Many students take advanced placement (AP) classes in high school. These classes serve a number of purposes for students, from showing colleges they undertook a challenging course load to earning college credit. AP biology is one of these courses. There are a number of inquiry activities, or labs, that teachers can prepare for students.
Building Blocks
AP biology students learn about the chemical bonds, or macromolecules, which act as building blocks in biological structures. To help them better understand these structures, teachers can assign students to literally "build" them, using paper components. The structures the students build at lab stations should include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and DNA. Teachers should provide different paper components to represent the types of molecules and bonds.
Cell Construction
Cells and their functions are basic topics in biology. Consequently, early on in the class students should become familiar with the cell's structure to better understand subsequent material on the function of cells. Teachers can divide students into groups and provide them with a variety of differently shaped materials, such as dry pasta noodles and cereals in an assortment of shapes, glue, pipe cleaners, yarn and cardboard. Students will then create 3D representations of the cells using the cardboard as a base.
Human Genome Scavenger Hunt
The mapping of the human genome was a monumental accomplishment. To help students familiarize themselves with this topic, AP biology teachers can set the students on a "scavenger hunt": to find a specific set of genes. Students will then use tools, such as the University of California, Santa Cruz's Human Genome Browser, to find this information (see Resources). The lab should be preceded by a lecture on use the teacher's chosen tool.
The Effects of Stimulants and Depressants on Heart Rate
One sophisticated lab inquiry activity uses worms to test the effect of stimulants and depressants on heart rates. This lab will involve dosing worms with drugs that are classified as either stimulants or depressants, then using capillary tubes to find and measure the creature's heart beats. This activity will give students experience with more advanced biological experiments and techniques and can be modified by the teacher to ask different questions of the students.
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