The science course has focused our Pre-AP work on a set of skills and vocabulary that are important for students to acquire as they learn the process AND content of science.
The Pre-AP Biology course emphasizes the integration of content with science practices—powerful reasoning tools that support students in analyzing the natural world around them. This ability is one of t he hallmarks of scientific literacy, and it cultivates a more sustainable pathway to numerous college and career opportunities in science as well as numerous natural and social sciences. This course focuses deeply on the foundational biology knowledge and skills that matter most in preparing students for subsequent coursework in science. This course concentrates on the core areas of ecological systems, evolution, cellular systems, and genetics. Rather than understanding content topics in isolation, students will make meaningful connections between the structures, processes, and interactions that exist across biological systems—from cells to ecological communities.
In Pre-AP Biology, students will:
- Actively participate in analyzing real-world phenomena.
- Apply science practices to construct and revise their knowledge.
- Regularly collaborate with their peers in dialogue, investigations, and problem solving.
Areas of Focus
Pre-AP Biology instructional resources focus on the following key instructional shifts:
- Emphasis on analytical reading and writing: Students engage in analytical reading and writing to gain, retain, and apply scientific knowledge.
- Focus on applying mathematics: Students use mathematics to understand and express the quantitative aspects of biology, to record and interpret experimental data, and to solve problems as they arise.
- Attention to modeling: Students go beyond just labeling diagrams to modeling biological processes to demonstrate and revise understanding of key patterns, interactions, and relationships.
Unit 1: Ecological Systems
Unit 2: Evolution
Unit 3: Cellular Systems
Unit 4: Genetics
These big ideas are addressed across units:
- Biological evolution
- Genetic inheritance
- Biological systems
- Interdependence
More Information
SAT PREP CENTER