East Duplin High School
Instructor: Kirk Kennedy
Email:
kikennedy@duplinschools.net
Textbook and Resource Materials: (supplied by school)
 Biology, Neil A. Campbell and Jane B. Reece, 6th edition, Pearson Benjamin
Cummings
 AP Biology Lab Manual for Students. The College Board
Recommended Resources: (provided by student)
 Preparing for Biology AP EXAM by Campbell and Reece’s 8th ed. Biology

Cliffs Notes AP Biology, 3rd edition by Philip E. Pack, Ph.D.
Course Overview:
The Advanced Placement Biology curriculum is equivalent to a college course usually
taken by biology majors during their first year of college. Students obtain weighted credit
by successfully completing the AP Biology exam at the end of the course. The primary
emphasis of the course is on developing an understanding of the following eight themes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Science as Process
Evolution
Energy Transfer
Continuity and Change
Relationship of structure to function
Regulation
Interdependence in nature
Science, Technology and Society
The course is broken down into three areas of study: 25% molecules and cells, 25%
genetics and evolution, and 50% organisms and populations. Also, the course will provide
students with the opportunity to connect biology to major issues of social concern such as
global warming, stem cell research, and cancer. This will give students a grasp of
biology’s relevance to themselves and society. In addition, students will conduct all twelve
of the Collegeboard AP Biology laboratories and will be engaged in hands-on laboratory
work 25% of the instructional time. AP Biology is a very challenging course and students
should expect to be pushed academically.
Course Objectives:
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Understand that science is a process rather than an accumulation of facts.
Understand how the major topics/concepts relate to the unifying themes in Biology.
Experience science through laboratory and inquiry activities.
Apply biological knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social
concerns.
Required Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
3 ring spiral notebook with pocket dividers (one for each unit = 11 total)
Loose leaf paper
Box of colored pencils
Cliffs Notes AP Biology, 3rd edition by Philip E. Pack, Ph.D.
Zip Drive or CD
Why take AP Biology?
 You enjoy biology and want to take that learning to the next level in a rigorous
laboratory based class
 You are a self directed learner and need the challenge that an AP class offers
 You have an interest in a science related career (medicine, research, veterinarian,
forensics, forestry, etc…)
 You would like to earn college credit while in high school
AP Essay Questions:
Students will prepare eight AP Essay Questions.
The purpose of preparing an essay is to
acquaint you with possible topics in biology that may be included on the AP Exam.
How to prepare an Essay:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Essay questions can be found on the website under the “AP Essay” section.
Essays must be double spaced.
Type your name, date, and period at the top of the essay.
Submit your essay through the assignment button on my website.
Essays are due the second Tuesday of each month (except for the final one which
will be due the first Tuesday of May)
Essays Topics & Due Dates
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Natural Selection -- September 13th
Reproduction in Flowering Plants -- October 11th
Plant tropisms and hormones -- Nov. 8th
Nerve Transmission -- December 13th
Muscle Contraction -- February 14th
Menstrual Cycle -- March 13th
Succession -- April 10th
Biogeochemical Cycles -- May 1st
Summer Project:
Biology Collection:
Students will choose 50 terms from a list of 110 terms given to them. They will create a
biological collection of pictures (that they have personally collected). They will place these in a
booklet which will be due the first week of school.
* If the project is not handed in on time & complete, then you will be dropped from AP Biology.
Semester Projects:
Students will be required to complete two independent projects each semester.
The due
date will be assigned at a later date.
Semester 1: Construct a 3-D cell organelle
Students will have to choose an organelle and construct a 3-D model of this organelle. They will know
the function, location, and numbers in the cell.
Semester 1: Genetics/Principles of Heredity – Pedigree Project
Students will track a particular trait through several generations of a family.
They may use their own family or choose to use another family. They will create a pedigree for the family
and create a report to discuss the pedigree.
Semester 2: Bio-diversity Scavenger Hunt Project
Students will be given a list of different features and organisms that they must collect and then present in
an organized manner. They will include the common names and the scientific names of all of their
specimens.
Semester 2: Design an Ecosystem (After the AP Exam)
Students will design an ecosystem. They must include location of the ecosystem, species involved with
the ecosystem, examples of symbiosis, effects of eliminating different species, and a variety of other
tasks.
Timeline:
- Molecules and Cells (45 Days)
Date
Topic of
Study
Chapters to
read
Labs/Webquests/Projects
Lab 2: Enzyme Catalysis (You Tube Video)
Sewer Lice - Demonstration
17 days
Chemistry &
Biochemistry
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Dirty Diaper Lab
Potato Enzyme Lab
Liver Enzyme Lab
How Good Is Your Enzymatic Detergent?
Enzyme Web Lab
Unit one Test - Biochemistry (chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5)
Lab 1: Osmosis & Diffusion
16 days
Cells
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Osmosis with Gummi Bears
Egg Diffusion Lab
Mitosis & Meiosis Webquest
Identification of Biomolecules Webquest
Semester 1 Cell Organelle Project Due
Unit 2 Test - Cells (chapters 7, 8, 11, 12, & 13)
Lab 5: Cell Respiration
Lab 4: Plant Pigments & Photosynthesis
12 days
Cellular
Energetics
Chapter 6
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Calorie Study Lab
Yeast Respiration Lab
Paper Chromotagraphy of the Leaf
Unit 3 Test - Cellular Energetics (chapters 6, 9, & 10)
- Genetics (31 Days)
Date
Topic of
Study
Chapters to
read
Labs/Webquests/Projects
Lab 3: Mitosis & Meiosis
DNA Extraction Lab
DNA Bracelet Lab
14 days
Heredity
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Dragon Genetic Lab (Paper Lab)
Constructing a Pedigree (Paper Lab)
History Of DNA Webquest
Mitosis/Meiosis Webquest
Semester 1 Pedigree Project Due
Unit 4 Test over Heredity (chapters 14 & 15)
Lab 6: Molecular Biology
Genetic Case Study Project (Teacher Website)
17 days
Molecular
Genetics
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Finding Your Genetic Match (Paper Lab)
Various Mutations on Protein Synthesis
Crossing Over (Paper Lab)
Monstrous Mutations Lab
Tri-Hybrid Cross Project
Quarter 2 Project Due
Unit 5 Test over Molecular Genetics (chapters 16 - 21)
Midterm Exam -
- Evolution, Taxonomy, Plants (43 Days)
Date
Topic of
Study
Chapters to
read
Labs/Webquests/Projects
Lab 7: Genetics of Drosophila
Peppered Moth Simulation Lab
Fishy Frequency Lab (M&M’s)
14 days
Evolutionary
Biology
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Natural Selection in Teddy Grahams
Darwin Video + Questions
Fruit Fly Genetics Webquest
Stem Cell Webquest
Evolution Web Labs
Unit 6 Test over Evolution (chapters 22-25)
Lab 8: Population Genetics & Evolution
Recreation of Pasteur’s Experiment
12 days Diversity of
Organisms
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 31
Chi-square & M&M Lab
Variation in Leaf Size Lab
Cladistics Lab (Paper Lab)
Semester 3 Bio-diversity Scavenger Hunt Due
Unit 7 Test over Taxonomy, Prokaryotes, & Simple Eukaryotes
(chapters 26, 27,28, and 31)
17 days
Structure &
Function of
Plants
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Lab 9: Transpiration
Goldfish Respiration Lab
Counting Leaf Stomato Lab
Units 8A & 8B Tests over Plants ( Chapters 29 & 30, 35 - 39 )
- Animals & Ecology (36 Days)
Date
Topic of
Study
Chapters to
read
Labs/Webquests/Projects
Frog Dissection
15 days
Invertebrates
& Vertebrates
Chapter 32
Chapter33
Chapter34
Invertebrate Activity
Vertebrate Activity
Unit 9A & 9B Test over Vertebrates & Invertebrates (chapters 32-34)
16 days
Structure &
Function of
Animals
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Lab 10: Physiology of Circulatory System
Fetal Pig Dissection
Isopod Behavior Lab
Territorial Behavior of Crickets Lab
Units 10A & 10 B Tests over Animal Systems ( Chapters 40 - 49 )
Lab 11: Behavior
5 days
Ecology
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Lab 12: Dissolved Oxygen & Aquatic Primary
Productivity
Inconvient Truth Video & Discussion
Ecology Issues Project
Population Ecology – Eatable Goldfish Lab
Food Web Construction (Paper Lab)
Unit 11 Test over Ecology ( Chapters 50 - 55 )
AP Exam -
Independent Project (Conduct an experiment of
your design at home using radish seeds)or
Ecosystem Project
Genetic Disorder Webquest
After the AP Exam
Debates – Social Issues
Medicine Man Movie & Discussion
Movie Avatar & Discussion
Final Exam
You can be exempted from this exam if you meet the criteria found in the student
handbook!
Grading Scale:
Grading Scale
Grade Points
93 - 100 A
A=4
85 - 92 B
B=3
77 - 84 C
C=2
70 - 76 D
D=1
0 - 69 F
F=0
AP Biology receives weighted credit on the student's
rank GPA and on the state GPA appearing on the
transcript.
Grading Breakdown:
Exams: unit tests, collections, semester projects, notebooks, etc…
Labs: reports, lab tests, & lab practicals
Daily assignments: worksheets, abstracts, openers, quizzes, etc…
Semester Average is determined as follows:
1st six weeks
2nd six weeks
3rd six weeks
25 %
25 %
25%
Semester Test*
25 %
* There are NO exemptions from the 1st semester test!
= 50 %
= 15 %
= 35 %
AP Exam:
AP Biology Exam…………………………….May ?, 2012
Format:
1. Multiple Choice (80 min) -- Composed of 100 multiple-choice questions. This is
worth 60% of the final grade.
2. Free-Response questions (90 min) – Consists of four mandatory questions that must
be in essay form.
The topics are as follows:
 Molecules and Cells – 1 question
 Heredity and Evolution – 1 question
 Organisms and Populations – 2 questions
Note: There is a 10 minute reading and study time prior to the free response section. We
will be practicing the free response questions throughout the year.
Scoring:
A composite score is translated into an AP score ranging from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest
score). A minimum score of 3 on the exam is required to earn college credit, however each
university/college is different on their AP score requirements and credit policies. Check
with individual universities on those requirements.
* Great resource for studying is www.bozemanscience.com
Late Work:
Definition: “Work that is turned in after (even one minute) teacher collects assignment.”
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Learning to manage time and meet deadlines is a life skill that is essential in the
“real world”.
Late work will be given 70% of total points until assignments have been graded and
handed back to the class at which time the assignment WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTED.
If you are absent for class, but in school earlier in the day your work is due.
TESTS ARE TO BE MADE UP ON THE DAY YOU RETURN AFTER A ONE
DAY ABSENCE.
If you are absent the day before the test you are NOT excused from taking the test
on the scheduled date.
Any exceptions to this policy will be handled by the teacher on an individual basis.
Extra Credit:
Extra credit opportunities will be offered to the entire class and not to individuals needing
“extra” due to the fact that they did not do what was required. Extra credit offered will
always meet the objectives of the course. I offer extra credit each semester. Extra credit is
a maximum of 50 points per semester. Extra credit assignments include reading a book on
the book list and writing a summary or performing a virtual experiment on a topic covered
during that semester. A hand out will be provided that contains all the necessary
information.