Summer Assignment: AP Biology
Background: To learn and understand the ever-growing field of biology, we shift the focus
away from memorizing a laundry list of facts to engaging in seven scientific practices. By the
end of the course work, you should feel prepared to critically think about the world around you
and how biology comes down to better understanding yourself. The units we will cover include
Chemistry of Life, Cell Structure and Function, Cellular Energetics, Cell Cycle, Heredity, Gene
Expression and Regulation, Natural Selection, and Ecology. We will also work to understand
four large concepts: 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 possess complex properties. Your summer
assignment is designed as a sampler of the different units. This early exposure will ensure you
are not behind on the first day of school. Instead, this will be a helpful tool to not only feel
prepared but succeed in class. Please print and hand write all answers. If you are unsure on
how to spell something, use spell check. Be ready to turn them in on the first day of class.
Advice: It is recommended to spread your studying out over the summer and review a little bit
every couple of days rather than cramming the night before school starts. It is proven that you
will retain information better this way (Kornell, 2009). You should be prepared to take a quiz
within the first week of school on this content (not the first day). If you are unprepared and
score poorly on the quiz, you may have additional remediation assignments you will have to
complete.
Assignment: You will have different parts to complete. When you turn in the assignment, you
will have things printed, with your handwriting, in order. For instance, Part A Science Practice 1
Worksheet should be the first page of the assignment. Don’t forget, this is due on the first day of
school. Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Part A: Students will familiarize themselves with these seven scientific practices, as provided by the
College Board.
Procedure: Watch Bozeman Science videos (a fantastic resource for AP science students), and complete
the corresponding worksheets. It will take you about an hour to watch all seven videos. If you do not
have access to the internet, you must reach out. This section will have an extended deadline, but I need to
be aware. I do not want to wrongly count off for missing work.
Grading: Worksheets will be graded as a whole using the rubric below for a total of 7 points possible.
0 Points
No Evidence
4 Points
Partial Mastery
6 Points
Proficient
7 Points
Advanced
-Student did not complete
work
-Student’s work has
plagiarism issues
-Student’s work is missing
information or contains
the wrong information
-Student’s work is
complete, but lacks in-
depth answers
-Student’s work has minor
mistakes
Student’s work shows
mastery of knowledge by
providing thoughtful, in-
depth answers
Science Practice 1: The student can use representations and models to communicate scientific
phenomena and solve scientific problems.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Nemz_cVew
Worksheet: https://tinyurl.com/y95q5ajp
Science Practice 2: The student can use mathematics appropriately.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgqYlSKoXak
Worksheet: https://tinyurl.com/yaqqtqqk
Science Practice 3: The student can engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide
investigations within the context of the AP course.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zB272Ak63A
Worksheet: https://tinyurl.com/yc2g4qrc
Science Practice 4: The student can plan and implement data collection strategies appropriate to a
particular scientific question.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzTXnne40wU
Worksheet: https://tinyurl.com/ybolylz3
Science Practice 5: The student can perform data analysis and evaluation of evidence.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JqukouOtZA
Worksheet: https://tinyurl.com/ybskztts
Science Practice 6: The student can work with scientific explanations and theories.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gK1xWNM7kk
Worksheet: https://tinyurl.com/yaosxsgp
Science Practice 7: The student is able to connect and relate knowledge across various scales, concepts
and representations in and across domains.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l4bcs49JP8
Worksheet: https://tinyurl.com/y8q8bxqk
Part B: It is expected that you already have a working knowledge of basic biology from your previous
classes. We do not have the time to reteach these basic concepts during the school year. Therefore,
students will complete a review of terms because information might have been forgotten or never learned.
Procedure: Use the provided resources to complete the vocabulary review.Time is dependent on your
answers, but I estimate 2 minutes per term. The worksheet is provided. You will want to print it out. You
could use the worksheet to see the terms then create a flashcard version. Term on the front, everything
else on the back.
Grading: Vocabulary will be graded as a whole for a total of 20 points possible.
0 Points
No Evidence
12 Points
Partial Mastery
17 Points
Proficient
20 Points
Advanced
-Student did not complete
work
-Student’s work has
plagiarism issues
Student’s work has some
missing information or
contains the wrong
information
-Student’s work is
complete, but lacks in-
depth answers
-Student’s work has minor
mistakes
Student’s work shows
mastery of knowledge by
providing thoughtful, in-
depth answers
Resources:
● https://www.ck12.org/c/biology/ (textbook)
● https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology (text and videos)
● http://www.bozemanscience.com/ap-biology (videos)
● https://www.youtube.com/user/AmoebaSisters (videos)
● https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF (videos)
Assignment: https://tinyurl.com/bde5amx9
Part C: Students can plan and implement data collection strategies appropriate to a particular scientific
question. To communicate findings, a lab report will be created. DO NOT DO FOR YEAR 23-24
Procedure: You will design a hypothetical experiment to test a scientific claim. You will be assigned a
claim based on the first initial of your first name. Your lab report must have the following sections:
Problem, Hypothesis, Variables, Procedure, Data (you will not have actual data to include), Results.
Please use the example and resources I provided for you. Your lab report needs to follow the same format.
Grading: Lab report will be graded as a whole for a total of 18 points possible.
Report
Section
0 Points
No Evidence
1 point
Partial Mastery
3 points
Advanced
Problem
-Did not complete
work.
-There are
plagiarism issues.
Did not write a
scientific claim in
question format.
Used the assigned
claim in a question
format.
Hypothesis
-Did not complete
work.
-There are
plagiarism issues.
-Did not write the
hypothesis using the if,
then format.
-Incorrectly placed the
IV, DV.
There is a specific,
testable prediction in
the if, then format.
Variables
-Did not complete
work.
-There are
plagiarism issues.
Variables are
incorrectly identified
Correctly identified the
IV, DV, and included
controls
Procedure
-Did not complete
work.
-There are
plagiarism issues.
A list was used, but
someone recreating the
experiment is going to
have to assume several
things to try and
recreate it.
Numbered list using
complete sentences.
Anyone would be able
to follow the procedure
to recreate the
experiment. Materials
such as quantity and
brand are included (if
appropriate).
Data
-Did not complete
work.
-There are
plagiarism issues.
-Data section only
includes a table or
graph
-Data section is
complete but their are
major errors
Data section was
created with the correct
labeling in terms of
headings and variables.
Results
-Did not complete
work.
-There are
plagiarism issues.
-The answer to the
hypothesis is there, but
it is confusing to
understand.
-Not written in a CER
format
Someone can read the
section and learn the
answer to the
hypothesis. Section is
in-depth and
educationally valuable
in CER format.
First Name
Initial
Scientific Claim
A
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
B - C
Eating chocolate causes you to have acne.
D - E
Swimming immediately after eating will give you cramps.
F - G
Eating carrots will improve eyesight.
H - J
Going outside with wet hair will make you catch a cold.
K - L
Shaving makes hair grow back faster.
M
Drinking coffee will stunt a child’s growth.
N - O
Not eating when you have a fever will make you get better faster.
P - R
Break a mirror and you will have seven years of bad luck.
S
Blowing out all the candles on your birthday cake in one breath will cause you to get
your birthday wish.
T - V
The full moon makes people restless.
W - Z
Reading in dim light damages a person’s eyes.
Assignment: https://tinyurl.com/yc3fax64
Resources:
● Khan Academy variable practice
https://tinyurl.com/32sbv6ub
● Variable and hypothesis review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqj0rJEf3Ew
● CER format
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KKsLuRPsvU
● Lab format
https://tinyurl.com/5sh9rwcw