Welcome to Ms. DR’s Biology Homework Page. Check this page if you are absent from school, or if you need assignments or hand-outs. Let me know ASAP if you have problems with this page or other parts of the website! NOTE: Dates posted are the dates the assignment is DUE. NOTE: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open pdf files posted on these pages. Download the free program here: |
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| You are in the home stretch. TERM IV HAS BEGUN! Remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and the race isn't over until you cross the finish line. Don't slack off now!! Pick up the pace and excel!! Your Term IV IRP assignment and the presentation grading rubric can be downloaded here. |
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| Homework for week of April 2 | ||
Homework for Extra Credit Opportunity (4th Term): Go to New England Aquarium some time before May 13 and complete the AP Bio visitor's questions written by former NNHS student and NEAq volunteer, Ben Linsay. |
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| Monday, 4/2 | Anatomy and Physiology Jigsaw. | |
| Tuesday, 4/3 | Anatomy and Physiology Jigsaw presentations. If you have handouts, make sure Ms. DR has them before first block, or you have to copy them (27 copies) yourself. | |
| Homework for week of April 9 | ||
THE AP EXAM IS ABOUT A MONTH AWAY! Follow the links to the AP Bio website and other resources accessible from the Links page on my AP Bio Homepage. Take a look at the Fourth Term IRP assignment so you keep that project in your sights. You can also look at the presentation rubric as you begin to think about the final product. |
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| Monday, 4/9 | Please share your system review (jigsaw) powerpoint with me on GoogleDocs. If I am going to use your questions on the test, I need to be able to access them and the information you presented. (I'm still working on figuring out how to share your work with the entire class, but first you must share it with me!) We will discuss the Immune system in class. Prepare yourself by reading Chapter 43. This is a link to the powerpoint if you want to use it for review. Here's a link to the edited version of the nervous system powerpoint I showed in class. X-block Anatomy and Physiology review session in 429. Bring questions, notes, etc. | |
| Tuesday, 4/10 | Finish up the Immune system in class. Natural Killer Cells video clip. | Wednesday, 4/11 | Anatomy and Physiology Test (Chapters 40, 41, 42, the questions you generated in your groups, immune system, nerves and neuromuscular junctions as discussed in class) |
Friday, 4/13 |
Here's a very short and very cool research report about how the observation of python heart growth after the consumption of a huge meal is leading researches to potential heart disease treatments in humans: Circulation, digestion, experimental design... it all there!
From now until our final review we will be studying plants. We will discuss material in chapters 29-31, and 35-39. (Keep in mind that you might have a reading quiz at any time after a specific chapter assignment has been made.) Stay tuned for details. Start paying attention to the nifty things plants are doing right about now. It's amazing, and in a few weeks you will understand how it all happens! How cool is that?!? Start saving empty yogurt cups for your plant tropism lab that you will be conducting for most of this term. Read Chapter 35 thoroughly. Find something in your refrigerator or at the produce counter and try to make it grow. Use seeds, pits, potato eyes, carrot tops, onion bulbs, lemon grass stalks, herb cuttings... GO GREEN! Document the process (notebook, photos, sketches) and hand in your observations on May 18. Start this after the break if you will be out of town, or right now if you are sticking around. The project (observation journal) will be due May 25. I highly recommend: The After-Dinner Gardening Book: Richard W. Langer: ISBN 9780898154504 | |
 Have a GREAT Vacation! |
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| Homework for week of April 23 | ||
Plant Scavenger Hunt due next week. You may work with a partner, but you are all responsible for knowing ad being able to use the vocabulary. If you don't know something, look it up. Don't try to fool the species police! |
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| Monday, 4/23 | POINT OF INFORMATION: The contraction of the diaphragm does not increase the size of the lungs. It expands the chest cavity which, since it is a closed system, experiences a drop in pressure (more volume with same amount of stuff inside). This causes air to be pushed into the lungs if there is an open airway (i.e. the mouth or nose) to the trachea. The added air causes the expansion of the lungs, which as you know, comprises a lot of empty space waiting to be filled with said air. The relaxation of the diaphragm and contraction of the intercostal muscles reduces the space in the thorax, squeezes the lungs (i.e. increases the pressure) and air is forced out. REMEMBER: Nature doesn't suck!
"Feet up" reading of Chapter 29. Focus on the chapter summary, and the content of figures 29.1, 29.3, 29.6, 29.16, 29.23. | |
| Tuesday, 4/24 | Chapter 38: Plant reproduction. Flower dissection
in class. There will be a handout, but here's a version you can look over on line. The questions at the end are what you should be thinking about as you take apart the flowers.
Ms. DR will be out of the classroom today, but you are expected to show up and do this lab. Use colored pencils and the dissecting scopes to draw large detailed diagrams of what you see. It's okay if you can't identify the type of flower, but you must be able to identify the parts and their roles in plant reproduction. Work together to learn to recognize flower and fruit parts. For some really funky fruit anatomy (you had no idea what you've been eating!) check out this page. If you have time, take a look at the non-flowering plant specimens collected by Ms. Purdy and gymnosperm cones collected by Ms. DR. Remember that all 4 AP Bio classes need to have access to these specimens, so look carefully, but try not to destroy anything. Here are the lins to the Overview Powerpoint I showed in class on Monday, and the Chapter 29 abbreviated powerpoint I started to show. | |
| Wednesday, 4/25 | Ms DR will be out of the room again.
Watch Parts I and II and at least one other segment of Sexual Encounters of the Floral Kind. Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V,and Part VI. It's old and the You Tube quality isn't great, but the content and its delivery are unforgettable! Look at the PowerPoint I would have shown you in class. Understand the basics of pollen and ovule development, and double fertilization. There will be pea pods for you to dissect in class. Remember to sketch and label your observations! You should also take a look at the bryophytes, pteridophytes, and gymnosperm cones if you haven't already done so. See if you can find both sporophyte and gametophyte generations in at least one of the moss samples. Use the dissecting scopes, and draw what you see. Take the seed and fruit matching quiz at the end of the slide show. (The idea is to look carefully at variations on the theme of fruits and flowers, rather than worry about the right answers!) | |
Friday, 4/27 |
Read Chapter 30. Focus on concept summary and content of figures 30.1, 30.2, 30.9. 30.13, 30.14, 30.17, 30.19.
Is anyone interested in collecting material to make a bryophyte and pteridophyte (check 'em out in chapter 29) terrarium for our classroom? (Yes, extra credit is a possibility!) Here's an outline of some big picture ideas from The Private Lives of Plants video series. (I linked to onw segment, but if your Google the series, you will get many many more.) You don't need the videos to find out about the ideas and specific examples cited, but the library has the series on DVD if you want to borrow it. It's AMAZING slow-mo and high-speed footage of plant growth and activity. | |
| Homework for week of April 23 | ||
Spend a day Sunday, May 15 making Newton a better place. Participate in a day of community service by registering for Newton Serves. Opportunities include park clean-ups, landscaping public schools and buildings, repair projects and more! It's a great day to spend time with friends and neighbors doing good for all. |
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| Monday, 4/30 | Plant Scavenger Hunt due by May 25 at the latest. Collecting specimens is a great way to take a breather from studying, especially if the weather is nice. You may work with a partner or two, but you are all responsible for knowing and being able to use the vocabulary. If you don't know something, look it up. Don't try to fool the species police!
(Feet-up read of Chapter 37.) Chapter 39 for class discussion. In class you will choose partners and begin to plan your plant tropism experiment. Write up a solid draft version of your plant tropism experimental design so that you and your partners can finalize your plans during 10 minutes of class time. Take a look at the grading rubric for the project so you know what is expected of you. The formal lab write-up is due on May 30. Each student must write his or her own report. Here is the Plant Physiology (chapter 39) powerpoint from class. | |
| Tuesday, 5/1 | Don't forget the Take-Home Plant Quest. It is due this Friday, May 4, before you take the final exam part I. Chapter 36. We will do a virtual transpiration investigation in class. You are responsible for all of the material in this chapter. We'll wrap up plants and all new material in preparation for the FINAL COUNTDOWN. Make time for you and your partners to set up the tropism experiment. It must be done before the weekend. | |
| Wednesday 5/2 | Review Round Robin. Be prepared for a massive brain dump and sharing session.
Make time for you and your partners to set up the tropism experiment. It must be done before the weekend. | |
| Friday, 5/4 | Plant Physiology take-home quest due at the beginning of class today. If you are missing class for another AP exam, make sure Ms. DR gets yourwork at the beginning of the day. PLANTS AND ECOLOGY TEST Chapters 29, 30, 35, 36, 38, 39, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 Check Term I website homework page for outside readings for these units. Labs: Dissolved Oxygen and Primary Productivity, Transpiration The multiple choice section is Part I of your Final Exam. | |
| Homework for week of May 7 | ||
This is the FINAL COUNTDOWN! From here it's a sprint to the finish. YOU CAN DO IT! Some tips to help you with the comprehensive review: 1) Whatever you already know, make sure you know extremely well. Focus on the chapters we have covered. Learn other material only if you are confident about what we have done together this year. 2) Use your prep book and take all of the practice tests. 3) Log on to the Biology Place website and go through every lab for context, experimental design, and meaning of expected results. Pay attention to the graphic presentation of data! 4) Log on to the Biology Links website for an overview of all of the material arranged by theme. 5) Read all of the Key Concepts at the beginning (and elaborated at the end) of each chapter in Campbell. Take the chapter review quizzes. 6) Use the Campbell CD-ROM to watch animations, practice vocabulary, and review concepts. 7) Look at all of the figures in your textbook and make sure you can explain them without referring to the figure legends. Review chapter content details where necessary. 8) Study with classmates or members of Ms. Purdy's classes. Teach each other. Probe your knowledge. Make sure you can explain what you know. 9) Come in any time to go over old tests. You'll be amazed at how much more you know now than you did 9 months ago! You've learned a lot, and you should be proud. 10) I'm happy to have you run things by me, ask me questions, or support you in any way I can. I believe in your ability to master this material! |
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NOTE: If you will be missing a part of the AP Bio final because you have scheduling conflicts with other AP exams this week, be sure to schedule make-ups so that you have completed ALL of the segments of the AP Biology final before the end of the day on Friday, May 11. Remember also to keep an eye on your plant tropism experiments. Don't forget to water your plants if and when necessary! |
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| Monday, 5/7 | CHEMISTRY AND CELLS, CELL CYCLE Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 27, 28 Check Term I and II website homework pages for outside readings for these units. Labs: Enzyme Lab, Mitosis Lab The multiple choice section will count as Part II of your Final Exam. | |
| Tuesday, 5/8 | PHOTOSYNTHESIS, RESPIRATION, & ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY Chapters 9, 10, 40, 41, 42, 43, bits of 44 - 48 Check Term II and III website homework pages for outside readings for these units. Labs: Cellular Respiration, Plant Pigmetns & Photosynthesis, Physiology of the Circulatory System The multiple choice section will count as Part III of your Final Exam. | |
| Wednesday, 5/9 | HEREDITY, MOLECULAR GENETICS, & EVOLUTION Chapters 11 (meiosis), 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 47 Check Term II and III website homework pages for outside readings for these units. Labs: DNA Fingerprinting, Synthetic Biology Bacterial Transformation, Population Genetics (including Chi-squared analysis) The multiple choice section will count as Part IV of your Final Exam. | |
| Friday, 5/11 | COMPREHENSIVE ESSAY QUESTION Absolutely everything is fair game. The Open Response section will count as Part V of your Final Exam. | |
Monday X-block O-R make-up for AP US History miss on Friday Tuesday in class for Plant Test make-up: Everyone else work on tropism and other projects Special grading weights for term IV: |
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| Homework for week of May 14 and beyond the AP exam | ||
| Monday, 5/14 | Remember and heed the ADVICE we've given you! ROCK THE AP BIO EXAM!!! 7:50 AM to noon in the Library. | |
| Tuesday, 5/15 | Turn in textbook with the CD-ROM!
Come in with suggestions for activities this week. We'll vote. Bring in stuff for a little celebration (food, drinks, papergoods, fun movies). If the weather is nice, we'll go outside! | |
| Wednesday, 5/16 | NOTE: Devote some of your May weekends to the Environment and Community Service. Newton Conservators has walks and talks and service projects, as does the Charles River Watershed Association. | |
| Friday, 5/18 | Refrigerator plant growth project due Friday, May 25 or sooner. (see description on 4/12) | |
| Monday, 5/21 | Plant Scavenger Hunt due today. IRP Posters and Presentations today, Tuesday, and Friday of this week | |
| Wednesday, 5/23 | MAKE UP EXAMS: Anat and Phys unit test, any portion of the AP Bio Final that you missed. You may take more than one piece of the final during class time today. If you are not taking a make-up exam, you may have a free! | |
| Friday, 5/25 | Refrigerator Projects due today: Hand in your journals, photos, videos, or whatever records you have of your horticultural wizardry. | |
| Tuesday, 5/29 | Something good TBD | |
| Wednesday, 5/30 | Plant Tropism Lab write-up due. Check the grading rubric before you turn in your group's efforts. And so we bid each other "Farewell!" | |