Download ap biology summer assignment

AP BIOLOGY SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
**LATE SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED**
**If you do not complete your assignments by the due dates outlined above I will assume that you are
dropping the course.
Welcome to AP Biology! The year should prove to be both exciting and challenging. As you may
know, AP courses are designed to cover a variety of concepts that you would likely find in a first-year college
introductory course. AP Biology is no different! We run the gamut in terms of the topics we cover- from
chemical structures of biological molecules to ecological interactions of animal populations! This is why the
completion of the summer assignment is so important. It will allow us to cover more of the material that will
likely be found on the AP Biology exam that is offered in early May. Time is of the essence and the more we
can get done the better you will be in May.
There are several different tasks that need to be completed throughout the summer. Be sure to follow
the timeline in order to complete each task on time.
Due Date
Mon., June 6
Mon., June 20
Wed., August
24
Wed., August
24
Throughout
the summer
Throughout
the summer
Assignment
Assignment #1
1. Visit Mr. Lowe’s website from the Senior High Website
(http://www.svsd.net//Domain/1025) and enter your contact
information into the “AP Biology Student Information Page”
2. Sign-up for “Remind” (Instructions found under AP Bio Summer
Assignment Page)
3. Sign-up for “Schoology” (Instructions found under AP Bio
Summer Assignment Page)
4. Program your smartphone (if you have one) to receive your
school email. (Instructions found under AP Bio Summer
Assignment Page)
5. Email me if you have any problems with these.
Assignment #2
Send your e-mail “Letter of Introduction” to Mr. Lowe’s e-mail:
[email protected] (See attached instructions below)
Assignment #3
1. Buy and bring class supplies to school
2. Complete summer reading/videos and bring completed Guided
Readings and Graphing Exercise to the first day of school.
3. Be prepared for Ecology test the week of AUG.29!!!
Assignment #4
1. Hand-in your 25 pts. PowerPoint. (pictures w/ description) of
your scavenger hunt to Mr. Lowe.
2. Bring a Flash Drive to school with your PowerPoint.
1. Check your school e-mail (be sure its included in the online
information form) regularly for messages from Mr. Lowe
1. Enjoy your summer!
ASSIGNMENT #2
LETTER OF INTRODUCTION
Welcome to AP Biology!
We are going to spend a lot of time together next year, so it’s best if I get a head start on learning a bit about
you. Also, we will use the Internet and the Web a lot next year for this course, so let’s get you used to
communicating with me via e-mail.
Your first digital assignment is to successfully send me an e-mail.
Draft an e-mail to me following these rules:
a. Use clearly written, full sentences. Do not abbreviate words like you are texting a friend. Use spell
check! This is a professional communication like you would have with a college professor, so let’s
practice for your rapidly nearing future!
b. Address it to me at: [email protected]
c. In the Subject write: “AP Bio: Introduction to <Insert Your Name Here>”
(Do not include the quote marks or the brackets, just the words)
d. Begin the e-mail with a formal salutation, like “Mr. Lowe,” or “Dear Mr. Lowe,”
e. Now introduce yourself and tell me a little bit about yourself, foe example:
• What do you like to do (hobbies, sports, music, interests, etc.)?
• Do you have a job?
• Tell me a little bit about your family (Mom? Dad? Guardian? Siblings? Pets?)
• What do your parents do for a living?
• Was there anything that you liked about your earlier biology class?
• What was the last book you read for fun?
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What are you looking forward to the most in AP Biology?
• What are you most anxious about in AP Biology?
f.
End the e-mail with a formal closing: “Cordially”, “Sincerely”, “Warm regards”, etc. and add your
name as if you signed a letter.
ASSIGNMENT #3
The topic of the summer reading is Ecology. Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between
organisms and the environment. Because of its great scope, ecology is an enormously complex and exciting
area of Biology. To gain a basic understanding of the richness of the biosphere so we can conserve and
sustain that richness,
1. Read chapters 53-55 and watch the corresponding videos. (If you were not yet assigned a book, use
the online chapters found on my website.)
2. Complete the Guided Reading sheets that go with each of these chapters. They are located on my AP
Biology website, on the AP Guided Readings page. There is a lot of information in each chapter and we
cannot concentrate on all of it. So let the guided readings help focus you. Emphasis will be placed on
understanding the concepts of Ecology, not the plain memorizing of facts.
3. Test Yourself: Complete the Pre-test and Post-test Questions on the Learning Center- (this utilizes a
newer version of our book, so the chapters are a bit different- Ch. 55-Population Ecology, Ch. 56Community Ecology, and Ch. 57- Dynamics of an Ecosystem). You DO NOT need to hand this in.
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073383074/sitemap.html
4. Graphing Exercises (found on my website)- Complete the graphing exercise ON A SEPARATE SHEET
OF PAPER. You do not need to print of the original exercise pages.
As you will see the reading level of these three chapters is fairly easy so I do not anticipate a need for
much explanation of the material. I’ve also placed on my website, a PowerPoint presentation that
accompanies each of the chapter readings.
Always remember that you are responsible for your OWN work and for any information from the
assigned reading, now and during the school year. Here are some key points to remember when completing
the assignments:
1. The Guided Reading Sheets assigned as part of this summer assignment are to be printed off and
NEATLY HANDWRITTEN. Not typed. If answers are illegible, they will not be graded and a grade of “0”
will be assigned. Every student can write legibly if time is invested.
2. LATE SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED
3. Repetition is intentional. DO NOT write “see number 4 above” or “this answer was given in number 7 of
part 1” for example.
4. I recommend beginning the reading assignments in August so that they will be fresh in your mind when
the year begins. After you begin, read a little each night and review throughout the month. The reading
level may be easy, but the volume is large and you are expected to remember the material from these
chapters.
5. There is an Ecology Test Study guide on my website under “AP Biology Handouts” that can be used to
help prepare you for your first exam.
If you have any questions during the summer, I can be reached at:
[email protected]
Book Reading for This Section: Chapter 53-Population Ecology
Online Videos to Help:
Crashcourse Biology Videos:
The History of Life on Earth - Crash Course Ecology #1
Population Ecology: The Texas Mosquito Mystery - Crash Course Ecology #2
Human Population Growth - Crash Course Ecology #3
Videos by Paul Anderson (Bozeman Science-http://www.bozemanscience.com/ap-biology/):
“r- and K- Selection”
“Biotic & Abiotic Factors”
“Ecosystems”
“Logistic Growth”
“Exponential Growth”
Book Reading for This Section: Chapters 54-Community Ecology
Online Videos to Help:
Crashcourse Biology Videos:
Community Ecology: Feel the Love - Crash Course Ecology #4
Community Ecology II: Predators - Crash Course Ecology #5
Ecological Succession: Change is Good - Crash Course Ecology #6
Videos by Paul Anderson (Bozeman Science-http://www.bozemanscience.com/ap-biology/):
“Niche”
“Communities”
“Coevolution”
“Ecological Succession”
“Biodiversity”
Book Reading for This Section: Chapters 55-Dynamics of Ecosystems
Online Videos to Help:
Crashcourse Biology Videos:
Ecosystem Ecology: Links in the Chain - Crash Course Ecology #7
The Hydrologic and Carbon Cycles: Always Recycle! - Crash Course Ecology #8
Nitrogen & Phosphorus Cycles: Always Recycle! Part 2 - Crash Course Ecology #9
Videos by Paul Anderson (Bozeman Science-http://www.bozemanscience.com/ap-biology/):
“Ecosystems”
“Biogeochemical Cycling”
“Ecosystem Change”
ASSIGNMENT #3
Please use the summer as your opportunity to get your supplies for AP Biology early!
Come in prepared on Day 1.
MATERIALS
1. 3-ring class notebook (2 – 3 inch) for handouts (Yes, I know that’s BIG, but you will fill it)
2. A bound 9 ¾ x 7 ½ in. composition notebook to be used as a lab notebook (pages should not be able
to be pulled out- NO SPIRALS).
3.
4. Blue or black pens and pencils to be brought to class EVERY day
5. Textbook (will be supplied to you before summer): Biology (7th Edition) by P. Raven, G.
Johnson, et al.
6. The textbook should be left at home for your nightly homework.
ASSIGNMENT #4
BIOLOGY COLLECTION
PLEASE READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY SO YOU DON’T MISS ANYTHING:
For this part of your summer assignment, you will be familiarizing yourself with science terms that we will be
using at different points throughout the year by creating a slide presentation of biology pictures. On the next
page is the list of terms.
I strongly suggest that you complete several each week:
1. Each picture is worth 1 point. You must earn 25 points.
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Earn 25 points by “collecting” any 25 items from the list of terms on the next page. When I say
“collect”, I mean you should collect that item by finding it and taking a photograph (digital) of that item.
You will create a PowerPoint (if you do not have PowerPoint, use “Google Drive” at
www.drive.google.com to create a presentation) of your photographs.
Your slide should also include a definition of the term and explanations/descriptions of how the
picture fits the term.
Explanations or descriptions should be at least 2 sentences and there should be only one item per
page.
Please bring your PowerPoint on a flash drive to class on the due date.
An example of a presentation is provided on my website.
2. YOU CAN BE CREATIVE:
If you choose an item that is internal to a plant or animal, like the term “phloem”, you could submit a
photograph of the whole organism or a close up of one part, and then explain in the description what phloem is
and specifically where phloem is in your specimen.
3. ORIGINAL PHOTOS ONLY:
You cannot use an image from any publication or the Web. You must have taken the photograph yourself. To
prove place an item in all of your photographs that only you could have added each time, something that
you might usually have on you like a pen or a coin or a key or your cell phone, etc.
4. NATURAL ITEMS ONLY (zoological institutions ARE acceptable):
All items must be from something that you have found in nature. Take a walk around your yard, neighborhood,
and town. YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPEND ANY MONEY! Research what the term means and in what
organisms it can be found... and then go out and find an example.
5. TEAM WORK:
You may work with other students in the class to complete this project, but each student must turn in his or
her own project with a unique set of terms chosen. So working with other students means brainstorming,
discussing, going on collecting trips together. It doesn’t mean using the same items! There are almost 100
choices... probability says there is a very slim chance that any two students will have the same items chosen
for their 25 points… and I believe in the statistics!
BIOLOGY COLLECTION TERMS
Below are the items you are to “collect”. An individual organism can only be used once. Humans are
acceptable for one category only. You must take all photos yourself- NO INTERNET photos!
GROUPINGS
Choose from among the items (1-12) below. Each example pair from that item is worth 1 point. You may
include up to a total of 2 examples pairs for each item (this would be worth a total of 2 points). Except where
noted every example must be native to Pennsylvania.
1. Different biomes (1 pair must be within PA)
2. Different types of carbohydrates
3. Different classes of proteins
4. Evidence of different alleles for the same trait
5. Distinguishing characteristics between monocots &
dicots
6. Organisms in different kingdoms
7. Organisms in different animal phyla
8. Organisms in different plant divisions
9. Organisms in same class but different orders
10. Organisms in same order but different family
11. Organisms in same genus but are different
species
12. Organisms on different levels of the same food
chain
INDIVIDUAL ITEMS
Each example of the items below is worth 1 point. You may have up to 2 different examples of
each item; submitting more than 2 will not add any additional points. These do not need to be
native to Pennsylvania.
1. adaptation of an animal
2. adaptation of a plant
3. altruistic behavior
4. amniotic egg
5. analagous structures
6. animal that has a
segmented body
7. anther & filament of
stamen
8. archaebacteria
9. asexual reproduction
10. ATP
11. autotroph
12. auxin producing area of
a plant
13. basidiomycete
14. Batesian mimicry
15. bilateral symmetry
16. biological magnification
17. C3, C4 or CAM plant
18. Calvin cycle
19. cambium
20. commensalism
21. connective tissue
22. cuticle layer of a plant
23. detritovore
24. dominant vs. recessive
phenotype
25. ectotherm
26. endosperm
27. endotherm
28. enzyme
29. epithelial tissue
30. ethylene
31. eubacteria
32. eukaryote
33. exoskeleton
34. fermentation
35. flower ovary
36. frond
37. gametophyte
38. genetic variation within a
population
39. genetically modified
organism
40. gibberellins
41. glycogen
42. gymnosperm cone –
male or female
43. gymnosperm leaf
44. hermaphrodite
45. heterotroph
46. homeostasis
47. homologous structures
48. introduced species
49. Krebs cycle
50. K-strategist
51. lichen
52. lipid used for energy
storage
53. littoral zone organism
54. long-day plant
55. mating behavior (be
careful!)
56. meristem
57. modified leaf of a plant
58. modified root of a plant
59. modified stem of a plant
60. Mullerian mimicry
61. mutualism
62. mycelium
63. mycorrhizae
64. niche
65. parasitism
66. parenchyma cells
67. phloem
68. pollen
69. pollinator
70. population
71. predation
72. prokaryote
73. r-strategist
74. radial symmetry
75. redox reaction
76. rhizome
77. seed dispersal (animal,
wind, water)
78. spore
79. sporophyte
80. stigma & style of carpel
81. succession
82. taxis
83. territorial behavior
84. tropism
85. unicellular organism
86. vestigial structures
87. xylem