Hey Bio Friends! Here are some resources to help you with your independent reading project in AP Bio. I’m excited for this project because you are going to have time to explore a topic of your interest, which is an incredible opportunity since school so often defines your reading choices for you. Be sure to thank Mr. Woodruff for recognizing your independence!
I’m going to post resources here to help you with access to reading materials (print, ebooks, and audiobooks) as well as places to find reading suggestions. You know I love talking books with you, so you can always reach out via email for more personalized reading ideas, smcnerneyoe@olatheschools.org Looking forward to hearing about your reading selections this semester! Have a great day, Ms. Mac
Public Library Resources
The public library has an incredible set of resources for you that you could use for this project (and for your life!)– in print and electronic format. The trick to using them is that you need a public library card number to get started. Here are a few options:
Think you have a public library card already and you know the card number and PIN number?
Check to make sure everything is working by logging in here-if everything works you are all set to use both electronic and print resources!
Getting an error message? Call the public library for help: 913.971. 6851
Think you have a public library card already but you don’t know the card number and/or PIN number?
Call the public library for help: 913.971. 6851
Know you need a card? Get an e-card to use public library e-materials!
Complete the online form https://oplecard.jocolibrary.org/
Be sure to take a photo or write down your library card number and PIN! If you decide later on that you want to borrow printed materials, visit the library and they will help you add print materials to your card’s permissions
Getting an error message? Call the public library for help: 913.971. 6851
Accessing public library e-books and audiobooks
Once you have your library card and PIN number use this guide for resources on using Axis360, the public library app for e-books and audiobooks.
Axis 360 Guide
Small supplemental guide for Audiobooks on Axis360
AP Biology Book Selection Resources
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Subaru partner to award books about science that are appealing for both adults and high school students. This link contains information about the award-winning titles. Lots of these look really fantastic and will remind you that science writing doesn’t have to be the dry textbook! https://www.sbfprize.org/young-adult-science-books
Children’s Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Books List— I know, I know, you’re NOT children! Ignore the wording of this particular award name, by “children” they just mean anyone who isn’t a dry, shriveled, boring adult. Each one of the books on the list indicates the grade levels of readers they think would enjoy the title, and as you scroll through you will see lots that are 7-12 or teen. Also, a little tidbit about the publishing world, “trade book” means published for a general reading audience– in other words, these are NOT boring science textbooks meant for you to use a study aids! They’re books about science topics written in a way that regular humans will enjoy reading! https://www.cbcbooks.org/cbc-book-lists/ostb-2020/
Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize must be a good list because, um, that fancy title alone is pretty impressive. And it’s British, so that must also make it fancy? And it aims to celebrate the best popular science writing from around the world each year, so that’s a bonus too. Here’s an overview of recent winning titles: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/book-prizes/science-book-prize/past-winners/ and here’s a link to a Google spreadsheet of past winners and shortlisted titles (just another term for finalists). https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1T2Ec5KacJ4p2IWWz6m4RUbZhTlT-LOfEvqWlzrAAq5I/edit#gid=0 I’m especially excited about the 2018 winner titled, Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain. It sounds fascinating!
Pen/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award honors writers who make science writing accessible to non-scientists (a truly important and complicated craft!) This award has been honoring several finalists and a winner since 2011. Here’s the homepage https://pen.org/pen-eo-wilson-prize-literary-science-writing/ with info about the 2019 honored books, and links to previous winners. I’ve added several of these to my ever-growing to-read list!
Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, founded in 1959, honors books written by scientists that are intended for a broad audience (meaning they aren’t writing just for other scientists). Topics include physical science, biological science, math and scientific auto/biographies. Here’s a link to past winners https://www.pbk.org/Awards/BookAwards/ScienceWinners
Outstanding Books for the College Bound, Science and Technology List. The American Library Association creates this award list approximately every five years, though our 2020 list is delayed due to Covid. However, the previous list still contains lots of great titles. I’m linking you to the Science and Technology specific list, http://www.ala.org/yalsa/science-and-technology Almost all of these titles are available in print format from the OE library. There are also lists for Arts & Humanities, History & Cultures, Literature & Language Arts, and Social Sciences linked on the award homepage http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2014-outstanding-books-college-bound-and-lifelong-learners
Random Book Suggestions from Ms. Mac. Sadly this isn’t an “official” award (at least not yet) but these are some books, both fiction and non-fiction, that I thought might be potentially interesting for this project. This spreadsheet contains title, author, F= Fiction, NF= Non-fiction, and a column for availability. If the title sounds interesting use the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet (pictured below) for a quick reference of which formats- print, ebook, audiobook– are available from OE and/or the public library. Y= format is owned by that library– but you will still need to check to make sure a copy is available for you to actually checkout.
Olathe East Library 