Text: Campbell: Biology in Focus- AP Edition
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AP Biology- Summer Assignment- due
1st day of class (August 31)
Chapters:
1: Introduction: Evolution and the foundations of life (Pages 1-17) 2: The chemical context of life (pages 18-39) 3: 39.3 - 39.6: Animal behavior- (just pages 803-816 - Sections 39.3 - 39.6 only do relevant elements on "Test Your Understanding" section) IntroductionThrough this course you will develop a conceptual framework for modern biology emphasizing the understanding of science as a process rather than an accumulation of facts and be able to integrate the general topics of biology that you explore through a thematic approach including the four “Big Ideas” for AP Biology. We will also explore some the practical applications of this knowledge base and make important connections between science, technology and society. Through various readings, lectures, case studies, laboratories, virtual simulations, group projects, peer teaching activities and field trips you will be able to develop a conceptual framework of this discipline.
Course Goals:
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Summer Assignment- 2016/2017 academic yearI am looking forward to having you in AP Biology next year! Just wanted to check in with you about the summer assignment for AP Biology before we disembark for the summer. We have much material to cover next year so I am front-loading some of the required reading to better pace ourselves over the academic year.
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Some questions we hope to explore in this course:
- Why do we measure things in science?
- How do we know atoms exist, or oxygen?
- How can we demonstrate that we understand something?
- What is evidence?
- Is science about knowing things or figuring things out?
- What is a good question?
- Why do numbers matter?
- What is life?
- What is science?
- How can we be sure something is true or not true?
- How does one deal with uncertainty?
- How do we figure out what is going on in the black box?
- Can life exist without water?
- Do we need to understand what is going on inside atoms in order to understand chemical reactions? How far inside do we need to go?
- Why do we separate science into disciplines like biology, chemistry and physics?
- What is the difference between biology and chemistry?
- How does the act of articulating our understanding influence what we understand?
- Does a student need to have a substantial body of knowledge before he or she can begin to deal with these philosophical questions?
- Why do we collect data?
- What is an experiment?
- Is this class about learning what other people have figured out or about learning how to figure things out?
- Can we understand science without knowing its history?