Day 31, Homework for remainder of the summer :)

I hope you all learned lots and had fun. Now, on to the remainder of summer. You have approximately four weeks of blissful control (hopefully) of your time to complete your summer reading, organize your life in preparation for your junior year, and catch up with friends and family.

Upon your return, be kind to Dr. B. and seek any additional support you might need from Dr. Harley, Dr. Schafer, Mr. Pistachi or Mr. Sutton. 

Oh, I almost forgot to say (one last time) to get lots of sleep and continue to laugh out loud with your friends! Thanks for a great summer.

Day 30, Homework for Friday, July 24.

Homework for Tomorrow:

1. Review for tests (chapters 11, 12, 52-56).
2. Get a good night's rest.

The general consensus of the sport of golf (if it really is a sport). 

 

Day 29, Homework for Thursday, July 23.

Homework for 7/23:

1. Complete your Energy Dynamics Lab (rubric still on Athena) 
2. Complete any and all work that is left undo. Grade book will be closed after today's class (except for final test).
3. Review for 2nd Exam (Chapters 11_12 &; 52-56).
4. come ready to complete the scavenger hunt. Updated item checklist here.

Keep Breathing

Day 28, Homework for Wednesday, July 22

Homework for 7/22:

1. Review chapter 55 & 56. 
2. Complete Chapter 56 Workbook assignment 56.1.
3. Complete questions from chapter 17 "Carson" from Doing Biology
4. Review for 2nd mid-mester Exam (Chapters 11_12 &; 52-56).

And now for a little silliness. Sometimes (not during the summer when we are doing lab #10, of course) this is what teaching can be like :).

Day 27, Homework for Tuesday, July 21

Homework due for this Tuesday

1. Read Chapter 56 
2. Complete and turn in chapter 56 RG, final product due Wednesday.
3. If not completed in class, complete Activity 55.1 from your workbook.
4. Work on formal Lab Investigation #10 (bring lab notebook) write up.
5. I am still missing signed grade sheets from some students. If that is you, please bring your signed grade sheet. 

Looking ahead:

Tomorrow and Wednesday you will have class time to work on the Energy Dynamics lab (Rubric here). Thursday is 'wrap up' day & prep for 2nd mid-mester exam (Chapters 11-12 and  52 - 56, ~100MC). Also due on Thursday is 56.1

Day 26, Homework for Monday, July 20th

Items for Monday, July 20th:

1. This weekend try to capture the essence of the back of your eyelids every 14 to 16 hours. Consider a mid-interim nap, too.
2. Bring your signed grade sheet.
3. Read Chapter 55!
4. Complete your reading guide for chapter 55, final product due Tuesday.
5. Re-read Lab Investigation #10 and look over the rubric as you begin writing this full report that is due by Thursday, July 23.
6. Only if time allows, prep and review for the exam on next Friday, July 24th.
   EXAM FORMAT:100 M.C. Qs.
   ~40 m.c.q.'s from Chapters 55 & 56
   ~60 m.c.q.'s from Chapters 11-12, 52 - 54.

Consider these tips from Don McMillian of how NOT to do a PowerPoint presentation in your next presentation!

Looking at the final week:
For Monday (7/20)

1. Notes on chapter 55
2. Work time on Energy Dynamics lab. Write up due on Thursday (rubric here).
3. We will be taking the final massing plants of plants. 
4. Work time on practicing biology activity 55.1
5. Bring your signed grade sheet

For Tuesday (7/21)

1. Notes on chapter 56
2. Work time on Energy Dynamics lab formal write up. Write up due on Thursday (rubric here).
3. Read "Doing Biology: Carson" chapter 17 and answer the questions at the end of the chapter. 
4. Work time on practicing biology activity 56.1

For Wednesday (7/22)

1. Finish Energy Dynamics lab formal write up. Write up due on tomorrow (rubric here).
2. Work time to complete and turn in all other work.

For Thursday (7/23)

1. Turn in Lab #10: Energy Dynamics lab formal write up (rubric here).
2. Clean up time and review time.
3. Video?

For Friday (7/24)

1. The second mid-semester summer exam and will last approximately 2 hrs. ~40% of the questions will come from chapters 55/56 and the remaining 60% will come from chapters 11-12, 52-54. 
2. The exam will start at 8:10 and conclude at 10:10. 
3. You are dismissed early (remind your parents).

Day 25, Homework for Friday, July 17

Homework for July 17th:

1. Continue to prepare for the test tomorrow (ch 52-54, 50MC, 1 FRQ).
2. Answer questions from 54.1 & 54.2.
3. Bring in any work that is outstanding.
4. If time allows, work on writing up lab investigation #10 (Due Thursday).

When Nature Rules Over Man! The flying gecko.

Cane Toad style: now watch me whip, watch me nae nae!

Day 24, Homework for Thursday, July 16th.

Who gives a hoot about demographics as long as you are with your friends?

Good use of class time today. Your design and implementation of inquiry for the energy dynamics lab overall was exemplary. This afternoon / evening prepare for the test Friday, finish up any remaining work and prep for the behavior lab tomorrow. For the test, there will be an approximate equal distribution of questions from each chapter (52 - 54) totalling a 50 MC questions and one FRQ. 

Homework for Thursday includes the following:

1. Start reviewing for unit 5 test (chapters 52-54).
2. Complete 54.1-2 if you did not finish in class today.
3. Complete Chapter 54 Reading Guide.
4. Continue writing your Energy Dynamics Lab Investigation #10 (see rubric here). Due Thursday next week.
5. read the behavior lab for white cabbage butterfly larva and prepare for setting up this lab tomorrow. 
6. Complete any outstanding work.
7. Think more about the owl pellet dissection lab (read HERE the protocol/intro to the lab)
8. go to bed early and get plenty of sleep, please.

Look at the owl on the left. This  is exactly how you have taken on this summer and acquired knowledge! Don't you wish you had fangs little owl?

Hang on as we travel the curve moving us from the middle to the end of this week.

Day 23, Homework for Wednesday, July 15th.

Homework for Tomorrow (7/15):

1. Read Chapter 54
2. Start chapter 54 RG.
3. Complete and turn in Ch. 53 RG
4. Complete 53.1 and 53.2 if you did not get if finished in class today.
5. Start writing your Energy Dynamics Lab Investigation #10 (see rubric here).
6. If you did not submit your signed grade sheets or any other past work, please do so tomorrow.

Talk about your crazy community ecological interaction!
Smart Cuckoo!

Day 22, Homework for Tuesday, July 14th.

Homework for Tomorrow:

1. Read Chapter 53.
2. Complete 53 Reading Guide .
3. Get you signed grade sheet turned in tomorrow, please. 
4. Complete 52.1 Practicing Biology if you did not turn in during class today.
5. Plan to implement your plan of inquiry for lab #10

Learn a second language. It could save your life:)

 

Day 21, Homework for Monday, July 13th

Week 5 will cover chapters 52 - 54 (basic ecological principles). Hopefully, you noted the change in pace this past week (week 4), especially toward the end of that week. However, the tempo will be begin to crescendo again, peaking mid-week of week six. Therefore, keep on top of your work and keep getting plenty of sleep. For Monday: 

1. Read Chapter 52
2. begin working on chapter 52 Reading Guide.
3. Get your grade sheets signed (please) and return to class
4. Think about and be ready to seek approval for your Lab #10 inquiry.

Here is a clip we will see in class on Monday. See if you can spot the mistake in this educational video on the duldrums. 

Day 20, Homework for Friday, July 10

Homework for Friday

1. Re-read chapters 11 & 12 and review for test (50 MC questions, ~25 from each chapter).
2. Complete any outstanding work not turned in today.
3. If time allows, read lab investigation #10 in preparation for tomorrow. Begin thinking about an inquiry experiment you and your team could carry out.

Being prepared will help eliminate any 'fails'.

Day 19, Homework for Thursday July 9

"Dear 16 Year Old Me" a serious video about skin cancer. Warning, this video may make you cry and you are not required to view it.

Homework for Thursday is

1. Do homework 12.1 in the student workbook for Biology and chapter 12 RG if not turned in today.
2. Work on the completion of your Cell Communication Disorder Poster (Presentation tomorrow. You will have sometime, 45 minutes or so, to finalize your poster). 
3. Re-read chapters 11 & 12 as you prep for Friday's test
4. Have your lab notebook up to date with Lab Investigation #7, Parts 1 - 3: Cell Division Mitosis.  
5. Complete any incomplete work from today (e.g. get signed and bring to class your grade sheet, RG Chapter 12, Respiration lab, ...).

Day 18 Homework, Wednesday July 8th.

Cell signalling and the cascading effect explained by OK Go. 

Homework for Wednesday is

1. Do homework 11.1 in the student workbook for Biology and chapter 11 RG if not turned in today.
2. Work on the completion of your Cell Communication Disorder Poster (Due Thursday). 
3. Read chapter 12
4. Complete RG chapter 12 
5. Read Lab Investigation #7, Parts 1 - 3: Cell Division Mitosis.  
6. Complete any incomplete work from today (e.g. get signed and bring to class your grade sheet, RG Chapter 11, Respiration lab, ...).

After today's discussion, check out the Harvard Cell Animation again and listen to the narration paying specific attention as to how it pertains to cellular communication.
(CLICK HERE for Link to Havard Cell Animation)

(Click HERE to watch the entire TED talk of Bonnie Bassler and quorum sensing.)

Day 17 Homework, Tuesday July 7th.

FRIDAY NO SCHOOL

Saturday =  Happy Independence Day!

No homework this weekend (unless you have unfinished work...if you do, then please arrange your time so that you can have at least a contiguous 24 hour period with no biology homework). 

Happy 4th of July, Y'all!

Field Trip for Monday 7/6

1. Arrive by 7:50am. Bus will leave promptly so be early! 
2. Bring LUNCH and water. There is NO place to purchase food so bring lunch!
3. Wear layers, a light jacket and a cool shirt. Wear sturdy shoes (No flip flops). Wear sunscreen as needed.
4. Bring $ if you like to shop at teeny tiny gift shops at marine institutes / museums.
5. Return time will be between 3 - 4 pm.

For Tuesday (July 7):

1. Read Chapter 11 and start chapter 11 reading guide on Monday evening.
2. Finish any work that is lingering (including but not limited to your photosynthesis lab)
3. Bring signed gradesheets.

White Cabbage Butterfly larva on the move! Turn audio off)

Eggs, including the hatched one.

Day 14, Homework for Thursday July 2.

Homework for tomorrow is:

1. Return signed permission slips if you have not already done so. 
2. Review for the 100 m.c. test (~50 mc questions from chapters 9 & 10, and the remaining 50 questions will come from chapters 1 - 8)
3. Bring your respiration & photosynthesis labs. You will have time after the test to finalize your respiration lab and work on your photosynthesis lab. Photosynthesis lab is due Tuesday, July 7th. Rubric for grading the lab is here. 
4. Bring in any outstanding work, please. Tomorrow is the end of the first semester of the summer. 

The potential benefit of going to a large university (Note: this technique will not work tomorrow)!

Day 13, Homework for Wednesday July 1

Wednesday's Homework:

1. Check out the night sky around dusk and see the convergence of Jupiter & Venus.
2. Get this permission slip signed and bring to class tomorrow.
3. Lab Write up for Lab Investigation #6. Note, the rubric is on Athena.
4. If you did not complete Activity 9.2 from your workbook, please bring it completed to class tomorrow. Complete 10.1 & 10.2 from your workbook  (you may have time after the lab to complete this but it is due before leaving tomorrow).
   
5. Complete any outstanding work that you have missing from the grade book. Please ask any questions about your grade or the class today. 
6. Read, review, and prep for the the photosynthesis lab investigation #5, (starting on p 61) for tomorrow (here).
7.  Watch this ~5min video on how to gently sink your leaf disks.

Think your Tuesday is going badly...?

Checkout the poor bloke on the tug boat.
Care to see the 'Ketchup n Fries' plant? 

Day 12: Homework for Tuesday, June 30th.

Ready Team USA?

Ready Team Photosynthesis!

 Homework for tomorrow (Tuesday):

1. Workbook Activity 9.2 (including testing your knowledge portion) Due
2. Read Chapter 10
3. Complete Chapter 10 RG
4. Complete Enzyme catalysis lab.
5. Continue to work on Lab Investigation #6 Cell Respiration Lab write up. The Rubric is here.
6. Begin to organize your materials for review in preparation for the midterm exam on Thursday.

If this skater gentleman is the electron moving down the ETC, what is the sign at the bottom that 'causes' this great 'reaction'?

Day 11 Homework (Monday, June 29th)

Happy Friday! Kiss week two bye and welcome the upcoming week of work. Week three will have only four days so, as always but perhaps more importantly, efficiency will be your friend.

Homework For Monday, June 29 :

1. Read Respiration Lab Investigation #6 in preparation for Monday's lab. 
2. Kreb's cycle article: read and answer questions.
3. Work on Enzyme Lab write up (Due Tuesday). 
4. Get Grade Sheet signed.
5. Pack signed sheets and bring on Monday!
6. Get Lots of sleep.

Dog funny!

 

Looking ahead, Monday we will be covering chapter 9.and carrying out  Investigation 6: Cellular Respiration on page S71. If you have a moment, read through this lab and begin designing a procedure to carry out testing your hypothesis. Think about which organism you would like to make use to test your hypothesis...I will provide mung beans, pea seeds and pinto beans but you may start germinating your own seeds (start this now by soaking them in water...turnip seeds might be nice) or you may consider using an animal like rolly pollies. The organism you choose needs to be able to fit inside a small syringe (5 or 10ml. Also, your formal lab write up for the Enzyme Lab is due on Tuesday so plan out how best to attack its completion whilst managing the rest of your homework. Wednesday we will be discussing photosynthesis, Chapter 10. Thursday will be the completion and turning in of your respiration lab (rubric here) and the final exam will be administered. This exam will be likely be 100MC questions with 50% or more of them coming from chapters 9 & 10. Plan your time accordingly next week so as to have time to begin reviewing chapters 1 - 10. The exam will be alloted 2 hrs. Please ask any questions or bring up any concerns you might have to your teacher. 

Day 10 Homework (Friday, June 26)

What a lab. It is so happy that you turnip.

Its bark is big but it does not bite!

Tomorrow (Friday) we will be wrapping up this unit (chapters 6 - 8) with a test.  Please spend sometime reviewing.

HOMEWORK:

1. Review for Chapters 6 - 8 Test
2. Complete any unfinished work that you have not turned in.
3. Begin writing up lab (Enzyme Catalysis due Tuesday)

Stayed Focused

Stay focused so you know where you have been!

Day 9 homework, June 25

Homework for tomorrow:

1. Bring signed grade sheet
2. Read lab investigation #13 for tomorrow and come with ideas about what self-directed experiment to run for each inquiry section.
3. Read "Procedure" steps 1 - 6 of how to employ the spectrometer, page 3.
4. Get very close to completing the Diffusion/Osmosis lab handout (see HERE). You will have some time in class to work on this but have it near ready to turn in as you enter the room on so that you can definitely complete it by break on Thursday. 
5. Complete workbook activity 8.1 & 8.2 and have it ready to turn in at the beginning of class.
6. Complete RG 8 and have it ready to turn in at the beginning of class.
7. Review for test on Friday (Chapters 6 - 8).
8. Tomorrow in class you will have time to work on Lab Investigation #13.

Model your experiments after what works.

Day 8 (June 24) Homework

Homework for tomorrow (7/24/15)

Don't let anything stop you from your work! 

1. Read Chapter 8 (look at online quizzes as time allows)
2. Chapter 8 RG
3. complete 7.1 - 7.2
4. Work on Osmosis/Diffusion Lab completion (see HERE for details) (Due Friday). 
5. Read AP Lab Investigation #13 Enzyme Activity and think about the experiment you and your partner are going to carry out. Think about the formal lab write up that will potentially come out of doing this lab.
6. Get those grade sheets signed, please: .

Jumping into the middle of this week this video could be used to illustrate the steps an enzyme's catabolic pathway!

Day 7 (June 23rd)

Textbook video: Tour of an Animal Cell (better than the Brain Bustin' Beat Boyz)

Homework for Tuesday is

1. Read chapter 7 & pp. 782-785 (water potential).
2. Great job on the cell presentations today! One more to go tomorrow.
3. If unfinished, complete Article #2, and do homework 6.1 in the student workbook for Biology.
4. Complete RG chapter 6 
5. Read Lab Investigation #4: Diffusion and Osmosis. You will design experiments based on the standard trials carried out in class. 
6. Complete any incomplete work from today (e.g. get signed and bring to class your grade sheet, RG Chapter 6, Microscopy Lab , ...).

(CLICK HERE for Link to Havard Cell Animation)

Day 6 Homework (6/22)

You all had a great week. Make sure you are getting enough sleep to keep your brain's operational capacity at its maximum. This weekend and upcoming week could be a bit challenging so don't hesitate to get started. Summer is coming! Sunday is officially the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
Check out the alignment of Jupiter, Venus and the Moon just after sundown this weekend by looking to the west.
Homework for Monday:

1. Share your cell organelle presentation with your instructor, please.
2. read Chapter 6
3. Work on completing the reading Guide for Chapter 6 
4. Complete your Cell Organelle Presentation. Here are the criteria.
5. Read chapter 1 - 3 (S1 -S16) in your lab manual for ideas about how to record your observations and complete a formal write up.
1. Student Lab Appendix here to help with graphs.
6. Rest, and spend time with friends and family.

Onion Cells undergoing Plasmolysis:

Get out and have some fun with your friends (Click here for ideas but make the sangria without ethanol) otherwise you will end up like this cat, chasing your own tail.

Day 5 Unit 1 Test: chapters 1 - 5

 We will take a few moments (~20) to review with a partner and get settled in for the test. Then, the test: Unit 1 Chapters 1- 5. After the test we will have time to work on your cell organelle presentations (bring your laptop) and potentially start another lab from our lab notebook (bring that, too).

HOMEWORK for Friday

1. Complete Workbook Activity 4.2/5.2 to be collected at the beginning of class
2. Review text for test (chapters 1 - 5)
3. Work on any reading guides you have not finished.
4. Wrap up any portions of the water lab or the macromolecule lab that you have not finished (lab notebooks will be collected).
5. Bring completed Cal Academy of Science handout.
6. Summer is coming. Do you know where your whale is?
7. Get lots of sleep and dream of whales spouting rainbows!

Day 4 Homework (June 18th) Field Trip to Cal Academy of Science

HOMEWORK for Thursday/Friday

1. Try to access the schoology site using course access code 53RHB-3ZQJX HERE
2. Please go to the room in the morning (not the bus) so attendance can be taken. Thanks.
3. Complete Workbook Activity 4.1/5.1 & 4.2/5.2 to be collected at the beginning of class on Friday
4. Review text for test (chapters 1 - 5)
5. Complete Water lab observations and analysis
6. Complete Macromolecule lab observations and analysis (Lab Notebook will be collected on Friday).
7. For the trip bring a pen/pencil, a device to keep time with (like a cell phone) and $$ or a sack lunch. HERE you can check out the menu of a restaurant in Cal Academy of Science.
8. Get plenty of sleep and don't forget to ...

Day 3 homework 6/17/15

Tomorrow in class we will wrap up the first unit by discussing chapter 5 (i.e. lecture) and complete a macromolecule lab. 

Homework for Tomorrow is as follows:

1. Complete Reading Guides for Chapter 3 & 4. Remember, you can turn those in to have them graded and returned before Friday. This will help you with studying for the test because you will better understand that which you do not know. Knowing what you don't know is half the battle.
2. Work on the water lab as best you can. We will finish it first off tomorrow in class.
3. Read the macromolecule lab in preparation for tomorrow (Do not print...I will have copies for you tomorrow). 
4. Complete 2.1, 3.1 from practicing biology. It should be turned in tomorrow at the beginning of class.
5.  If time allows begin organizing your material for review for the test. Reviewing early and often help make the learning more like latent (but not) learning and thus can give the appearance of making learning easy.
6. For the trip on Thursday, we will leave here (Harker) around 8 (so arrive at 7:50) and return to Harker between 3 - 4PM.
7. Go Warriors!

Name ALL the properties of water represented in this video

 

Ninja Van der Waal skills as the gecko grabs a white cabbage butterfly.

Day 2: Welcome (Post #1)

Welcome to our very own blogspot for summer ap biology. This site will allow us to communicate with you those things that are of importance and keep us synchronized in our effort to learn the course content. Weighting for this summer is 50% tests, 25% Homework (quizzes, R.G.s, ...) and 25% Labs.

Homework for tomorrow (6/16)

1. Read and answer questions for Article 1 (if you did not complete in class).
2. Complete your autobiography introduction (if not completed in class).
3. Get signed "criteria for credit-Harker Students" form for Mr. Barth.
4. Read chapter 2, 3 & 4 (Chemistry, Water & Carbon in Biology)
5. Complete Reading Guide Chapter 1 & 2 if time allows (due on Friday). 
6. If time, work on Ch 3 Reading Guide as you are reading the chapter.
7. Pack your laptop and bring to class tomorrow (and always).
8. If not already completed, Signature Page (Read Lab Safety, Integrity, Course Summary).    

Remember to get some sleep :)!