NPHS AP BIOLOGY
Menghini
Welcome to AP Biology
2009-2010 Course Syllabi
Tammy Lynn Menghini, Teacher
North Platte High School
North Platte, NE 69101
Personal Philosophy:
Science education has the ability to change the way that students conduct research,
process information, to evaluate and look at life. The power lies in the hands of the
educator, who must empower the learner by offering a variety of learning
preferences. The educator must become the student once in a while and embark on
discovery journeys to enhance and expand their teaching methods. I use a
nontraditional approach to education. I prefer to have a classroom full of action,
loaded with activity, lab based and student directed. I become more of a mentor or
guide for my students who are given freedom of choice and take a hold of the
steering wheel, driving their own vessel of learning. I believe teachers too often
restrict student learning by putting a cap on their brain, trying to control their
power of thought. I prefer to have my students step out of the box, and go beyond
any preset expectations I may have set for them. Life science is only a vehicle for me
to offer this journey of learning to each and every learner. I strive to reach every
type of learner in some way, at several points along the way. In order to provide
this classroom environment, I must take advantage of all opportunities to selfimprove my teaching styles, be willing to learn and adapt successful techniques by
other professionals in the field of education and most importantly, being willing to
give control to my learners. I feel true inquiry is the best way to set up students for
success in future classes by promoting self-discovery and long-term memory over
short-term. I am willing to go the extra mile to bring an activity-based classroom
filled with true scientific inquiry. Lecture will be offered only as a supplemental
source of information. I take advantage of educational opportunities to learn the
latest when it comes to student learning, brain research and inquiry provoking
ideas. I strive to give my best to my students daily. The two main goals of AP
Biology are to help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology
and an appreciation of science as a process.
MY GOAL IS FOR ALL STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE GROWTH.
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NPHS AP BIOLOGY
Menghini
Course Overview:
North Platte High School operates on a modified block schedule. AP Biology meets
three tines a week for 47 minutes and in a block period once a week for 90 minutes.
This schedule allows for weekly lab time and creates a flexible learning schedule.
The course at North Platte High School is centered around three general areas
touching eight basic themes taken from the AP Biology Curriculum requirements
and National Standards. Students will use the Campbell & Reece 2005 text,
Biology, Seventh Edition. This course will require reading of several chapters per
unit to supplement classroom activity and homework. Each unit will be followed by
student assessment. Students who take AP Biology will also be required to complete
research projects throughout the year. These projects will require devotion of time
outside of class. There will be both independent and group projects offered.
Course Planner:
AP Biology at NPHS will be organized into three main areas, broken into ten units
integrating eight themes. Each student will be given a copy of this syllabus on the
first day of class. We will spend three to four weeks on each unit.
NPHS AP
BIOLOGY
Area I :
Biochemistry,
Macromolecules
and Cells
Area II:
Heredity and
Evolution
25% of Course
25% of Course
Science as Process
Evolution
Energy Transfer
Continuity and Change
Relationship of Structure to Function
Regulation
Interdependence in Nature
Science, Technology and Society
Theme 1
Theme 2
Theme 3
Theme 4
Theme 5
Theme 6
Theme 7
Theme 8
Science
as
Inquiry
(SI1,
SI2)
Systems,
Order and
Organization
(UCP1)
UNIT 1
UNIT 2
Area III:
Ecology, Living
Organism’s
Structure and
Function, Behavior
50% of Course
Evidence,
Models, and
Explanation
(UCP2)
UNIT 3
Change,
Constancy,
and
Measurement
(UCP3)
UNIT 4
Heredity,
Evolution and
Equilibrium
(UCP4)
Matter,
Energy, and
Organization
in Living
Systems
(LSMat1-6)
Form and
Function
(UCP5)
Biochemistry
(PS1-6)
UNIT 5
UNIT 6
UNIT 7
UNIT 8
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NPHS AP BIOLOGY
Menghini
AP Biology Time Line
AREA I: Biochemistry, Macromolecules and Cells
Unit I:
Biochemistry and Cells
Chapters 1-12
August – September 2009
AREA II: Evolution
Unit II:
Genetics and Heredity
Chapters 13-21
October – December 2009
AREA III: Ecology, Living Organism’s Structure and Function, Behavior
Unit III:
Evolution, Biodiversity and The History of Life
Chapters 22-34
January 2010
Unit IV:
Plant Form and Function
Chapter 35-39
February 2010
Unit V:
Animal Form and Function
Chapters 40-49
March 2010
Unit VI:
Ecology
April – May 2010
Unit VII:
Up Close and Personal Look at the
Major Systems of Living Organisms
May 2010
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NPHS AP BIOLOGY
Menghini
Topic Outline:
Unit
Topic
Percentage of
Course
First Semester, First Quarter………………………………………………………..25%
I.
Biochemistry and Cells
A.
Chapter 1 Exploring Life
AP Lab 11: Animal Behavior with Pillbugs; Experimental Design
B.
Chapter 2 The Chemical Context of Life
C.
Chapter 3 Water and the Fitness of the Environment
D.
Chapter 4 Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
E.
Chapter 5 The Structure and Function of Macromolecules
F.
Chapter 6 A Tour of the Cell
G.
Chapter 7 Membrane Structure and and Function
AP Lab 1: Diffusion and Osmosis
H.
Chapter 8 In Introduction to Metabolism
AP Lab2: Enzyme Catalysis
I.
Chapter 9 Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy
AP Lab 5: Cell Respiration
J.
Chapter 10 Photoynthesis
K.
Chapter 11 Cell Communication
L.
Chapter 12 The Cell Cycle
First Semester, Second Quarter…………………………………………………….25%
II.
Genetics and Heredity
A.
Chapter 13 Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
B.
Chapter 14 Mendel and the Gene Idea
AP Lab 3: Mitosis and Meiosis
AP Lab 7: Chi Square Activity
AP Lab 7: Genetics of Organisms: Drosophila
C.
Chapter 15 The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
Lab: DNA is DNA is DNA
D.
Chapter 16 The Molecular Basis of Inheritance
AP Lab 6: Electrophoresis: Molecular Biology
AP Lab 6: Molecular Biology Colony Transformation
E.
Chapter 17 From Gene to Protein
F.
Chapter 18 The Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria
G.
Chapter 19 Eukaryotic Genomes: Organization, Regulation, and
Evolution
H.
Chapter 20 DNA Technology and Genomics
I.
Chapter 21 The Genetic Basis of Development
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NPHS AP BIOLOGY
Menghini
Topic Outline Continued:
Unit
Percentage of
Course
Second Semester, Third Quarter……………………………………………………25%
III.
Topic
Mechanisms of Evolution & the Evolutionary History of Biological Diversity
A.
Chapter 22 Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life
B.
Chapter 23 The Evolution of Populations
AP Lab 8: Population Genetics and Evolution
C.
Chapter 24 The Origin of Species
D.
Chapter 25 Phylogeny and Systematics
E.
Chapter 26 The Tree of Life:
An Introduction to Biological Biodiversity
F.
Chapter 27 Prokaryotes
G.
Chapter 28 Protists
H.
Chapter 29 Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land
I.
Chapter 30 Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants
J.
Chapter 31 Fungi
K.
Chapter 32 An Introduction to Animal Diversity
L.
Chapter 33 Invertebrates
M.
Chapter 34 Vertebrates
Second Semester, Fourth Quarter…………………………………………………25%
IV.
Plant Form and Function
A. Chapter 35 Plant Structure, Growth, and Development
AP LAB 9: Transpiration
B. Chapter 36 Transport in Vascular Plants
C. Chapter 37 Plant Nutrition
AP Lab 4: Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
D. Chapter 38 Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology
E. Chapter 39 Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals
AP Lab 12: Dissolved Oxygen and Aquatic Primary Productivity
V.
Animal Form and Function
A. Chapter 40 Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function
B. Chapter 41 Animal Nutrition
C. Chapter 42 Circulation and Gas Exchange
AP Lab 10: Physiology of the Circulatory System
D. Chapter 43 The Immune System
E. Chapter 44 Osmoregulation and Excretion
F. Chapter 45 Hormones and the Endocrine System
G. Chapter 46 Animal Reproduction
H. Chapter 47 Animal Development
I. Chapter 48 Nervous Systems
J. Chapter 49 Sensory and Motor Mechanisms
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NPHS AP BIOLOGY
Menghini
Topic Outline Continued:
Unit
Topic
Percentage of
Course
Second Semester, Fourth Quarter Continued
VI.
Ecology
A. Chapter 50 An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere
Seed Farm Lab
B. Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology
C. Chapter 52 Population Ecology
D. Chapter 53 Community Ecology
E. Chapter 54 Ecosystems
F. Chapter 55 Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology
VII:
Up Close and Personal Look at the Major Systems of Living Organisms
A. Extended Learning Activities/Projects
B. Dissections
Teaching Strategies:
To provide a variety of teaching strategies to include all learners. Students will have
the opportunity to capitalize on their preferences and learning strengths, in the
areas of kinesthetic, visual, auditory and reader/writer activities. Strategies include
lecture, laboratory activities, layered curriculum, independent research,
independent study, group labs, group research, L to J learning and grading for
learning. Students will be expected to put in four to six hours outside of class per
week completing projects and homework, reading chapters and preparing for tests.
Lab Component:
Laboratory practices will be exercised weekly and block time will be utilized for this
portion of the course. Students will need to master skills needed to identify and
properly use biology lab equipment. Students will be expected to read and follow
lab procedures independently. All lab safety rules will apply to the lab area at all
times. Students are not to work alone in the lab, the teacher must be available to
supervise. Each lab will have a write-up or question/answer section to be completed
for evaluation. The requirements will vary depending on the lab offered.
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NPHS AP BIOLOGY
Menghini
Student Evaluation:
Unit tests will account for approximately 55% of the student’s final grade, semester
tests will make-up 10%. Labs, homework and projects will count for the remaining
35%. There will be a progress grade sent home at the end of first and third quarter
for mid-term grades. There will be an accumulative grade for each semester that
becomes part of the student’s permanent record.
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