Notebook (20%) |Lab Write-Up & Lab Notebook (20%) |

|Class Participation (25%) |Class Participation (25%) |

***The 3rd and 4th Quarters will follow the same grading policies***

Grade Determination:

A grade will be awarded for this course on the following basis.

|A = 93% – 100% |C = 77% - 80% |

|B+ = 89% – 92% |D+ = 73% - 76% |

|B = 85% – 88% |D = 70% - 72% |

|C+ = 81% – 84% |F = 69 and below |

Example:

|1st Half |2nd Half |

|Midterm Exam – 90 x 0.20 = 18 |Final Exam – 80 x 0.20 = 16 |

|Quiz #1 – 90 |Quiz #5 – 80 ->dropped |

|Quiz #2 – 85 ->dropped |Quiz #6 – 85 |

|Quiz #3 – 100 |Quiz #7 – 100 |

|Quiz #4 – 90 |Quiz #8 – 90 |

|Quiz Grade 93 x 0.15 = 13.95 |Quiz Grade 92 x 0.15 = 13.8 |

|Project #1 – 95 |Project #4 – 85 |

|Project #2 – 90 |Project #5 – 90 |

|Project #3 – 95 |Project #6 – 90 |

|Project Grade 93 x 0.20 = 18.5 |Project Grade 88 x 0.20 = 17.5 |

|Lab Write-Up and Notebook Grade 83 x 0.20 = 16.7 |Lab Write-Up and Notebook Grade 83 x 0.20 = 16.7 |

|Class Participation 95 x 0.25 = 23.8 |Class Participation 95 x 0.25 = 23.8 |

|1st Half Grade (18 + 13.95 + 18.5 + 16.7 + 23.8) = 91% or B+ |2nd Half Grade (16 + 13.8 + 17.5 + 16.7 + 23.8) = 88% or B |

| | |

| |Final Grade (Average of 1st and 2nd Half Grades) = |

| |90% or B+ |

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