Gateway STEM High School

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AP Biology

COURSE SYLLABUS

2025-2026

INSTRUCTOR: Jennifer Rice            PLANNING PERIODS: 4th period, 7th period, 8th period

E-Mail:jennifer.rice@slps.org                                 Room: 312W

Course Description

Advanced Placement Biology is designed to offer students a solid foundation in college level introductory biology based on the belief that many students are ready for college work while still in high school. This course is aligned to the College Board AP Biology Curriculum Framework and is based on four Big Ideas, which encompass core scientific principles, theories, and processes that cut across traditional boundaries and provide a broad way of thinking about living organisms and biological systems. Twenty-five percent of instructional time is devoted to hands-on laboratory work with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations. Investigations require students to ask questions, make observations and predictions, design experiments, analyze data, and construct arguments in a collaborative setting, where they direct and monitor their progress.

Upon completion of the course students should be able to have the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. Students who earn a qualifying score on the AP Biology Exam are typically eligible to receive eight college credits and placement in advanced science courses in college; please note that this varies by university, so please look into the qualifying AP Exams of the colleges to which you are applying.

Prerequisites

It is required that all students have passed Biology and Chemistry prior to AP Biology. Due to this requirement, most students will be juniors or seniors before qualifying to take this course.

Textbook

Mader, Biology, AP Edition, 2022, 14e, Student Edition (AP BIOLOGY MADER)

Many other resources such as scientific articles, case studies, essays, and news articles will be used throughout the school year. These will all be posted on teams as they are assigned.

Course Objectives

The College Board has organized the AP Biology course around the Curriculum Framework which is broken into four big ideas that our course will be based on.

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.

These four Big Ideas will be divided up over eight different units of study.

The College Board emphasizes students understanding the practice of science. It is pertinent that students enter college with a specific set of skills. A set of skills designed to allow students to succeed in the science world. The College Board focuses curriculum on six specific skills.

1. Concept Explanation
2. Visual Representations
3. Questions and Methods
4. Representing and Describing Data
5. Statistical Tests and Data Analysis
6. Argumentation

Specific Overview Documents for AP Biology course content are provided at the end of this syllabus.

The AP Exam

The AP Biology Exam is scored on a scale from 1-5. A student must receive a score of 3 or higher in order to receive college credit for the course. Remember, the scores that universities accept differ, so please double check what scores the college to which you are applying accepts. The AP Biology Exam is made up of two sections. The AP Biology Exam will be given on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 8am. The break down of each section is as follows:

Section I: Multiple Choice (50%)

90 minutes – 60 Questions

Section II: Free Response Questions (50%)

90 minutes – 6 Questions; 2 long essays (10 pts each), 4 short essays (4 pts each) Attached to this document is a list and explanation of the task verbs used in the FRQ section of the exam.

Grading Policy

Lab Component

You will work in groups to complete each lab during the class period. You will engage in and complete a minimum of eight inquiry-based investigations (two per Big Idea). Additional labs will be conducted to deepen your understanding and reinforce the application of science practices within a hands-on environment. This course will provide opportunities for you to develop, record, and properly communicate the results of your laboratory investigations. Materials, lab setups, preparation of stock solutions, and cultures of the specimen may need to be done prior to the class for some labs.

AP Classroom

AP Classroom is a new College Board resource which will be utilized throughout the school year to take practice assessments that will track student progress over the course of the year. AP Classroom will provide study guides which note areas strengths and weaknesses for concepts learned throughout the school year, allowing students to properly prepare for the AP Exam.

Course Materials

• One 1.5” 3-ringed binder
• Dividers
• Scientific or Graphing calculator ( I Have a class set to borrow from as well)

Class Policies, Expectations and Rules

• Arrive to class on time with your materials out and ready, starting any work posted.
• No food or drink other than water for class meetings.
• Students who do not follow instructions or create dangerous situations during labs will not be able to participate in the lab and will lose points.

Absences/ Late work/ Make up work:

• Occasionally situations arise that will prevent a student from completing work on time. If something occurs that will cause you to turn in work late, email in advance to let me know the situation so we can work on an alternate plan - this is to prepare you for college.
• If a student is absent or sick, it is their responsibility to get class notes and handouts from online or a classmate. The student is responsible for checking online or asking the teacher for make-up work! I can always be reached through email.
• Normal work due the day of an absence is due the next day the student is at school. Project and lab due dates are not flexible! If a student is gone, they can email the assignment and then bring a hard copy the first day the student is back at school.
• Make up work for excused absences should be done within 2 days of the day missed.
• The AP test assumes student have knowledge of certain labs. Labs cannot always be made up. Students must be present for labs and will have warning when there are lab days.
• Arrangements for absences due to school activities must be made before the date.

Academic Honesty

On my honor, I pledge that the work submitted over the course of the school year is of my own production. Work and ideas that are not my own will be properly cited as to not plagiarize. I understand that Ragsdale High School takes cheating very seriously and accept all consequences of my actions should I break the Academic Integrity Expectations..

Students are more than welcome to work together or receive outside help on homework and classroom assignments; however, each student should turn in their own work separate from other students. Students may not cite another student or copy their work. There are times throughout the school year where students will turn projects and reports as a group effort, even this work is expected to be written individually by each student showing their own work and knowledge.

I am excited to spend the next school year delving into the world of Biology with you!