Download Honors Biology - Cincinnati Christian School

Junior/Senior High Campus
Honors Biology
2016-2017 School Year
Teacher Name: Mr. Matthew Hensley
Telephone: 513-892-8500, extension 1052
Email: [email protected]
Course Description:
Biology is most students’ first chance to study life science exclusively, and in a lab
setting. This course follows the Next Generation Science Standards, and is divided into 4
main units of study:
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Cells
Genetics
Biodiversity
Ecology
As we study biology on these different levels, it becomes very evident that all life is the
result of very intentional, exquisite design. Students will be asked to research,
collaborate, communicate (both written and oral), develop models and procedures, and
think critically.
Textbook:
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Biology. Miller/Levine, Pearson, 2014.
Students will have digital access to the textbook on their laptop at all times. (A
class set of hard-copy textbooks will stay in the classroom for use if needed.)
Supply list:
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A three-ring binder (1½ inch is best)
A box of colored pencils (12 colors or more)
Pens and pencils
A yellow highlighter
Method of Instruction: guiding questions, class discussion, lecture, lab work, research,
inquiry-based activities, simulations, outside readings, video clips, group work, case
studies, and data collection tools.
Assessment:
The total points earned from the various modes of evaluation that follow will determine
grades. Grades are updated and posted on Haiku weekly.
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Tests: Tests will be announced approximately one week in advance, with a
study guide to help students prepare. Tests are teacher-generated, and include
multiple-choice, matching, short answer/essay questions, and data analysis.
Test grades will not be curved.
Quizzes: Quizzes help to keep you current and help me to know how you’re
doing. Most often they will be announced one class in advance, and
occasionally they will be unannounced.
Lab: We will be working on a lab or a related activity weekly. Sometimes
students will be asked to work together to develop their own model or lab
investigation to demonstrate or discover the concepts at hand.
Homework: Assignments will occasionally be given as homework for
practice, or you may need to take an assignment from class home to finish it
up. It will then be spot-checked for “completion” credit, or submitted to be
graded for accuracy. Late work will not be accepted.
Notebooks: A three-ring binder will be used all year to keep any paper
outlines, labs, activities, drawings, handouts, and tests. We will continually
be updating this and keeping it in order. At the end of the year, I will collect
your notebook to be graded and averaged into your overall grade with as
much weight as one test.
(A Note about Digital Documents/Resources: Over half of your resources
will be delivered and submitted via Haiku. In those cases, I will remind you
to save each one of those documents in a folder on your laptop.)
Projects: Projects are assigned with at least 2 weeks notice, and may be
individual, done with a partner, or in a group. In cases where students need to
work together, time in class will be given to collaborate.
Extra Credit: Please note that aside from bonus points on quizzes or tests,
extra credit will not be given.
Classroom policies:
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Be on time. Tardies (without a pass) will result in a mark on your discipline
card.
Do your own work, and hand it in on time.
If you are absent for any part of class for any reason, YOU are responsible for
making sure you find out what you missed. Please see me immediately upon
your return (without waiting until class begins). You have one full day (class
meeting) for each full day missed to make-up an assignment. If you miss a
lab, make sure you see me to set up a time to make it up.
Work only on assignments from this class during class time.
Use the restroom and get a drink before class begins, after you drop off your
belongings and let me know. Do not ask to go during class.
Be respectful to others.
Unit 1: Cells
Essential Questions
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How does the cell use carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids?
How do genes code for proteins?
How is the cell the basic unit of life?
Why do cells divide?
What are the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
What are the components of an effective experiment?
In what ways do the structures of a microscope help our study of cells?
How are prokaryotic cells different different from eukaryotic cells?
How do materials enter and leave cells?
Why is osmosis important to a cell in various environments?
What are the structures and functions of the cell?
How are characteristics of life manifested by the cell?
How do plant cells use the sun to make food?
How do cells turn food into energy?
How do cellular structures and processes provide evidence for God’s design?
Unit 2: Genetics
Essential Questions
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What is the pattern for organization and storage of genetic information?
What is the purpose of a gene?
How can genes be altered?
What factors influence what genes are expressed in a specific cell?
How can use probability to predict traits inherited by offspring?
What causes variations?
How can pedigrees be used to analyze human inheritance?
What did Mendel contribute to our understanding of genetics?
What are some inheritance patterns that do not follow simple Mendelian genetics?
How can genes affect how are various life forms coded for?
How does information get passed to the next generation?
What are the main events of the cell cycle and how is it regulated?
How do cancer cells differ from other cells?
How is mitosis different from meiosis?
What are the effects of errors in meiosis?
How can a gene affect more than one trait?
How can more than one gene affect a single trait?
How do some genes regulate the expression of other genes?
Does the environment have a role in how genes determine traits?
What are some modern genetic techniques and how/why are they being used?
Unit 3: Biodiversity
Essential Questions
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What was Charles Darwin’s contribution to science?
What three patterns of biodiversity did Darwin note?
What were the ideas that shaped Darwin’s thinking?
What parts of Darwin’s theory are not consistent with Design?
Why is mainstream science adamantly resistant to examining the flaws in
Darwin’s theory?
Under what conditions does natural selection occur?
What biological evidences show flaws in parts of Darwin’s theory?
What biological evidences point to the idea of a Designer?
How is evolution defined in genetic terms?
What are sources of genetic variation?
What determines the number of phenotypes for a given trait?
What conditions are required to maintain genetic equilibrium?
Should antibiotic use be restricted?
What types of isolation lead to the formation of new species?
Unit 4: Ecology
Essential Questions
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How does energy flow through ecosystems?
What do the three types of ecological pyramids illustrate?
How does matter move through the biosphere?
How does water cycle through the biosphere?
What is the importance of the main nutrient cycles?
How does competition, herbivory, and predation shape communities?
What are three primary ways organisms depend on each other?
How do communities change over time?
Do ecosystems return to a “normal” flowing over time?
What factors affect population growth?
What factors limit carrying capacity?
How do our daily activities affect the environment?
Why is biodiversity important?
How are terrestrial biomes classified?
What is the relationship between biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem?
What are the components of a self-sustaining habitat?
How does an ecosystem develop from an area void of any life?
How does secondary succession progress?
What are the various relationships within an ecosystem that help maintain
dynamic equilibrium?
● How can we take steps to reduce human degradation of the environment?