Learning List has reviewed print materials for Bedford, Freeman & Worth’s (BFW) Principles of Life, 2nd Edition, for the AP Course. This is a comprehensive product to support instruction in Advanced Placement (AP) Biology courses. Content is available in print and digital formats and includes additional online resources. Instruction is inquiry-based and addresses the central themes of biology (e.g., evolution, biological systems). The course promotes in-depth understanding of concepts and the application of content to real-world problems.
Principles of Life opens with a preface that introduces students to the big ideas and science practices for AP Biology and the course features that will help students master content and prepare for the AP exam. The text’s first chapter is titled “Principles of Life” and provides an overview of the scientific method and the study of biology. Subsequent content is organized in parts that address overarching concepts (e.g., cells, evolution, animal form and function). Each part is made up of chapters that address components of the overarching concept (e.g., cell membranes and signaling, speciation, breathing).
Chapters are organized around “Key Concepts” and each Key Concept is addressed in a chapter section. For example, a chapter addressing circulation includes sections titled “Circulatory Systems Can Be Open or Closed” and “A Beating Heart Propels the Blood.” Chapters include “Apply the Concept” and “Investigation” exercises. Apply the Concept presents rea-world scenarios (e.g., “Gene expression and morphogenesis) and ask students to evaluate research data and draw conclusions. Investigations presents a figure that clarifies the process of scientific inquiry in the context of the chapter’s content. Chapters end with concise summaries of each Key Concept.
About BFW*
BFW believes that what happens in the classroom matters, and that a good class, a good teacher, and good content have the power to change the world—one student and one idea at a time. BFW products have long been best-sellers for AP courses. Now, in response to the needs of teachers across the country, BFW offers materials for Common Core, elective courses, and on-level programs aligned to NGSS.
Information in this section is provided by or adapted from BFW.
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