Incoming AP Biology Students for 2014/15

Welcome incoming students for the 2014-2015 version of AP biology at Sparta High School. I'm excited to work with you guys and gals this upcoming school year and expect many great things from you. Having AP biology as a year round class, daily, will be a refreshing change and allow for me to help better prepare you for the AP Biology Exam in May 2015.

In order to get a jump start on things, I've assigned you all a summer assignment. You should have received one of these prior to leaving for the summer, but in case you didn't or you mislocated (not sure if this is a real word) yours, I've attached the assignment below. Please make sure you adhere to the due dates that are listed on the assignment. Additionally, the assignments are meant to be somewhat fun and/or pretty interesting, so it may be better to label them as summer explorations rather than assignments :)

Enjoy your summer.

2014 SUMMER ASSIGNMENT

The End Has Arrived Seniors: Final Assignments

All good things must come to an end. Its hard to believe that the semester is already over. I have enjoyed working with all of you and look forward to continuing hearing back from you as you move on to bigger and sometimes better things.

Please complete the following items today:

1. Complete the book quality inventory
2. End of Course Survey
3. Complete the contact information sheet so we can stay in contact; I really want to hear back from you and how college life and beyond is treating you.
4. Remember those blogs we used to do? Time to dust them off:
1. Blog Entry 1: What did I learn in AP biology and why was the class beneficial to me.
1. This is an open ended entry that can take whatever direction you wish as long as it addresses the question above.
2. Blog Entry 2: Your final blog entry is to write a letter of advice to students that will be taking this class next year. Please don't write "don't take the class" or anything else similar as they obviously have an interest in the topic, otherwise they would not have signed up for the class. Instead, give them constructive, first hand advice that may help them to be more successful in the class. You are welcome to share frustrations, but also share how you overcame or could have overcome those frustrations.

 Juniors: we will pour plates the next time we meet and will then start our bacteria studies.

If you have any questions, let me know.

End of Course Survey

Please take the time to provide constructive feedback on your class experiences. All responses are anonymous so let your feedback be heard with no fear of repercussions.

END OF COURSE SURVEY

New Review Things

I've added a document to your google folders as well as added a link to the left that has a collection of review songs in it. I've also included the "Things we won't get to before the exam" playlist below:

April 25, 2014 Lesson Plan

1. Watch the following video, which is a continuation of yesterday's video:



2. Use the remainder of the time to work on your review presentations.

Have a good day and weekend!

Playlist of Videos We Won't Get to Before the AP Biology Exam

TEST 3-18-14

Just a reminder that your test on cell structure/function, cell transport, and cell communication is Tuesday 3-18-14. You will only do the multiple choice portion of this test, as we used the FRQs for review purposes in class today.

I suggest you look back through all of your notes/materials to prepare for test day. I also recommend that you concentrate your efforts on the information listed in the "what to know" documents in your google drive folders.

I found this quiz resource that will help to test your knowledge and we will use part of this in class, but recommend that you use it for studying purposes as well: http://www.hbwbiology.net/

Finally, I will be putting together preview videos and response guides for the metabolism unit sometime this weekend. These should be completed prior to next Friday's class. Have a good weekend.