VCE Biology: Sample teaching plan



VCE Biology: Sample teaching planSample Course Outline – VCE Biology Unit 4: How does life change and respond to challenges over time?Note: This is a sample guide only and indicates one way to present the content from the VCE Biology Study Design over the weeks in each school term. Teachers are advised to consider their own contexts in developing learning activities: Which local fieldwork sites would support learning in the topic area? Which local issues lend themselves to debate and investigation? Which experiments can students complete within the resource limitations of their learning environments?WeekAreaTopicsLearning activities 1How do humans impact on biological processes?DNA manipulation (use of enzymes; PCR; gel electrophoresis; recombinant plasmids)Activity: peppered moths natural selectionExperiment: gel electrophoresis of food dyesExperiment: effects of changing environmental conditions on the expression of a trait (light on genetically modified barley)Simulations: transcription and translationExperiment: a transformation of E.coli using the pGLO plasmid23Practical investigationPractical investigation (experimental variables; scientific research methodologies and ethics; data organisation, analysis and evaluation; organisation of biological concepts; nature of evidence; scientific report writing conventions)Poster evaluation: strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats of provided examplesExperimental design brainstorming: four groups: ‘photosynthesis’, ‘respiration’, ‘antibiotics’ or ‘DNA techniques’ as an extension of prior experimentsTest: hypothesis formulation and experimental designStudent experiment: negotiation, confirmation and materials preparationStudent undertaking of experimentReporting/poster write-up phase4567How are species related?Changes in the genetic makeup of a population (qualitative treatment of gene pool changes; evolutionary processes; selective breeding)Evolution card game: dog selection pressuresGroup presentation: student group selection of NOVA online or Evolution%20activity8Changes in biodiversity over time (changes in life forms in Earth’s geological history; evidence of biological change over time; patterns of biological change over geological time)Simulation: creation of coacervates – evolution from simple to complex lifeMultimedia presentation: different types of evolutionModelling: geological time line9Determining relatedness between species (molecular homology as evidence of relatedness between species; use of phylogenetic trees; evolutionary case studies of novel phenotypes – beak formation in Galapagos finches and jaw formation in African cichlid fishData analysis/bioinformatics: evolutionary relationships between species and phylogenetic treesFlowchart: beak formation in Galapagos finches10Human change over time (primate, hominoid and hominin characteristics; trends in hominin evolution; human fossil record)Quantitative palaeobiology: bone measurements and height predictionsSkull study: Bone Clones, Inc kitActivity: opposable thumbsSkill development: ‘clot’ measurementMedia analysis: hobbit research findings11121314How do humans impact on biological processes?Biological knowledge and society (techniques and social/ethical implications of gene cloning, genetic screening and DNA profiling; use of GMO and social/ethical implications of transgenic organisms; management of epidemics and pandemics; rational drug design)Animations: gene cloningCase studies: use of DNA profiling in criminal investigationsSurvey: transgenic crops – data collection and analysisMicroscopy: ‘bugs’Research and data analysis: spread and control of student-selected virus (Ebola, bird flu, Zika)Experiment: antibiotic effectsModelling: production of Relenza15161718Unit revision19 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download