Course Description:



|Course Description: |Biology satisfies the life science requirement needed to graduate. This introductory course gives a general |

| |overview of the study of living organisms. Biology is a difficult course in that most of it involves |

| |thinking critically about the natural world around us. There is also a substantial amount of memorization. |

| |We will cover the essential topics to give you a firm foundation for classes you may take later and for the |

| |biology you experience in every day. We will learn about a different animal every day and we will spend time|

| |working on character development. The most important thing I can do for you is teach you learning skills, |

| |not simple facts. This class will include oral work, written work, group projects, outside assignments, |

| |laboratory experiences, and tests. This class will give you reading strategies to help you become a more |

| |effective reader and learner. |

|Course Objectives: |Students will demonstrate a mastery of the topics we will cover (as shown below in the 18 week plan). All |

| |students can learn. We will work together to find the best way for each of you to not only learn the |

| |material we will cover in this class, but also to improve your critical thinking skills. |

|Classroom Expectations: |I assume that each of you is capable of speaking and writing in complete, grammatically correct sentences. I|

| |also assume you understand the basic difference between right and wrong and how to be courteous towards |

| |others. I assume you are all tremendously talented in some way or another and that you can think through |

| |somewhat complex questions. |

| |I expect that you will treat your other classmates and me with respect and dignity, just as I will do with |

| |you. I expect that if you do not understand something, or if you are having problems with me personally, |

| |that you will come to me and let me help you. I expect that you will try hard to complete all class work, |

| |keep up with all reading assignments, homework and that you will study for tests. |

| |Keys to Success: |

| |Responsibility You are responsible for the amount you learn and your grade in this class. It is my |

| |responsibility to teach you Biology in the best way possible. Grades are earned not given. |

| |Motivation You are the one who must be motivated to come every day and learn as much as possible. |

| |Effort Your achievement and learning is directly related to your effort. Homework is not a punishment but |

| |an invitation to practice a skill. I will put forth a great deal of effort on my part and you should follow |

| |suit. |

|BJ Grading Policy: |You will be graded on chapter review questions, section key concepts, written laboratory activities, assigned|

| |reports, tests and in-class activities. |

| |No late work or unexcused absence work will be accepted. |

| |Tests will be a combination of multiple choice, matching, fill in the blank, short answer, and/or true-false.|

| | |

| |Each student will be required to do a project counting as a test grade that is inquiry based. The project |

| |will involve research and real world application of scientific principles. The supplies for this project |

| |should not exceed $20. Arrangements can be made if students cannot afford these supplies. |

| |Your grade each nine weeks will be calculated as follows: |

| |30% Daily Grades and Labs- lab quizzes, lab reports and conduct in lab, book work, worksheets, |

| |homework, and quizzes. |

| |70% Tests and Projects |

| |Grades will be entered into the INOW system allowing parents / guardians and students to access grades using |

| |the internet. |

|BJ Make-up Test Policy: |Make-up test day for the Science Department is every Thursday at 7:15AM. It is the responsibility of the |

| |student to ask for a hall pass for make-up tests.  If a test is missed due to an excused absence, the student|

| |will have two consecutive Thursdays after the absence to make it up.  Students who arrive late for a make-up |

| |test may NOT receive extra time to finish the test and any uncompleted sections will be counted as |

| |incorrect.  Quizzes, labs, daily grades and homework will be made-up before and after school at a time |

| |specified by the teacher. |

|Text and Other Required Reading: |Text: Biology, Prentice Hall, Miller & Levine, 2002 |

| |We will use Google Classroom and Remind while in class and to communicate while away from school. During the|

| |first week of class I will introduce Google Classroom and Remind to all of you and we will spend time |

| |learning how to benefit from these online services. **Remind is a text messaging service – I will not be |

| |able to see any student cell phone numbers, students cannot see mine, and students cannot respond to Remind |

| |texts. |

|Materials and Supplies Needed: |Pen, pencil, and colored pencils. |

| |1 inch three-ring binder with paper. |

| |Composition book |

| |Signed Signatures Page (signed by you and your parent or guardian) |

| | |

|Concerning laptop utilization: |1. Under no circumstances are student laptops to be wired to the network or have print capabilities. |

| |2. No discs, flash drives, jump drives, or other USB devices will be allowed. |

| |3. Neither the teacher, nor the school is responsible for broken, stolen, or lost laptops. |

| |4. Laptops will be used at the individual discretion of the teacher. |

|Note: |1. The academic misconduct policy of the school will be followed for this course. |

| |2. The attendance policy of the school will be followed for this course. |

| |3. Any student who receives failing grades during this course is urged to discuss this with the teacher |

| |immediately. |

| |

|18 – WEEK PLAN |

|Week 1 |Introduction to Biology and Methods used in Science |

|Week 2 |Chemistry of Life |

|Week 3 |Chemistry of Life |

|Week 4 |Ecology |

|Week 5 |Ecology |

|Week 6 |Cell Structure and Function |

|Week 7 |Cell Structure and Function |

|Week 8 |Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration |

|Week 9 |Review, Catch-up, and 9-week Midterm Exam |

|Week 10 |Cell Division and Genetics |

|Week 11 |Genetics |

|Week 12 |Genetics |

|Week 13 |Classification |

|Week 14 |Theory of Natural Selection, Viruses, and Bacteria |

|Week 15 |Protists and Fungi |

|Week 16 |Plants |

|Week 17 |Animals |

|Week |Review, Catch-up, and Final Exam |

|18 | |

* Dates subject to change.

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