AP Biology
School Course Description and Expectations
Prerequisites: Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry
Who Should Take This Course: This course is for students who are interested in biological sciences, laboratorybased experiences, and inquiry-based learning. Students who are highly motivated and have effective time
management skills will be successful in the course. Generally, you will do well in AP Biology if you have earned
an A or solid B in Honors Biology as well as in Honors Chemistry.
Who Should NOT Take This Course: Students who struggle with reading comprehension, conceptual learning,
and basic math skills should not take this course. AP Biology is very rigorous. Students who are not accustomed to
rigorous course work will find this course very challenging.
Skills Needed for Success in This Course:
This is a college-level course and will be treated as such. There is a tremendous amount of material to cover, a lot
of work to do, and very little time available. You should not be surprised by course requirements that are in excess
of what you would normally expect from an advanced or honors course. Successful students also possess strong
writing skills, and the ability to stay organized. Also, the priority you give the course is important because we
know that you may be taking more than one AP course. Your priorities are your business, but please remember
that 4s and 5s are grades that are hard to get and require great effort.
Workload:
Laboratory experience is an important component of an AP science course. Most labs will require informal lab
write-ups. There may be occasions where some of the labs cannot be completed in the regularly allotted class time.
You may have to stay during break, come after school, or take material home. Many of the labs take several
periods to complete. You will be expected to spend your class time wisely while working in the lab. This is an
elective course and we assume that you are here by choice.
Each student will be required to read and learn materials outside of the text, which, although they might not be
covered in lecture, may be covered on the quizzes and tests. In our estimation, the greatest challenge is the
requirement that you remain consistent throughout the year. One can expect, on average, an hour of
homework/study time per night.
Every test will have AP multiple choice questions, free-response questions, and math grid-ins. These will be
graded according to the AP standards. The tests are tough. You must become accustomed to fewer and more
comprehensive tests. All students will take the mid-term which will be administered AP style.
***See attached unit syllabus for typical workloads.
Pacing of This Course:
Every class period will be a lecture, a blend of lecture and descriptive lab, a lab, or a class discussion. You will also
be required to take notes on your reading. AP style tests will be administered approximately every two to three
weeks. We will cover the recommended essential knowledge prescribed by College Board, beginning with
molecular biology and moving to organismal biology as the year progresses.
Suggested Groupings: Anatomy/Physiology, Psychology, and AP Statistics pair well with AP Biology, however
great caution should be taken if AP Biology is paired with AP Chemistry and/or AP Physics.
AP Course Examples: See unit syllabus on the following page.
Bioenergetics Unit
Chapters 8-10
Date
Thursday, October 3
Classwork
Energy Tutorial Worksheet
Friday, October 4
Enzyme Lecture
Monday, October 7
Enzymes-Toothpickase
Lab
Review Study Guide
Enzyme Lab – AP Lab 2
Introduction with Potatoes
and Hydrogen Peroxide
Enzyme Lab – AP Lab 2
Enzyme Lab Titration
Protocol/ Determining the
Baseline
Enzyme Lab – AP Lab 2
Enzyme Lab Time Trials
***May want to skip time
trials and have them do the
design to save a day…
Enzyme Lab Wrap Up and
Carry out your design
Tuesday, October 8
Wednesday, October
9
Thursday, October
10
***Plan to stay after
school to complete
lab.
Friday, October 11
***Plan to stay after
school
Monday, October 14
Tuesday, October 15
Wednesday, October
16
Review data from design
Q and A on Enzyme Lab
Respiration Cheat Sheet
and Glycolysis Review
using the coloring sheet
(Name that enzyme)
Kreb’s Cycle and ETC
Notes- Overview
Cellular Respiration Cut
Outs
Anaerobic Respiration
Notes
ATP and Energetic
Coupling
Study Guide Help with
Homework
Complete Energy Overview
Worksheet – Chapter 8
Watch Bozeman Free Energy Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
DPjMPeU5OeM
Work on Chapter 6 “An
Introduction to Metabolism” while
you are reading Chapter 8 in your
textbook. Due Tuesday!
“An Introduction to Metabolism”
due tomorrow
Enzyme Lab Design
Enzyme Lab Work
Work on Enzyme Lab Write Up
Enzyme Lab Due Monday A-D
(Not design)
Start working on Chapter 9
“Cellular Respiration: Harvesting
Chemical Energy” Study Guide
while reading Chapter 9 in your
text. Due Thursday of next week.
Read and Color Electron Transport
Chain and Kreb’s Cycle
Work on study guide “Cellular
Respiration…” while reading
chapter 9. Due ThursdayCellular Respiration Study Guide
Due Tomorrow
Thursday, October
17
***Plan to stay after
school to complete
lab
Friday, October 18
Monday, October 21
Tuesday, October 22
Wednesday, October
23
Thursday, October
24
***Plan to stay late
to finish the test
Friday, October 25
Monday, October 28
Respiration
Respiration Lab
Review and Correct Study
Guide Today/Tonight
Photosynthesis Notes –
Pigments
Pigments Lab
Light Reaction Notes
Spectrophotometer
Demonstration
***Design photosynthesis
lab
Dark Reaction Notes and
Coloring as Notes are
Given
***Review design of lab
and set up.
Review Activity – Cut-outs
Review and Correct Study
Guide
Photosynthesis Lab
Peanut Calorimetry Lab
TEST – This may
change…
Read and Color Structures of
Photosynthesis
Begin work on study guide for
photosynthesis while reading
chapter 10
Work on study guide for
photosynthesis while reading
chapter 10.
Read and Color the Light Reaction
“Chemiosmosis Coloring” Link on
my wiki
Read and Color Dark Reaction
Continue working on study guide
for photosynthesis – due
Wednesday.
Review and Correct Study Guide
Work on Lab Write-Up
Study