Power Standard
(AP Biology/ AP
Environmental/
Biology)
Lesson
Objective
1. Diversity and
classification
 Students will
be aware of
the diversity of
living
organisms and
how they can
be compared
scientifically
2. Structure and
function of living
cells and
organisms
 Students will
understand the
structure,
function and
reproduction
of living cells
and organisms
Essential
Questions
 How do variations
within a species
increase the
chances of
survival of the
species under
changing
environmental
conditions
 How does the
great diversity of
species increase
the chance that at
least some living
organisms will
survive in the
event of major
global changes
 Identify and
discuss the
characteristics of
the basic
elements of living
organisms,
including carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen
and nitrogen
 How are
adaptations (and
My students will
know:
My students will be
able to do:
 The history of
classification
 Important scientists
 How classification and
evolution are
intertwined
 How environmental
conditions influences
diversity
 The difference in
Cladograms,
phylogenic trees and
dichotomous keys
that help interpret
diversity and
classification
 Dichotomous key
activities
 Cladogram and
Phylogenic tree
interpretations of
diversity
 How organic
compounds are
important in the
structure and function
of living things
(carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins and nucleic
acids)
 Adaptations that
make it possible for
reproductive survival
 Food analysis for
organic compounds
 Research for adaptions
 Explain different types
of cancer and “causes”
(human vs. different
animals)
 Explain the chemical
reactions that influence
photosynthesis,
respiration, digestion



3.
Organisms and
their
environment
 Students will
understand
how and why
organisms are
dependent on
one another
and their
environments


enrichment
activities)
important to
promote
reproductive
success in
different
organisms (wild
vs. captured)
Define cancer and
list causes that
increase the risk
of cancer
How are chemical
reactions (ex:
photosynthesis,
respiration,
digestion and
excretion)
necessary of life?
Explain the
structure, function
and replication
process for DNA
What is the
impact of
immigration,
emigration, birth
rate and death
rate on population
size?
What are the
factors that
control population





in different classes or
species
Difference in
reproductive success
in the wild and
captivity
Different types of
cancer and how the
environment can
influence them
How photosynthesis,
respiration, digestion
and excretion “work”
and why these
chemical reactions are
important.
The structure,
function of DNA
Genetic code and how
to note similarity in
the DNA sequences
for species
comparison.
 The difference in
immigration and
emigration and how
they are important in
a population.
 What dynamic
equilibrium is and
what factors help
influence
 What carrying
and excretion
 DNA analysis
 Population studies on
different organisms
 Read population study
graphs and interpret
data
 Identify behavioral,
morphological and
physical response to
changes in an organisms
environment




fluctuations in
given ecosystems
leading to
dynamic
equilibrium?
Explain how the
carrying capacity
of an ecosystem
may change as
availability of
resources changes
How are
behavioral,
morphological and
physical responses
due to an
organisms
environment
What are
examples of
natural and
human-initiated
environmental
changes that may
influences levels
of harmful
substances
Explain how
monitoring
environmental
factors assist
scientist in
determining the
health of the
capacity is and what
factors can influence
it.
 Examples of behavior,
morphological and
physical response in
different organisms
 Human influences that
cause different forms
of pollution
 Techniques to monitor
environmental factors
 Do water and soil
testing to determine the
health of the
environment.
4. Cycling of
matter within
ecosystems
5.
Genetics
 Students will
understand the
cycling of
matter and the
flow and
transformation
of energy
through
systems of
living things

 Students will
understand
how biological
traits are
passed on to
successive
generations






environment
What are the
sources of sinks in
matter and the
energy cycles?
How do you
diagram and
explain trophic
levels in an
ecosystem?
What are the laws
of
thermodynamics
and how do they
apply to an
ecosystem?
How are
population
management
plans important
for survival and
passing on the
“best” genetics?
How can inherited
traits of an
individual be
determined by
one or many
genes?
How can a single
gene influence
more than one
trait?
What are
 The different energy
cycles and how they
compare
 How to read and
interpret trophic level
diagrams
 the laws of
thermodynamics
 how to Apply the laws
of thermodynamics to
an ecosystem
 Diagram, label and
explain energy cycles
 Read and interpret
trophic levels
 Describe the laws of
thermodynamics to
others
 Population
management plans
and what their
importance is for
survival
 Examples of different
traits (human, animal
and plant) and the
genes that help
determine them
 Single genes can have
an influence on more
than one trait
 Mutations and their
causes
 Genetic disorders
 How ethics plays a
roles in genetic
 Research on PMP
 Compare different traits
of humans, animals and
plants
 Monohybrid, dihybrid
crosses
 Activities with
mutations
 Genetic disorder
projects
 Research on ethics and
genetic engineering


6. Change over
time
 Student will
understand the
arguments for
natural
selection as
scientific
explanation of
biological
evolution.



examples of
different
mutations and
how they occur?
(different species)
What are
examples of
inherited genetic
disorders and
their causes,
symptoms etc…
What are the
ethics and
implications of
genetic
engineering?
Explain Darwin’s
theory of Natural
Selection and its
importance to
biology.
How are the
patterns of
evolution
(divergent,
convergent and
coevolution)
important in an
ecosystem?
What are the
ways that can
disrupt genetic
equilibrium and
help cause
engineering
 History of evolution
 Scientists important in
evolution
 Why natural selection
is important in species
diversity
 How evolution ties
together with
classification
 Patterns and
descriptions of the
different patterns of
evolution
 Evidence that
supports evolution
 Biological and
morphological
characteristics used to
 History timeline of
evolution and scientist
 Describe the patterns of
evolution
 Evaluate evidence
supporting biological
evolution
 Explain biological and
morphological
characteristics used to
define a species
 Define gene pool and
discuss the implications
of varying allele
frequencies within a
gene pool.
evolution?
 What is the
evidence that
supports
biological
evolution?
(morphological,
anatomical and
molecular)
 What
characteristics are
used to define a
species
 What is a gene
pool and what are
the implications of
varying allele
frequencies within
a gene pool?
define a species
 How a gene pool is
important to
evolution and the
implications of varying
allele frequencies.