Biology Syllabus |
BIOLOGY 1 COURSE SYLLABUS
Terra Linda High School 2013
Miss Amy Mastromonaco
[email protected]
Room 202
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Biology 1-2 is a one-year survey course that covers the major concepts in biology. The course covers cell theory, basic biochemistry, energy reactions in living systems, genetics, evolution, ecology, and the basic physiological systems found in plants and animals. This is a laboratory-oriented course and is a prerequisite for physiology.
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the relevance of biology to their lives
- Develop critical thinking, problem solving, and analysis skills necessary for successful performance throughout high school and in preparation for college courses
- Communicate effectively by writing and speaking
- To function as a member or the science community
- To use the internet and computer skills to study science
- To be able to combine class notes, laboratory handouts and writings, movies and discussions into a unified knowledge of biology
ATTENDANCE & TARDIES
Attendance: Consistent attendance is important. When you return from an absence, it is your responsibility to talk to me outside of class time about what you missed. Please do not expect me to stop class to tell you what you missed.
Tardies: You must be in your assigned seat when the bell rings or you will be marked tardy. After 3 tardies, you will receive brunch detention. If you continue to be tardy, I will call home. If your tardiness continues, I will write you a referral to the office. All tardies will impact the participation portion of your semester grade.
APPROPRIATE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
Hall Passes: It is expected that you go to the bathroom and your locker between classes. You will not be allowed to leave class except under emergency circumstances. If it is an emergency, you will be allowed to go by signing the hall pass and taking it with you.
Food & Drink: No eating is allowed in the classroom. However, I encourage you to bring a water bottle to class because it is important to stay hydrated, and you will not be allowed to visit the water fountain during class. Liquids are allowed in class if they are in enclosed containers. Food and beverages are not allowed in the lab (it is a state law that that neither will be consumed in a laboratory.)
Cell phone & Electronics: Cells phones and other electronic devices must be turned off and put away during class. If I see you using your phone or electronic dives, I will ask you to give it to me. The first time I take it away, I will keep it until after class. After that, it will be kept until the end of the day. Upon repeat offenses, it will be turned over to the assistant principal and you will have to retrieve on your own time.
Participation: participation is crucial for your success in this class and in the real world. Participation includes:
- Contributing to discussions
- Following directions
- Participating in labs and other class activities
- Respecting the classroom, students, school, & teacher
- Bringing materials to class every day
- Being in your seat by the bell
- Helping others
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Your will be loaned a copy of Modern Biology which should remain at home for the entire school year. If the textbooks are needed, we will use our class set. You are expected to bring the following to each class:
- Blank binder paper
- Pencil & two different colored pens
- School planner
- All papers for the current unit in the Biology section of your 2-inch binder
- Completed homework
EVALUATION & GRADING PROCEDURES
Semester Grades are based on: 30% tests & quizzes; 30% labs & projects; 30% homework & class work; 10% participation
Letter Grades will be given in the following manner: A= ≥90%, B= ≥80%, C= ≥70%, D= ≥60%, F= ≤59%
Quizzes will be given periodically for each unit. Some will be announced and some will be unannounced. If you participate in class and complete your homework, you will do well on the unannounced quizzes.
Unit tests will be given at the end of each unit. A list of topics to study will be provided before the test to guide you in preparing for the exam.
Late work will be accepted. If it is one day late, you will receive a 10% reduced grade; after the first day, the work will be marked down 20%. If there is a good reason (e.g. illness) for late work, it will be accepted without penalty.
In-class work: Every day you will participate in various class activities. Some of the papers that are completed during class will be collected at the end of the period and graded.
Unit Packets will be kept for each unit of study. You will create a Table of Contents for each unit, and add the name of your works as they are assigned. At the end of a unit, you will put your turn in your unit packet by placing your table of contents as the first page and every assignment in the correct order behind the table of contents. The unit packet will be collected on the day of the test. You should keep all of your unit packets to help you study for the final exam at the end of each semester.
Re-doing assessments: You may redo all lab reports and other assignments for a second time if you are not happy with your grade, either because of effort or lack of understanding. Your final grade will be an average of the two scores.
Aeries: Assignments are added to Aeries as they are assigned to the students. You may log onto Aeries to see what assignments are due soon as well as to view grades on assignments already graded.
Extra help is available at brunch, at the beginning of lunch, during tutorials, or after school by appointment.
COURSE OUTLINE (First Semester)
1. INTRODUCTION (1-2 weeks)
Everyone in class has a different background in science. We will start the year by studying how to use the laboratory equipment, the scientific process, and the metric system. For some this may be review, while others will be learning this material for the first time
2. BIOCHEMISTRY (3-4 weeks)
To understand how living things work, we must understand the chemical reactions that occur within the cells. We will study the molecules that make up our cells (and our food), carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. Finally, we will discover how enzymes an pH are important for cells.
3. CELL BIOLOGY (4 weeks)
All organisms are composed of cells. Students of biology must therefore have an overall picture of the structure and function of cells. In this unit, we will learn the function of the organelles that make up a generalized plant and animal cell. We will also look at diffusion and osmosis and how they are important for the movement of substances in and out of cells by passive and active transport.
4. PHOTOSYNTHESIS and CELLULAR RESPIRATION (2-3 weeks)
All living things need energy to survive. In this unit we will look at how cells attain the energy necessary for their life processes.
5. MITOSIS and MEIOSIS (2-3 weeks)
Organisms must grow, repair damage, and reproduce. We will learn how the body cells copy themselves for growth and replacement of damaged cells and how gametes are made for sexual reproduction.