Summer Work for A.P. Biology 2015-2016
Mrs. Pratt
npratt@ctreg14.org
Congratulations on making the decision to take A.P. Biology! I hope you are prepared to work
hard; this is not a class for a procrastinator or someone who is not interested in biology. It is a
college course and the work load is of college caliber meaning: at least an hour a night, fast
paced and lots of reading and writing!
In order to keep your mind on science and review some of the easier topics, I am requiring you to
do some summer work in preparation for the upcoming year (Don’t worry; I’ll be doing a lot of
school work over the summer too. I’ll be completely revamping the AP course due to our new
schedule.
The A.P. Exam will be given on May 9, 2016.
The purpose of the summer work is to:
 Get you to use your brain during the summer (no brain drain for you!), because we will
be off and running when the end of August comes.
 Review topics that are familiar with you.
 Get you thinking about the big ideas in biology:
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.
 Have you earn some strong grades to start out the first quarter.
 Enjoy the wonder of biology.
Assignment calendar:
#
Due date
1
ASAP
1
also
2
3
Assigned task
Register on the textbook website for
my class.
Aug. 27, 2015
On the Mastering biology website do
the work on the calendar on the main
page.
ASAP
Send your e-mail
“letter of
introduction” to Mrs. Pratt
Email- npratt@ctreg14.org
Aug. 27, 2015 – first  Video guides from
day of school
www.bozemanscience.com
 Review of Survival of the Sickest
4
Aug. 26, 2015

Mastering Biology assignments
5
Aug. 27, 2015

Survival of the Sickest book review
Assignment #1 – Textbook website log in and work
There is a website (Mastering Biology) that goes along with our textbook. Please sign up and
join my class on the website. You will have assignments directly on this website during the year.
How to create an account.
The student Access code is SSNAST-SUNUP-SKELF-TURVY-MERCY-BLASE
a. Go to PearsonSchool.com/Access
b. Put in the first 6 letters of the student code above and click “Enter Code”
c. Click on “Covered Titles”
d. Click on “Science”
e. Click on “Campbell Biology in Focus (Urry) 1e AP Edition Mastering Biology
f. Click on “Student registration”
g. Click if you have a Pearson account or not (You may have one from Bio L-1) If yes,
sign into your account, If no, then you have to create a log-in name and password.
(DO NOT LOSE THE PASSWORD)
h. Put in the student registration code and click “next”
i. After you have read the conditions of use, Click the “I Agree” button
j. When it asks you if you would like to join a class say yes and put in the class code of
NGPRATT20152016
If you have any problems, let me know immediately as some of your summer work is on this
website.
Website Assignments – complete the assignments that are on the
calendar on the website. (Listed on June 22, 2015 – Introduction to website
and on August 26, 2015 -all summer website assignments due date) Double
check the assignments at the end of July to make sure I haven’t added any.
Assignment #2– Letter of Introduction – due date ASAP
We are going to spend a lot of time together next year so I would like to learn a little more about
you. Also we will be using the Internet and e-mail a lot next year, so I want to get you used to
using this contact with me.
ASAP, I would like you to e-mail me a letter telling me about yourself. The letter should be in
the following format:





Send to my E-mail address npratt@ctreg14.org
For e-mail subject heading put: AP Bio – Introduction to (insert your name).
Begin the e-mail with a formal salutation like “Mrs. Pratt” or “Dear Mrs. Pratt”.
Write in complete sentences. No texting lingo.
Please include:
i. Why you are taking AP Biology and what are your expectations
regarding the course (amount of study time, difficulty of content, lab,
etc).
ii. What other science courses have you taken and at what level?
iii. How do you learn? – are you a visual learner, hands-on, auditory, etc.?
iv. What activities are you involved in during the school year and which
other AP courses are you planning on taking this coming year?
v. Do you have regular access to a computer and the Internet at home?
vi. What are your plans after high school?
vii. Anything else you want to share about yourself.
viii. End the e-mail with your name
Assignment #3 – www.bozemanscience.com videos
due date Aug 27, 2015 – first day of school
I flip my classroom, meaning I have you watch videos of the material at home and preread
chapters in the book so that we can spend time discussing the major points in class, clarifying
topics, doing activities and labs. Most of the videos I use are from the above website. These are
relatively short (15 minutes or less) videos which have corresponding guided questions that need
to be answered. They need to be completed and handed in on the first day of school.
To access the videos, type in the above address into the URL. Scroll down on the home page and
click on “AP Biology”. Scroll down that page and click on the proper video.
Please watch and complete the video guides for:
042 Biological Molecules
043 Cell organelles
044 Cell specialization
Assignment #4– Reading Textbook and Study Guides
due Aug 27, 2015 – first day of school
The textbook is the AP Edition of Biology in Focus by Urry et al.
1. Read Ch. 1
2. Read Ch 2-4 and complete the study guides. – due 1st day of school
3. We will be discussing organic molecules further when you get back to school, but if
you have questions on the other information, send me an e-mail so that I know to
review it in class.
4. Be prepared to take a test on these four chapters during the first two weeks of school.
Assignment #5 – “Survival of the Sickest – A Medical Maverick
Discovers Why We Need Disease” by Dr. Sharon Moalem
Lastly, I would also like you to read the book, Survival of the Sickest - A Medical Maverick
Discovers Why We Need Disease by Dr. Sharon Moalem. ISBN-13: 978-0060889654 You can get
a used copy cheap on Amazon.com. It is a fascinating book of the evolution of current diseases
and how they served a purpose at some point in history. (You may also be able to borrow it from
a former AP bio student or your local library.)
I would like you to write a minimum of a two page (Times-Roman, 12 point font, double spaced)
book review based on your thoughts about the book. DO NOT SUMMARIZE the book. Write as
if you are recommending or not recommending the book to someone.
I realize this may seem like a lot of work, but it will keep your mind sharp and help us get
through the curriculum so we are not in a major rush come May 2016. (Southern high schools
start 2-3 weeks before we do, yet we are all expected to take the test on the same day!)
I am looking forward to a great year with you and sharing my passion for biology. Please know
that I am just an e-mail away from any help you need or any questions you may have. I do check
my school e-mail daily, unless I am out of town, and I will reply promptly. If your parents have
any questions about AP Biology, please have them e-mail me also.
Lastly,
I leave you the “Top Ten Words of Advice” from the 2014-2015 AP Biology class:
1. “Actually read the packets/book, don’t just skim for answers.”
2. “Never be afraid to e-mail questions to Mrs. Pratt.”
3. “Make sure not to fall behind on the homework or wait last minute.”
4. “Watch Mr. Anderson videos again before a test if you are a visual learner and need
more clarification on a topic.”
5. “Only take this course if you are interested in Biology. You cannot slack in this
class.”
6. “Study a lot.”
7. “Do the POGIL’s, they are important.”
8. “Don’t hurt the pill bugs.”
9. “Do your work and don’t get senioritis until after the exam.”
10. “Good luck and try your hardest!”
“…and I hope that’s helpful”. – Mr. Anderson
My words of advice: “Bring your eagerness to learn, an open mind, and a willingness to
work hard.”
Enjoy your summer! Please e-mail me if you have any questions. npratt@ctreg14.org
Mrs. Pratt