COURSE TITLE: Biology

TEACHER NAME: Mrs. Katey Blakeley

ROOM: 20

Course Description

Biology is a required, inquiry-based course focused on providing all high school students with foundational life science content about the patterns, processes, and interactions among living organisms. The first core idea, From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes, concentrates on the structure of cells and how their functions are necessary for supporting life, growth, behavior, and reproduction. The second core idea, Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics, investigates the positive and negative interactions between living organisms and other biotic and abiotic factors. The third core idea, Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits, centers on the formation of proteins that affect the trait expression, also known as the central dogma of molecular biology; the passing of distinguishing genetic information throughout generations; and how environmental factors and genetic errors can cause gene mutations. The fourth core idea, Unity and Diversity, examines the variation of traits within a population over a long period of time that results in diversity among organisms. (alex.state.al.us)

Course Outline

First Semester

Unit 1- Ecology

Unit 2- The Cell

Unit 3- Genetics

Second Semester

Unit 4- History of Biological Diversity

Unit 5- Bacteria, Viruses, Protists, and Fungi

Unit 6- Plants

Unit 7- Invertebrates

Unit 8- Vertebrates

Unit 9- The Human Body

Make Up Work:

1. Make up work is the responsibility of the student that is absent. I will not track you down to make sure you complete your missed assignments.

2. According to the school handbook, you have three days to make up missing assignments from an excused absence.

3. The make-up work area is located in the back of the room. Check the calendar to see what we did.

- Bell work done while you are absent should be copied from the teacher’s sample notebook or from your partner by Friday of the week that you are out.

- Notes can be copied from the sample notebook or from your partner. It is suggested that you get your notes as soon as possible so that you don’t fall too far behind.

- Any handouts given out when you are absent can be found in the sample notebook and in the black folders on the wall.

4. Be sure to turn in any assignments that were taken up or graded.

5. Any missed tests must be made up either before or after school but not during class time. You must make the test up within three days.

Assessment and Feedback Plan

There will be lots of grades accumulated during every nine weeks. We will have quizzes, tests, class work, and lab reports. The following is how I distribute my point system and what my grading scale will be for this class.

Grade Calculation Example Grading Scale

John Doe- 100-90 - A

Ch. 2 Test- 80/100 89-80% - B

Ch. 3 Vocabulary- 24/24 79-70% - C

Lab Activity- 43/50 69-60% - D

Class Assignment- 35/35 59% and below-F

Total Points Possible: 209 192/209=0.944*100=94.4

Total Points for John Doe: 192 Final Grade: 94 A

Rules

Be prepared and on time for class.
Be respectful of classmates and yourself at all times.
Follow all rules stated in the school handbook.

Discipline Consequences

If any of the above rules are broken, there are certain disciplinary consequences that will occur to every student. Please remember, these steps refer to minor disciplinary problems. If there is ever a major problem, the student will be written up and sent to the office immediately. The consequences are:

1 Verbal Warning

2 Parent Contact

3 Written Up

4 Office Referral

Supplies

1. 3- ring binder (at least 1 ½ inches)

2. Colored Pencils

3. Paper and pencil

4. $20 lab donation