Lawrence Free State High School
AP Biology – Kelly Barah
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Email: kbarah@usd497.org
Office: Room 416
Telephone: 785-832-6050
Website: school website
TEXTBOOKS: Campbell, N. A. and Reece, J. B., Biology in Focus, 14th Edition,
Recommended Purchase: P. E. Biology AP Test Preparation, Cliff’s Notes, Edition 4
SUPPLIES:
3 ring notebook w/dividers, scientific calculator, USB drive, current email address
NOTE: You should check with the college or university you hope to attend for their policies related to AP exam credit.
Policies vary from school to school and are subject to change over time.
Although it is not mandatory, it is my expectation that ALL students enrolled in AP Biology to PREPARE for and TAKE the
AP exam. This is a challenging, college level course that will be rewarding when we all work together as a team toward a
common goal!
Advanced Placement Biology Content
This course in AP Biology is structured around the four Big Ideas, the Enduring Understandings within the big Ideas, and
the Essential Knowledge within the Enduring Understandings.
The 4 Big Ideas:
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 posses complex properties.
The above topics are integrated throughout the course with the goal of developing students who think like modern
biologists. Students will do the following:

Perform at least 10 inquiry AP labs (or modified versions of them) plus additional labs to develop technical and
critical thinking skills and to reinforce the biological concepts learned. (Lab component will represent 25% of
students’ time.) At the end of each lab students will produce a lab product to communicate their results and
conclusions. Several labs will require lab reports in a formal format.
Other lab products may include:
o Scientific posters
o PowerPoint presentations
o Performance assessment
o Forum-style presentation
o Question/response assessment
o Open-format creative product

Augment textbook with outside readings including material from current journals and newspaper articles. The
readings will be used as the basis for writing assignments and class discussions related to current applications of
biology (technological, medical, agricultural, etc.) and the societal and ethical issues engendered by the uses of
biological knowledge and technologies. These will include assorted readings during the year from Science, Nature,
and Scientific American.

Develop a conceptual framework of modern biology with an understanding of the overarching principle of evolution
as the foundation for modern biological principles and models.
A word regarding AP lab design…
Starting in the fall of 2012 the College Board implemented a significant redesign of the AP Biology curriculum. Their
focus is promoting inquiry in the laboratory and problem-solving and application of science concepts in novel situations.
More than ever before, success in the course (and on the exam in May) will require using the course material in context
rather than simple memorization. To reflect this change, the course will focus on development of the following seven
science practices:
The Seven Science Practices
1. The student can use representations and models to communicate scientific phenomena and solve
scientific problems.
2. The student can use mathematics appropriately.
3. The student can engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide investigations within
the context of the AP course.
4. The student can plan and implement data collection strategies appropriate to a particular scientific
question.
5. The student can perform data analysis and evaluation of evidence.
6. The student can work with scientific explanations and theories.
7. The student is able to connect and relate knowledge across various scales, concepts and
representations in and across domains.
First Semester
Unit 0 – Introduction to AP Biology
o
Course expectations
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Class work
Lab work
Independent work / preparing for the exam
Unit 1 – Biochemistry
o
o
o
Properties of Water
Macromolecules
Enzymes
Unit 2 – Cellular Biology
o
o
o
o
o
Cell Structure & Function
Cell Membranes
Cell Communication
Molecular Cell Signaling
Specialized Animal Signaling
Unit 3 – Energetics
o
o
General Metabolism
Cellular Respiration
Unit 4 – Cell Signaling
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Nervous System
Immune System
Endocrine System
Unit 5 – Molecular Genetics
o
o
o
Cell Division
Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
Mutation
Second Semester
Unit 6 – Inheritance and Expression
o
o
o
Patterns of Inheritance
DNA Structure & the Central Dogma
Biotechnology
Unit 7 – Evolution
o
o
o
Mechanisms of Microevolution
Patterns of Macroevolution
Evidence for Evolution
Unit 8 – History and Diversity of Organisms
o
o
Animal Diversity and Physiology
Plant Diversity and Physiology
Unit 9 – Ecology
o
o
o
Energy Flow
Organismal Interactions
Animal Behavior
Unit 10 – AP Exam Prep
o
o
o
Lab Reviews
Content Review
Technique Practice
Main Chapters
1 – Introduction to AP Biology
2 – Chemistry of Life (self-study
and recap in class)
Key Labs
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Introduction to inquiry labs
Animal Behavior Lab (AP)
Basic graphing
Drawing conclusions from data
25 – History of Life on Earth
3 – Water
4 – Carbon and Molecular
Diversity
5 - Macromolecules
7 – Membrane Structure and
Function
6 – Tour of a Cell
11 – Cell Communication
44 – Osmoregulation and
Excretion
(self-study)
8 – Introduction to Metabolism
9 – Cellular Respiration
10 – Photosynthesis
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Transpiration Lab (AP)
Coacervates Lab
Beano Lab
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Photosynthesis (AP)
Cellular Respiration (AP)
Fermentation
45 – Hormones and the Endocrine
System
48 – Neurons, Synapses and Signaling
43 – Immune System
40 – Basic Principles of Animal
Form and Function (self-study)
13 – Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
14 – Mendel and the Gene Idea
15 – Chromosome Basis of Inheritance
21 – Genomes and their Evolution

Start D. melanogaster (Fruit Fly) Lab


Cell Division (AP)
Biotechnology: Transformation (AP)
(Minimal class time, student’s responsibility)
Main Chapters
16 – Molecular Basis of Heredity
17 – From Gene to Protein
18 – Regulation of Gene Expression
20 – Biotechnology
19 – Viruses (self-study)
22 – Descent with Modification
23 – Evolution of Populations
24 – Origin of Species
25 – History of Life on Earth
26 – Phylogeny and the Tree of Life
27 – Bacteria and Archaea
29 – Plant Diversity I
30 – Plant Diversity II
32 – Overview of Animal Diversity
52 – Introduction to Ecology
53 – Population Ecology
54 – Community Ecology
55 – Ecosystems
51 – Animal Behavior (self-study)
AP Exam Cliff Notes
AP Exam May 2016
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Diffusion and Osmosis Lab (AP)
Catalase Enzyme Lab (AP)
Student Designed Inquiry
o
o
o
Molecular Signaling
Nervous System or
Immune System
Key Labs
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Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer
Restriction Enzyme Analysis (AP)
Finish D. melanogaster lab
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Artificial Selection (AP)
Mathematical Modeling: HardyWeinberg (AP)
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Halobacterium Lab
Transpiration Lab (AP)
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Fruit Fly Behavior (AP)
Population Modeling

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Review lab journal
Review 7 science practices
COURSE PLANNER:
PACING: Expect to have weekly quizzes and unit tests every couple weeks. You will have reading assignments AND will be
required to read and understand labs BEFORE the material is done in class. Your success in class will be dependent upon
doing these assignments AND any written assignments AND coming to class fully prepared. In class we will focus on
doing labs and activities which clarify difficult concepts. We will NOT spend time lecturing on concepts you can easily learn
on your own.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Grades will be determined as follows:
Grading Criteria:
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%
F = 0% - 59%
Final grades will be determined by the total number of points earned by the student divided by the total number of points
possible. Daily work (attendance, participation, notes and/or observations, lab sheets and other in class work, homework
assignments) will count in your final grade as well as exam and quiz scores.
In case of illness or emergency, tests may be made up at the discretion of the instructor within the usual school district
guidelines.
A final note regarding grades: Throughout the course assignments may receive grade adjustments, most often exams.
Other assignments may afford extra credit opportunities when exemplary products are submitted. There will also be one or
two opportunities for extra credit tasks, such as extra lab work, readings, or field experiences. However, these extra credit
opportunities will come when there are opportunities for deepening understanding and enhancing learning. Extra credit
will NOT be offered at the end of each semester. Further, the calculated grades will stand as the transcript grades as they
appear in the grade book.
INFORMATION ON STUDENT ACCESS AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Academic dishonesty on a test or any
assignment will result in no credit for the test or assignment involved. Students are expected to turn in unique work that is
100% their own unless otherwise explicitly instructed beforehand. All persons who knowingly participate in dishonest
behavior are equally guilty and may be dealt with in the same manner.
ATTENDANCE AND CLASS PARTICIPATION: Because class sessions will introduce new material, allow time for
questions, include performance of labs with highly perishable materials/organisms, and include special instructions, there
is really no way to fully make up a missed class or most of the labs. It is, therefore, essential that the student make a
conscientious effort to attend every class and be prepared to participate. Attendance will be taken at each class session.
EQUITY OF ACCESS: Lawrence Free State High School and the College Board believe strongly in making the AP
experience available to all students who are motivated to participate. If financial or other concerns are presenting a barrier
to taking part in AP Biology or taking the AP exam in May, please talk with Mrs. Leuschen about how the school can help.
STUDY SUGGESTIONS:
 Focus in class – paying attention in class can save you hours of studying outside of class.

This is a college level course and the class will be handled as such. You will be graded primarily on tests and labs
and you will be expected to monitor and analyze your own learning.

Biology is different from other introductory courses in terms of the amount of vocabulary involved to get a basic
understanding of the science. You must study some every day. Waiting to review your notes until just before the
exam is a bad idea. Staying on top of the material will help you develop a deeper understanding and keep the
material from feeling overwhelming and confusing.

There are study guides and tutorial activities for each topic – these are both highly useful; be sure you make use of
them bring any questions you have to class.
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Make use of ALL online resources, especially practice quizzes.
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Come in for help or get help from a classmate as soon as you have trouble with a concept. You need to be an
advocate for your own learning. Consider forming a study group, even if it’s only with one other person.

Keep an organized lab notebook and organized notes.
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Your syllabus is your best friend in this class – check it frequently and use it to plan your studying – you always have
homework in AP Bio. Text reading and Mastering Biology content IS HOMEWORK.

After a quiz or test take time to figure out why you missed questions – think about whether you misread the
question or needed to study more. If you needed to study more, do it right away – the concepts build on each other
AND you will be having comprehensive exams at the end of both semesters. And, of course, remember you are
always working toward your AP exam on May 9th, 2016.

Make sure you do your labs carefully and completely and that you understand what you’re doing and why you’re
doing it. Labs are a CRITICAL part of your preparation for the AP exam.

Make up labs immediately – biology lab materials usually have a short shelf life – you can’t do a lab if the organisms
are no longer fresh, no longer alive, or are no longer in the right stage of their life. Any labs that have materials
expire will become dry labs. Any activities that are not made up will be assigned zero credit.