Syllabus for AP Biology

The AP Biology curriculum consists of 8 units. Even as we "return to normal" uncertainties still remain, so we will simply start on Unit One and move forward in numerical order. I will be responsible for setting and maintaining an appropriate pace. This course will utilize two primary sources: AP Classroom (College Board) and TheBioEdge (my website). Each unit of instruction will involve the same series of steps which culminate in an end of the unit assessment.

College Board provides a unit overview at the start of each unit. We look at this together and I will provide an opening lecture to introduce the topics, the Enduring Understandings, the Learning Objectives and the Essential Knowledge. This will be our first step to introduce each unit. The second step involves instruction through lecture and discussion. I may use some of Paul Anderson's videos from Bozeman Science, they are succinct, accurate and topic appropriate. We will watch the lecture together and you may ask questions along the way or at the videos completion. Once we feel that we have understanding of the material we will move to the third step. I will provide you with a series of questions multiple choice from College Board and short answer questions created by me. These questions will relate directly to the lecture material and serve as a formative assessment. After all students have completed questions (approx 5 or 6), I will provide answers, explanations and encourage discussions. The fourth step is dependent upon the classes performance on those questions, if identify areas of concern or weaknesses I will reteach the material myself. These 4 steps will be repeated for each subtopic until the entire unit is completed.

At the completion of each "whole unit" students will take a multiple choice assessment called "Progress Checks" provided by College Board. These Progress Checks will be graded but because they are multiple choice and will likely consist of only 10-20 questions we should have time to discuss them as final review before the Unit Exam. The Unit Exams will be a Free Response Question with multiple parts. Finally we need to incorporate some labs into each unit. As long as we are learning digitally our labs will be virtual or they will involve an activity either of which should allow us to address the necessary science skills. These "labs" can take place before we start a unit, during the unit or at the completion of the unit.

Class Overview

Unit One

Step One: College Board provides a unit overview at the start of each unit. We look at this together and I will provide an opening lecture to introduce the topics, the Enduring Understandings, the Learning Objectives and the Essential Knowledge.

Step Two:  Watch instructional videos that I will provide. The instructional videos will be Bozeman Biology videos  applicable to Topics 1.1-1.6 These videos are succinct, accurate and topic appropriate. We will watch the lecture together and you may ask questions along the way or at the videos completion. Once we feel that we have understanding of the material we will move to the third step.
Topic 1.1
Topic 1.2
Topics 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6

Step Three: Next I will provide you with a series of questions multiple choice from College Board and short answer questions created by me. These questions will relate directly to the lecture material and serve as a formative assessment. After all students have completed questions (approx 5 or 6), I will provide answers, explanations and encourage discussions.

Step Four:  The fourth step is dependent upon the classes performance on those questions from step three, should I identify areas of concern or weaknesses I will reteach the material myself.

These 4 steps will be repeated for each subtopic until the entire unit is completed.

Step Five:  At the completion of each "whole unit" students will take a multiple choice assessment called "Progress Checks" provided by College Board. These Progress Checks will be graded but because they are multiple choice and will likely consist of only 10-20 questions we should have time to discuss them as final review before the Unit Exam.

Step Six: Students will take a Unit One Exam

UNIT ONE Lab(s) or Activity(s) 
Each unit will have one or more virtual labs or activities that will support various science skills. These "labs" can take place before we start a unit, during the unit or at the completion of the unit.

Unit Two
Step One: College Board provides a unit overview at the start of each unit. We look at this together and I will provide an opening lecture to introduce the topics, the Enduring Understandings, the Learning Objectives and the Essential Knowledge.
Step Two:  Watch instructional videos that I will provide. The instructional videos will be Bozeman Biology videos or my own webcasts found on this website either of these will be applicable to Topics 2.1-2.11. These videos are succinct, accurate and topic appropriate. We will watch the lecture together and you may ask questions along the way or at the videos completion. Once we feel that we have understanding of the material we will move to the third step.
Topic 2.1, 2.2
Topic 2.3, 2.10, 2.11
Topic 2.11
Topic 2.4, 2.5
Topic 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9
Topic 2.8
Step Three: Next I will provide you with a series of questions multiple choice from College Board and short answer questions created by me. These questions will relate directly to the lecture material and serve as a formative assessment. After all students have completed questions (approx 5 or 6), I will provide answers, explanations and encourage discussions.
Step Four: The fourth step is dependent upon the classes performance on those questions from step three, should I identify areas of concern or weaknesses I will reteach the material myself.
These 4 steps will be repeated for each subtopic until the entire unit is completed.
Step Five:  At the completion of each "whole unit" students will take a multiple choice assessment called "Progress Checks" provided by College Board. These Progress Checks will be graded but because they are multiple choice and will likely consist of only 10-20 questions we should have time to discuss them as final review before the Unit Exam.
Step Six: Students will take a Unit Two Exam
UNIT TWO Lab(s) or Activity(s) 
Each unit will have one or more virtual labs or activities that will support various science skills. These "labs" can take place before we start a unit, during the unit or at the completion of the unit.

Unit Three

Step One: College Board provides a unit overview at the start of each unit. We look at this together and I will provide an opening lecture to introduce the topics, the Enduring Understandings, the Learning Objectives and the Essential Knowledge.
Step Two:  Watch instructional videos that I will provide. The instructional videos will be Bozeman Biology videos or my own webcasts found on this website either of these will be applicable to Topics 3.1 - 3.7. These videos are succinct, accurate and topic appropriate. We will watch the lecture together and you may ask questions along the way or at the videos completion. Once we feel that we have understanding of the material we will move to the third step.
Topic 3 Introduction and Framework
Topic 3.1, 3.2
Topic 3.3
Topic 3.4
Topic 3.5, 3.6
Topic 3.7
Step Three: Next I will provide you with a series of questions multiple choice from College Board and short answer questions created by me. These questions will relate directly to the lecture material and serve as a formative assessment. After all students have completed questions (approx 5 or 6), I will provide answers, explanations and encourage discussions.
Step Four: The fourth step is dependent upon the classes performance on those questions from step three, should I identify areas of concern or weaknesses I will reteach the material myself.
These 4 steps will be repeated for each subtopic until the entire unit is completed.
Step Five:  At the completion of each "whole unit" students will take a multiple choice assessment called "Progress Checks" provided by College Board. These Progress Checks will be graded but because they are multiple choice and will likely consist of only 10-20 questions we should have time to discuss them as final review before the Unit Exam.
Step Six: Students will take a Unit Three Exam
UNIT THREE Lab(s) or Activity(s) 
Each unit will have one or more virtual labs or activities that will support various science skills. These "labs" can take place before we start a unit, during the unit or at the completion of the unit.

Unit Four

Step One: College Board provides a unit overview at the start of each unit. We look at this together and I will provide an opening lecture to introduce the topics, the Enduring Understandings, the Learning Objectives and the Essential Knowledge.
Step Two:  Watch instructional videos that I will provide. The instructional videos will be Bozeman Biology videos or my own webcasts found on this website either of these will be applicable to Topics 4.1-4.7. These videos are succinct, accurate and topic appropriate. We will watch the lecture together and you may ask questions along the way or at the videos completion. Once we feel that we have understanding of the material we will move to the third step.
Communication Introduction
Topic 4.1
Topics 4.2, 4.3
Topic 4.4
Topic 4.5
Topics 4.6, 4.7

Step Three: Next I will provide you with a series of questions multiple choice from College Board and short answer questions created by me. These questions will relate directly to the lecture material and serve as a formative assessment. After all students have completed questions (approx 5 or 6), I will provide answers, explanations and encourage discussions.
Step Four: The fourth step is dependent upon the classes performance on those questions from step three, should I identify areas of concern or weaknesses I will reteach the material myself.
These 4 steps will be repeated for each subtopic until the entire unit is completed.
Step Five:  At the completion of each "whole unit" students will take a multiple choice assessment called "Progress Checks" provided by College Board. These Progress Checks will be graded but because they are multiple choice and will likely consist of only 10-20 questions we should have time to discuss them as final review before the Unit Exam.
Step Six: Students will take a Unit Four Exam
UNIT FOUR Lab(s) or Activity(s) 
Each unit will have one or more virtual labs or activities that will support various science skills. These "labs" can take place before we start a unit, during the unit or at the completion of the unit.

Unit Five

Step One: College Board provides a unit overview at the start of each unit. We look at this together and I will provide an opening lecture to introduce the topics, the Enduring Understandings, the Learning Objectives and the Essential Knowledge.
Step Two:  Watch instructional videos that I will provide. The instructional videos will be Bozeman Biology videos or my own webcasts found on this website either of these will be applicable to Topics 5.1 - 5.6. These videos are succinct, accurate and topic appropriate. We will watch the lecture together and you may ask questions along the way or at the videos completion. Once we feel that we have understanding of the material we will move to the third step.
Topic 5.1
Topic 5.2
Topic 5.3
Topic 5.4
Topic 5.5
Topic 5.6
Step Three: Next I will provide you with a series of questions multiple choice from College Board and short answer questions created by me. These questions will relate directly to the lecture material and serve as a formative assessment. After all students have completed questions (approx 5 or 6), I will provide answers, explanations and encourage discussions.
Step Four: The fourth step is dependent upon the classes performance on those questions from step three, should I identify areas of concern or weaknesses I will reteach the material myself.
These 4 steps will be repeated for each subtopic until the entire unit is completed.
Step Five:  At the completion of each "whole unit" students will take a multiple choice assessment called "Progress Checks" provided by College Board. These Progress Checks will be graded but because they are multiple choice and will likely consist of only 10-20 questions we should have time to discuss them as final review before the Unit Exam.
Step Six: Students will take a Unit Five Exam
UNIT FIVE Lab(s) or Activity(s) 
Each unit will have one or more virtual labs or activities that will support various science skills. These "labs" can take place before we start a unit, during the unit or at the completion of the unit.

Unit Six

Step One: College Board provides a unit overview at the start of each unit. We look at this together and I will provide an opening lecture to introduce the topics, the Enduring Understandings, the Learning Objectives and the Essential Knowledge.
Step Two:  Watch instructional videos that I will provide. The instructional videos will be Bozeman Biology videos or my own webcasts found on this website either of these will be applicable to Topics 6.1 - 6.8. These videos are succinct, accurate and topic appropriate. We will watch the lecture together and you may ask questions along the way or at the videos completion. Once we feel that we have understanding of the material we will move to the third step.
Topic(s) 6.1 Part 1
Topic(s) 6.1 Part 2
Topic(s) 6.2
Topic(s) 6.3, 6.4
Topic(s) 6.5, 6.6
Topic(s) 6.6
Topic(s) 6.7
Topic(s) 6.8

Step Three: Next I will provide you with a series of questions multiple choice from College Board and short answer questions created by me. These questions will relate directly to the lecture material and serve as a formative assessment. After all students have completed questions (approx 5 or 6), I will provide answers, explanations and encourage discussions.
Step Four: The fourth step is dependent upon the classes performance on those questions from step three, should I identify areas of concern or weaknesses I will reteach the material myself.
These 4 steps will be repeated for each subtopic until the entire unit is completed.
Step Five:  At the completion of each "whole unit" students will take a multiple choice assessment called "Progress Checks" provided by College Board. These Progress Checks will be graded but because they are multiple choice and will likely consist of only 10-20 questions we should have time to discuss them as final review before the Unit Exam.
Step Six: Students will take a Unit Six Exam
UNIT SIX Lab(s) or Activity(s) 
Each unit will have one or more virtual labs or activities that will support various science skills. These "labs" can take place before we start a unit, during the unit or at the completion of the unit.

Unit Seven

Step One: College Board provides a unit overview at the start of each unit. We look at this together and I will provide an opening lecture to introduce the topics, the Enduring Understandings, the Learning Objectives and the Essential Knowledge.
Step Two:  Watch instructional videos that I will provide. The instructional videos will be Bozeman Biology videos or my own webcasts found on this website either of these will be applicable to Topics 7.1 - 7.13. These videos are succinct, accurate and topic appropriate. We will watch the lecture together and you may ask questions along the way or at the videos completion. Once we feel that we have understanding of the material we will move to the third step.
Process of Natural Selection
Topic(s) 7.1, 7.2
Examples of Natural Selection
Topic(s) 7.3
Topic(s) 7.4
Topic(s) 7.5
Topic(s) 7.6
Topic(s) 7.7
Topic(s) 7.8
Topic(s) 7.9 part 1
Topic(s) 7.9 part 2
Topic(s) 7.10
Topic(s) 7.11
Topic(s) 7.12
Topic(s) 7.13 part 1
Topic(s) 7.13 part 2
Step Three: Next I will provide you with a series of questions multiple choice from College Board and short answer questions created by me. These questions will relate directly to the lecture material and serve as a formative assessment. After all students have completed questions (approx 5 or 6), I will provide answers, explanations and encourage discussions.
Step Four: The fourth step is dependent upon the classes performance on those questions from step three, should I identify areas of concern or weaknesses I will reteach the material myself.
These 4 steps will be repeated for each subtopic until the entire unit is completed.
Step Five:  At the completion of each "whole unit" students will take a multiple choice assessment called "Progress Checks" provided by College Board. These Progress Checks will be graded but because they are multiple choice and will likely consist of only 10-20 questions we should have time to discuss them as final review before the Unit Exam.
Step Six: Students will take a Unit Seven Exam
UNIT SEVEN Lab(s) or Activity(s) 
Each unit will have one or more virtual labs or activities that will support various science skills. These "labs" can take place before we start a unit, during the unit or at the completion of the unit.

Unit Eight

Step One: College Board provides a unit overview at the start of each unit. We look at this together and I will provide an opening lecture to introduce the topics, the Enduring Understandings, the Learning Objectives and the Essential Knowledge.
Step Two:  Watch instructional videos that I will provide. The instructional videos will be Bozeman Biology videos or my own webcasts found on this website either of these will be applicable to Topics 8.1 - 8.7. These videos are succinct, accurate and topic appropriate. We will watch the lecture together and you may ask questions along the way or at the videos completion. Once we feel that we have understanding of the material we will move to the third step.
Topic(s) 8.1 part 1
Topic(s) 8.1 part 2
Topic(s) 8.1 part 3
Topic(s) 8.2 part 1
Topic(s) 8.2 part 2
Topic(s) 8.3 part 1
Topic(s) 8.3 part 2
Topic(s) 8.4
Topic(s) 8.5
Topic(s) 8.6
Topic(s) 8.7
Step Three: Next I will provide you with a series of questions multiple choice from College Board and short answer questions created by me. These questions will relate directly to the lecture material and serve as a formative assessment. After all students have completed questions (approx 5 or 6), I will provide answers, explanations and encourage discussions.
Step Four: The fourth step is dependent upon the classes performance on those questions from step three, should I identify areas of concern or weaknesses I will reteach the material myself.
These 4 steps will be repeated for each subtopic until the entire unit is completed.
Step Five:  At the completion of each "whole unit" students will take a multiple choice assessment called "Progress Checks" provided by College Board. These Progress Checks will be graded but because they are multiple choice and will likely consist of only 10-20 questions we should have time to discuss them as final review before the Unit Exam.
Step Six: Students will take a Unit Eight Exam
UNIT ONE Lab(s) or Activity(s) 
Each unit will have one or more virtual labs or activities that will support various science skills. These "labs" can take place before we start a unit, during the unit or at the completion of the unit.