AP Biology Course Outline

Mr Bucher, Room 202

dbucher@onteora.k12.ny.us

Textbooks: Campbell Biology

Biozone AP Biology 1 and 2 Workbooks

Unit 1 Structural Biochemistry (2 weeks)

Much of this unit needs to be internalized over the summer by doing your summer assignment.

Unit 2 Cells and Cell Processes   (8 weeks)

A review of Cell Structure is part of your summer assignment. Metabolism is a major subunit..

Unit 3 Genetic Basis of Life (8 weeks)

            “Classical” genetics and biotechnology are major subunits.

Unit 4 Evolution (6 weeks)

Unit 5 Organism Form and Function (2 weeks)

            The nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system are emphasized.

Ecology, Animal Behavior and Population Biology are covered in the lab class.

 

 

Grading Policy: Quarters 1-3

•      Quizzes (50%) –  will be in new format; 10-20 multiple choice, a few “grid-in” questions, a long free response question and several sort answer questions. Vocabulary Quizzes – can happen anytime; worth 5 points each. Vocab quizzes can be retaken; no do-overs for MC/FR. Quarter 1 Quizzes will be worth 40%, the summer assignment is 10%.

•      Laboratory Work (20%) The college board has moved towards what are called inquiry-based labs;

•      You have to design experiments, conduct them, write up results in a lab notebook

•      We will be implementing some of the recommended activities (there are 13) this year.

•      Homework (10%) is an essential part of this course!

•      You must do homework, on time, every day.

•      Do not wait for the last minute – do some every night when you get home.

•      All students will participate in leading review of workbook homework at the beginning of class – part of your quarterly homework grade.

•      Preparation and Participation (10%) Preparation for this class is extremely important – you need to budget close to one hour each day (not each class) to do well.

•      In class, you need to come prepared: 3 ring notebook, workbook, lab materials – every day.

•      The notebook needs to be used – take notes, write stuff down! Keep your papers neat and organized.

•      Homework needs to be completed on time – deductions will be made from class participation grade as well as a zero for the HW

•      If you can’t find time at home, come after school and work.

 

4^th Quarter:        Students will have three options after the AP exam is over.

1.      Complete either Biozone workbook

2.      Do additional labs, with short write-ups

3.      Prepare for the Chemistry Regents Exam, via Castle Learning.

Most students last year chose option 1. Labs and on-line assignments will be substituted for workbook chapters in the gradebook. The final is worth 20% of your4th quarter grade (school policy).

 

Other things to know

-          All power points, worksheets, and activity/lab material are posted.

-          Answers to some workbook homework will be posted after it has been checked.

-          Working consistently every day works, leaving things to the last minute does not! Put in a modest amount of time every single day, not just right before class or not at all.

 

AP Environmental Science Syllabus

dbucher@onteora.k12.ny.us

Room 202

 

Unit 1: Abiotic Profile of the Earth
Topic	Subtopics	Subtopics
Earth Science Concepts	Geological Time Scale, Plate Tectonics,	Earthquakes, Volcanism, Seasons, Solar Intensity and Latitude
The Atmosphere	Composition, Structure, Weather and Climate, Atmospheric Circulation	The Coriolis Effect, Atmosphere-Ocean Interactions, ENSO
Global Water Resources and Use	Freshwater/Saltwater, Ocean Circulation, Agricultural, Industrial, and Domestic Use	Surface and Groundwater Issues, Global Problems
Soil and Soil Dynamics	Rock Cycle, Formation and Composition of Soils Physical and Chemical Properties	Main Soil Types, Erosion and Other Soil Problems, Soil Conservation

 

Unit 2: The Biosphere
Topic	Subtopics	Subtopics
Ecosystem Structure	Biological Populations and Communities Ecological Niches Interactions Among Species	Keystone Species Species Diversity and Edge Effects Major Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes
Energy Flow	Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Food Webs and Trophic Levels	Ecological Pyramids
Ecosystem Diversity	Biodiversity Natural Selection	Evolution Ecosystem Services
Natural Ecosystem Change	Climate Shifts, Species Movement	Ecological Succession
Natural Biogeochemical Cycles	Carbon, Nitrogen Phosphorous, Sulfur	Water, Conservation of Matter

 

 

Unit 3: Population
Topic / Text Reading	Subtopics	Subtopics
Population Biology Concepts	Population Ecology Carrying Capacity	Reproductive Strategies Survivorship
Human Population Dynamics	Human Population Dynamics Historical Population Sizes, Distribution Fertility Rates	Growth Rates and Doubling Times Demographic Transition Age-Structure Diagram
Population Size	Strategies for Sustainability	Case Studies National Policies
Impacts of Population Growth	Hunger, Disease Economic Effects	Resource Use Habitat Destruction

 

 

 

Unit 4: Energy Resources and Consumption
Topic	Subtopics	Subtopics
Energy Concepts	Energy Forms, Power, Units	Conversions, Laws of Thermodynamics
Energy Consumption	History, Present Global Energy Use	Future Energy Needs
Fossil Fuel Resources and Use	Formation of Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas Extraction/Purification Methods World Reserves and Global Demand	Syntfuels Environmental Advantages, Disadvantages of Sources
Nuclear Energy	Nuclear Fission Process, Nuclear Fuel Electricity Production Nuclear Reactor Types Environmental Advantages/Disadvantages	Safety Issues Radiation and Human Health Radioactive Wastes Nuclear Fusion
Hydroelectric Power	Dams, Flood Control	Salmon, Silting, Other Impacts
Energy Conservation	Energy Efficiency CAFE Standards	Hybrid Electric Vehicles Mass Transit
Renewable Energy	Solar Energy, Solar Electricity Hydrogen Fuel Cells Biomass, Wind Energy Small-Scale Hydroelectric	Ocean Waves and Tidal Energy Geothermal Environmental Advantages/Disadvantages

 

Unit 5: Land and Water Use
Topic	Subtopics	Subtopics
Agriculture	Feeding a Growing Population Human Nutritional Requirements Types of Agriculture, Green Revolution	Genetic Engineering and Crop Production Deforestation, Irrigation Sustainable Agriculture
Controlling Pests	Types of Pesticides Costs and Benefits of Pesticide Use	Integrated Pest Management Relevant Laws
Forestry	Tree Plantations Old-Growth Forests Forest Fires	Forest Management  National Forests
Rangelands	Overgrazing, Deforestation, Desertification	Rangeland Management Federal Rangelands
Urban Land Development	Urban Land Development Planned Development	Suburban Sprawl Urbanization
Transportation Infrastructure	Federal Highway System Canals and Channels	Roadless Areas Ecosystem Impacts
Public and Federal Lands	Management Wilderness Areas, National Parks	Wildlife Refuges, Forests, Wetlands
Land Conservation Options	Preservation, Remediation	Mitigation, Restoration
Mining	Mineral Formation Extraction, Global Reserves	Relevant Laws and Treaties
Fishing	Fishing Techniques Overfishing, Aquaculture	Relevant Laws and Treaties
Global Economics	Globalization, World Bank Tragedy of the Commons	Relevant Laws and Treaties

 

Unit 6: Pollution
Topic	Subtopics	Subtopics
Pollution Types	Impacts on the Environment and Human Health Hazards to Human Health	Hazardous Chemicals in the Environment Economic Impacts
Air Pollution	Primary and Secondary Sources Major Air Pollutants Measurement units Smog, Acid Deposition	Heat Islands and Temperature Inversions, Indoor Air Pollution Remediation and Reduction Strategies Clean Air Act and Other Relevant Laws
Noise Pollution	Sources	Control Measures
Water Pollution	Types, Sources, Causes, and Effects Cultural Eutrophication Groundwater Pollution Maintaining Water Quality	Water Purification Sewage Treatment/Septic Systems Clean Water Act
Solid Waste	Types, Disposal, Reduction	Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
Hazards to Human Health	Environmental Risk Analysis Acute and Chronic Effects Dose-Response Relationships	Air Pollutants Smoking and Other Risks
Hazardous Chemicals in the Environment	Types of Hazardous Waste Treatment/Disposal of Hazardous Waste	Cleanup of Contaminated Sites Biomagnification, Relevant Laws
Economic Impacts	Cost-Benefit Analysis Externalities	Marginal Costs Sustainability

 

 

Unit 7: Global Change
Topic	Subtopics	Subtopics
Stratospheric Ozone	Stratospheric Ozone Formation of Stratospheric Ozone Ultraviolet Radiation	Causes and Effects of Ozone Depletion Strategies for Reducing Ozone Depletion Relevant Laws and Treaties
Global Warming	Global Warming Greenhouse Gases and the Greenhouse Effect Impacts and Consequences of Global Warming	Reducing Climate Change Relevant Laws and Treaties
Loss of Biodiversity	Habitat Loss Overuse, Pollution, Introduced Species Endangered and Extinct Species	Maintenance Through Conservation Relevant Laws and Treaties

 

Notes

 

This is the College Board syllabus; we will cover all topics, but not in this sequence.

 

The course will be tailored to local environmental concerns, issues, especially during quarter 1.

Grading Policy

 

I use weighted averages to calculate your grade:

 

For quarters 1-3,

 

50% tests; I will try to make retests available when possible

20% labs/lab reports

20% homework (from textbook and workbook)

10% preparation and participation

 

Fourth Quarter

 

Grading fourth quarter will be  activity and project-based, TBA

 

Class Grades and AP Scores

 

The college board “grades,” roughly correspond to how many passes you make through the material.

 

Being in class and doing activities is your first pass

The textbook is a second pass

The workbook is a third pass

The fourth and fifth passes are up to you!

 

In the past, 75% of my students have gotten a 4 or better!

 

 

 

 

Earth Science

Mr. Wall and Mr. Bucher

Room 202

dbucher@onteora.k12.ny.us                                       wwall@onteora.k12.ny.us

 

Course Outline

Matter, Measurement, and Change	The Atmosphere	Weather Systems	Climate
Earth in Space	Beyond Earth	Planet Earth	The Dynamic Crust
Rocks and Minerals	Earth History	Surface Processes	Environmental Awareness

 

I use weighted averages to calculate your grade:

 

1.                  Tests and Quizzes (50%) – typically there are 2-3 tests and several quizzes per quarter. Missed tests and quizzes must be made up within one week in the learning center. If you need more than a week, you need to see me immediately to work out other arrangements.

 

                        Make up tests are available for every exam if you are not satisfied with your grade. To                             take a make-up test, you will have to complete a number of Castle Learning assignments             to show you have prepared adequately to take the retest.

 

2.                  Laboratory (20%) – We will be going 35-45 lab activities during the course of the year. Students will be working with 4-5 assigned lab partners throughout the year. You cannot change partners without permission, and extended negotiations over changing lab partners is not welcome.

 

Lab reports must have each student in the group on the top of the first page under your name. Data and data tables can be done collectively. All other questions must be answered in complete sentences and in your own words for credit. Incomplete sentences will result in a 10% deduction and answers directly copied from another student, whether they are in your group or another group, will result in all students receiving no credit.

 

Each student is required to actively participate in the lab. Students who sit back and let others do all the work will lose class participation points. Fooling around in lab or not obeying safety procedures will result in referrals and/or calls home.

 

Each group is responsible for cleaning their lab bench and equipment thoroughly before leaving. Any lab left unclean and disorganized will result in point deductions. Lab reports must be kept in a lab folder to meet the lab requirement for the regents exam.

 

3.                  Homework (10%) will be assigned several times a week. It will be checked and/or collected daily. The assignments, which are designed to last 15-20 minutes, will be a mixture of Castle Learning and paper assignments, and will center on test prep.  Missing homework will be recorded as a zero.

 

 

4.                  Preparation and Participation (20%) – you must come to class prepared to pay attention, participate in class discussions and lab activities. Deductions will be made for non-compliance.

 

Notebook

Every student must bring a spiral notebook to class every day. The notebook must contain a copy of the Earth Science Reference Tables, which you will be prompted to use daily. You need to print out a copy of the ESRT yourself if you lose them.  Note taking is required in class – it is the best way to pay attention and learn. Students not taking notes will not get credit for this aspect of the course.

 

Lateness

During double periods, being late without permission during passing time will result in deductions. Chronic lateness, before or during class (bathroom) will also result in deductions.

 

Food

Eating food is not permitted in class. Going to the cafeteria to get food between periods is not permitted. Water bottles are OK; other beverages with permission.

 

 

Cell Phones

Cell phones are not permitted to be used in class for any reason at any time. A one point deduction to your quarterly grade will be made for using, answering, or consulting your phone, unless permitted by Mr. Wall or Mr. Bucher.

 

Safety

Safety is a primary concern in all science classes, as the materials and equipment present have potential hazards. Safety instructions by teachers must be followed at all times. Non-compliance will result in large deductions and/or referrals, depending on the infraction.

 

 

Note that infractions will be posted as comments on infinite campus under the class participation grade, which starts each quarter at 100 points. Amnesty/extra credit is available on an individual basis.