Course Description
Welcome to Biology! Biology is a program that fulfills our inherent need to develop knowledge and understanding of the living world that surrounds and includes us. The course will focus in these topics: chemistry of life, biodiversity and ecology, cellular biology, and anatomy and physiology. The unifying concepts are organic evolution and the functioning of DNA and energy transfer. The development of a solid understanding of the structure and function of living organisms will enable you to make informed decisions related to our personal and community health and environmental well being. We will be introduced to the field of biotechnology with the intention of developing and enhancing our understanding of the molecular basis for life and heredity leading to development of the ability to critically evaluate the risks and benefits of this technology to the living systems.
Course Objectives
We Will:
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the chemistry of living systems through modeling and experimenting.
Demonstrate understanding of cell structure and through diagramming, modeling and inquiry experience presentations.
Be able to model and explain the process of genetic information transmission, demonstrate protein synthesis and the role of role of DNA in the processes.
Be able to demonstrate understand of the organization, structure and function of living systems.
Be able to demonstrate the ability to classify organisms.
Be able to document and demonstrate using evidence found in the scientific record the process of organic evolution.
Students will diagram and explain the interactions found in ecosystems.
Conduct and present inquiry based learning using the scientific method and the design engineering process.
Apply the skills of mathematics in their inquiry based exercises
Essential Biology Questions
What is the chemistry of life?
Why is the cell the foundation of living systems?
How does DNA and genetics function to provide a basis for evolution?
Broad Topics
The Chemistry of Life
Cell Biology
Genetics
Anatomy and Physiology
Evolution and Biodiversity
Ecology
Text
Holt Reinhart, and Winston; Modern Biology; 2009.
Science Department Reading Skills Across the Curriculum:
Ask Questions - question the text, the author and self.
Visualize - use sensory images to create a mental picture of the scene, story, situation, or process and involve oneself in it.
Draw Inferences - go beyond the literal information in the text including predicting, figurative meaning and thematic understanding.
Your Science Notebook:
For each unit of study you will be required to keep a science notebook in your 3-Ring Binder. Science notebooks contain information about your classroom experiences and should be used as scientists would use them, before, during, and after all investigations. They are a place where you will formulate and record your questions, make predictions, record data, procedures, and results, compose reflections, and communicate findings. Most importantly, notebooks provide a place for you to record new concepts that you have learned (LASER 2009). Your class notes will be kept in the Cornell Notes format. Your notebook will be assessed continually according to assignment specific rubrics.
Grading Policy
You will be assessed continually on objectives which match the topics outlined in the Massachusetts Frameworks for Biology (See pages 62-66). Your cumulative grade will be totaled into the following categories by percentages: 40% tests, quizzes, papers, projects, 20% class work, 20% homework, 20% class participation. The two exceptions to your cumulative grade total are the Science Fair Project and Final Exam.
Science Fair Project
During Second Quarter you will be designing and presenting a Science Fair Project. The top projects will go on to represent Claremont Academy at the District Science Fair held last year at the Ecotarium. The Science Fair Project counts as 25% of your second quarter grade.
Mid-Term and Final Exams
The School Committee requires that the Final Exam be 10% of your overall grade.
Biology Syllabus Part II (Academic Content)
An exhaustive list of vocabulary and definitions by topic can be found at whitneyscience.blogspot.com or directly at
http://www.dedham.k12.ma.us/dhs/bioreview.pdf.
