LEAPES Summer Assignments
Week 1
Textbook Read pages 1-15
Flashcards for vocabulary words:
1. science
2. observation
3. inference
4. hypothesis
5. controlled experiment
6. independent variable
7. dependent variable
8. control
9. data
10. theory
11. bias
Analysis Questions
1. Why is there uncertainty in science?
2. What is the difference between an observation and inference? Give three
examples of each.
3. In the controlled experiment: Does temperature affect plant growth?
Identify the following:
a. independent variable
b. dependent variable
c. control group
4. What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data? Give an example
of each.
5. Why is it important for a scientist to be curious, skeptical, open-minded, and
creative?
6. How has technology impacted science? Give an example.
7. Why are peer reviews important in reducing bias in science?
8. How is the term theory misused in everyday language?
9. What are the limitations of science?
10. A study shows that a new pesticide is safe for use on food crops. The researcher
who conducted this study works for the pesticide company. What possible biases
may exist in the reporting of this study?
Week 2
Textbook Read pages 16-25 `
Flashcards for vocabulary words:
1. biology
2. DNA
3. sexual reproduction
4. asexual reproduction
5. homeostasis
6. metabolism
7. biosphere
Analysis Questions
1. What is BPA? Who do you think should fund safety studies on its use?
2. What are the characteristics that all living things have in common?
3. How can DNA inside your cells influence your future?
4. How do living things obtain material to produce energy?
5. What can result from a failure to maintain homeostasis?
6. How are all living things connected? Give an example.
7. Choose a field of biology and describe its approach to studying life.
8. Convert the following:
25.89 meters = _____________kilometers
9,890 mg = _____________grams
1000 cubic cm = _________________mL
9. Define each prefix related to the metric system using a numerical value
a. mega
b. kilo
c. deci
d. micro
e. centi
f. deca
10. What is the most important safety rule to follow in a science classroom? Why?
Week 3
Textbook Complete pages 28-31
Chapter 1 Assessment
Chapter 1 Mystery
Standardized Test Prep
Week 4
Textbook Read pages 34-44
Flashcards for vocabulary words:
1. atom
2. nucleus
3. electron
4. element
5. isotope
6. compound
7. ionic bond
8. covalent bond
9. molecule
10. Van der Waals forces
11. cohesion
12. adhesion
13. solution
14. solute
15. solvent
16. suspension
17. pH scale
18. acid
19. base
20. buffer
Analysis Questions
1. Which subatomic particles are found in the nucleus of an atom?
2. Why are atoms always neutral?
3. What is the difference between a compound and element?
4. How are isotopes of an element similar? Different?
5. What are radioactive isotopes used for?
6. Describe the bonding that takes place in a molecule of salt and water.
7. How does the Tokay Gecko scale a wall?
8. Why is water considered a polar molecule?
9. How does water’s high heat capacity allow for life on Earth?
10. Draw a pH scale containing 6 substances. Label the acids and bases
appropriately.
Week 5
Textbook Read pages 45-53
Flashcards for vocabulary words:
1. monomer
2. polymer
3. carbohydrate
4. monosaccharide
5. lipid
6. nucleic acid
7. nucleotide
8. proteins
9. amino acids
10. chemical reaction
11. reactants
12. products
13. activation energy
14. catalyst
15. enzymes
16. substrates
Analysis Questions
1. What two characteristics make carbon important to living things?
2. What is the difference about the structure of methane compared to acetylene and
butadiene?
3. Define polymerization.
4. How are carbohydrates important to living things?
5. Which two subunits make up lipids? What does it mean to be a saturated or
unsaturated fat?
6. Draw a nucleotide and label its parts.
7. How are proteins important to living things?
8. Discuss the four levels of structure found in proteins.
9. Describe the reaction that involves hydrogen and oxygen gases.
10. What are enzymes and give a specific example of how they are needed in the
human body.
Week 6
Textbook Complete pages 56-59
Chapter 2 Assessment
Chapter 2 Mystery
Standardized Test Prep
Week 7
Textbook Read pages 190-207
Flashcards for vocabulary words:
1. cell
2. cell theory
3. cell membrane
4. nucleus
5. eukaryote
6. prokaryote
7. cytoplasm
8. organelles
9. vacuoles
10. lysosomes
11. cytoskeleton
12. centrioles
13. ribosomes
14. ER
15. golgi apparatus
16. chloroplasts
17. mitochondria
18. cell wall
19. lipid bilayer
20. selectively permeable
Analysis Questions
1. How did Hooke, Van Leeuwenhoek, Schleidan, Schwann, and Virchow contribute
to the development of the cell theory?
2. How are compound light microscopes and stains important tools when studying
life?
3. What is the difference between a scanning and tranmission electron microscope?
4. List three differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
5. Describe the structure of the nucleus using the terms nuclear envelope and pore,
chromatin, chromosomes, and nucleolus.
6. How is the lysosome like a custodian in our school?
7. Contrast between microfilaments and microtubules.
8. What is the difference between rough and smooth ER?
9. How are chloroplasts and mitochondria similar?
10. Describe the structure of the cell membrane and why it is considered selectively
permeable.
Week 8
Textbook Read pages 208-223
Flashcards for vocabulary words:
1. diffusion
2. facilitated diffusion
3. aquaporins
4. osmosis
5. isotonic
6. hypertonic
7. hypotonic
8. osmotic pressure
9. tissue
10. organ
11. organ system
12. receptor
Analysis Questions
1. How does simple diffusion and facilitated diffusion illustrate passive transport?
2. How does a plant and animal cell respond differently to osmosis?
3. How does active transport differ from passive transport?
4. Describe the two types of endocytosis as well as exocytosis.
5. What does the term specialized mean?
6. Draw a concept map relating the following terms:
organ, tissue, organelle, cell, organism, organ system
7. How are receptors important to cell functioning?
Complete the following:
Chapter 7 Assessment
Chapter 7 Mystery
Standardized Test Prep