Download Course Overview - Bloomsburg Area School District

SYLLABUS
BIOLOGY I Honors
COURSE # 304
BLOOMSBURG AREA HIGH SCHOOL
Instructor: Mr. Dodge
www.bloomsd.k12.pa.us
Course Overview
Biology is the second course in a two course sequence designed to help prepare students
for the Biology Keystone Exam. This course will complete our study of the Assessment Anchors
for the Biology Keystone Exam. The Assessment Anchors are defined by the Eligible Content
statements established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The course will focus on
the following assessment anchors: The Chemical Basis of Life, Bioenergetics, Cell Growth and
Reproduction, and Genetics. A significant laboratory component will be incorporated into the
course to support the major concepts studied in class. Students will take the Biology Keystone
Exam at the conclusion of this course.
Course Format
I have designed the course to include the following leaning activities and evaluation methods:
Activity
1. Lecture/Class discussion
2. Laboratories
Description
Students are encouraged to maintain a well
organized notebook of all class discussions.
However, notebooks are not required, and
notebooks will not be graded. Students are
responsible for all of the information
covered in class therefore I highly
recommend keeping a notebook. I utilize
PowerPoint and interactive software in my
class discussions.
We will conduct numerous laboratory
exercises this year. My goal is to have at
least one laboratory supporting the
concepts covered in each chapter. Labs are
conducted in a group environment where
collaboration is encouraged. Formal
laboratory reports and laboratory activity
sheets will be the means of assessing
laboratory work.
3. Assignments/Homework
4. Quizzes
5. Evaluations
6. Projects
7. Participation
Assignments will take the form of:
-Reading assignments
-Section/chapter review questions
-Review study guides
-Pre-lab assignments
-Concept mapping
-Class activities
All assignments/homework will be posted
in a designated area in the classroom. It is
the student’s responsibility to write down
the assignment and have it completed at
the beginning of the next day’s class
(Unless otherwise designated).
5-15 questions to assess student’s
understanding of a given concept or
component of a chapter. A pre-lab quiz
may be given prior to conducting a
laboratory investigation.
Approximately 50 question evaluation of
an entire chapter of instruction.
Evaluations will be worth approximately
100 points.
Projects will be assigned at various points
throughout the school year. Projects may
be of a cooperative nature or individually
completed.
Education is an active endeavor which
requires your daily participation. To this
end, there will be a 45 or 90 point
participation grade assigned each marking
period.
Course Outline and Sequence
*** The following course outline is subject to change. Deletions and/or additions may be
required depending upon the needs of the students. The following is an outline of the
topics which will be studied. Assignments and assessments will take the form of the
activities listed in the course format.***
Unit 1: The Nature of Life
Chapter 1 The Science of Biology
Section 1.3 Studying Life
 Characteristics of Living Things
 Big Ideas in Biology
 Fields of Biology
Chapter 2 The Chemistry of Life
Section 2.1 The Nature of Matter
 Atoms, Elements, Chemical Bonds
Section 2.2 Properties of Water
 Solutions and Suspensions
Section 2.3 Carbon Compounds
 Carbon Macromolecules
Section 2.4 Chemical Reactions and Enzymes
 Energy in Reactions
 Enzymes
Unit 2: Cells
Chapter 7 Cell Structure and Function
Section 7.1 Life is Cellular
 Discovery/Exploring the Cell
 Types of Cells
Section 7.2 Cell Structure
 Cell organization
 Organelle structure and function
Section 7.3 Cell Transport
 Passive Transport
 Active Transport
Section 7.4 Homeostasis and Cells
 Cell as an Organism
 Multicellular Life
Chapter 8 Photosynthesis
Section 8.1 Energy and Life
 ATP
 Heterotrophs/Autotrophs
Section 8.2 Photosynthesis: An Overview
 Chlorophyll and Chloroplasts
Section 8.3 The Process of Photosynthesis
 Light Dependent Reactions
 Light Independent Reactions
Chapter 9 Cellular Respiration
Section 9.1 Cellular Respiration: An Overview
 Chemical Energy and Food
 Comparing Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Section 9.2 The Process of Cellular Respiration
 Glycolysis
 Krebs Cycle
 Electron Transport Chain
Section 9.3 Fermentation
Chapter 10 Cell Growth and Division
Section 10.1 Cell Growth, Division, and Reproduction
 Limits to Cell Size
Section 10.2 The Process of Cell Division
 Chromosomes
 Cell Cycle
 Mitosis/Cytokinesis
Section 10.3 Regulating the Cell Cycle
 Controls on Cell Division
 Cancer
Section 10.4 Cell Differentiation
 Stem Cells and Development
 Stem Cell Research
Unit 3:Genetics
Chapter 11 Introduction to Genetics
Section 11.1 The Work of Gregor Mendel
 Mendel’s Experiments
 Law of Segregation
Section 11.2 Applying Mendel’s Principles
 Probability and Punnett Squares
 Independent Assortment
Section 11.3 Other Patterns of Inheritance
 Incomplete Dominance
 Codominance
 Multiple Alleles
 Polygenic Traits
Section 11.4 Meiosis
 Chromosome Number
 Phases of Meiosis
 Gene Linkage/Gene Maps
Chapter 12 DNA
Section 12.1 Identifying the Substance of Genes
 The Role of DNA
Section 12.2 The Structure of DNA
 Components of DNA
 The Double Helix Model
Section 12.3 DNA Replication
 Copying the Code
 Replication in Living Cells
Chapter 13 RNA and Protein Synthesis
Section 13.1 RNA
 Role of RNA
 RNA Synthesis
Section 13.2 Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis
 The Genetic Code
 Translation
 Molecular Basis of Heredity
Section 13.4 Gene Regulation and Expression
 Prokaryotic/Eukaryotic Gene Regulation
Chapter 14 Human Heredity
Section 14.1 Human Chromosomes
 Karyotypes
 Transmission of Human Traits
 Human Pedigrees
Section 14.2 Human Genetic Disorders
 Molecules to Phenotypes
 Chromosomal Disorders
Unit 4: Review for Keystone Exam
Concepts studied in Ecology and a final review will be conducted prior to
the Keystone Exam in May.
Textbook
Title: Miller & Levine Biology
Assessment
Grading in Biology I will be based on a total point system. Your grade will be calculated
by dividing the total number of points you earned during the marking period by the total
number of possible points. There will be NO curves or extra credit given in this course.
You will have four categories from which you may earn points. The four categories are
as follows:
Category #1 Evaluations:
There will be three 100 point evaluations given during a nine-week period. Each
evaluation corresponds with a chapter in the text. A total of 300 points will be
given in this category each marking period. A cumulative final evaluation
(final exam) will be given at the completion of the course.
Category #2 Quizzes
There will be several quizzes given within each chapter. The quiz will evaluate
your understanding of an individual topic or theme. Each quiz will range from
10 to 20 points. There will be approximately 100 points given in the form of
quizzes each marking period. Students will be given at least one day’s notice
prior to any quiz.
Category #3 Homework
There will be approximately 10 homework assignments given during each
marking period. Each assignment will have a value of 10 points. I will not
announce which assignments will be graded. All assignments will be posted in
the front of the room. It is the student’s responsibility to copy down the
assignment and have the work completed by the beginning of the next class
period.
I grade homework in one of two ways: I may walk around the room and simply
look for completion of the assignment. If the assignment is complete, you will
keep your two participation points for the day. If the assignment is not complete,
two participation points will be deducted from your participation grade for the
marking period. I may also collect homework assignments and grade them for
completion and accuracy.
.
Category #4 Class Participation
I believe that education is an active endeavor, therefore students will be
expected to be active participants during every class period. Note taking,
completing a graphic organizer, researching a topic on the computer, contributing
to class discussions are just a few examples of activities students will be expected
to participate in. Students are expected to bring their textbook, notebook, and a
writing utensil EVERY DAY. Failure to do so will result in a deduction of
participation points. Students will start the marking period with a 45/45 for
a participation grade. Two points will be deducted each day a student is not
positively contributing to their individual or collective class development.
.
Category #5 Laboratory Reports
You will be executing laboratory investigations throughout the year. The
purpose of lab work is to enhance your understanding of the material being
covered in class. Laboratory questions and reports will be assigned, collected,
and graded after each lab. The total number of points for labs will vary from one
marking period to the next.
Summary of Grading
Category #1 Evaluations
Category #2 Quizzes
Category #3 Homework
Category #4 Class participation
Category #5 Laboratories
*** Category #6 Projects
300 points
100 points
50 points
90 points
Varies
Varies
*** Projects will be assigned at various times throughout the year***
V. Behavior Expectations
1. RESPECT: Each member of the class will respect the instructor and fellow
classmates.
2. SELF-DISCIPLINE: I expect all members of the class to conduct themselves
in a way that is conducive to learning.