Students are expected to review material daily, even when homework is not assigend.

Content Scope and Sequence:

1st NINE-WEEKS

• Unit 1—Biodiversity—How are living things different?
  *20 Days, Chapters 18, selected portions of chapters 19-22, 26-29, and 33

• Taxonomy/Use of dichotomous keys

• Six Kingdom Survey

• Introduction to microscopy and inquiry

• Culminating Project—Species Scape

• Unit 2—The Cell—What structures & functions are common among all living things?
  *12 Days, Chapters 2, 7, and 10

  • Types of Cells (prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic, plant vs. animal)

  • Cell Organelles, their structure and function

• Cellular Transport (osmosis, diffusion, active transport)

• Mitosis

• Unit 3—The Flow of Matter & Energy (Interdependence)—How are living things dependent on each other and their environment to meet their energy needs?
  *12 Days, Chapters 3, 4, 8, and 9

  • Symbiosis

  • Food chains, food webs, ecological pyramids

  • Forms of energy & energy conversions

  • Photosynthesis & Respiration 

  • Matter Cycle 

  • Biome Culminating Project—Collaborative Biome Creation

2nd NINE-WEEKS

• Unit 4—Heredity—Why are living things different?
  *25 Days, Chapters 11, 12, 13, and 14

  • Structure & Function of Proteins

  • Structure & Function of DNA

  • DNA Replication

  • DNA vs. RNA

  • Protein Synthesis

  • Mutation & Mutagens & Genetic Disease

  • Chromosomes and Karyotypes

  • Meiosis

• Mendelian Genetics

• Complex Patterns of Inheritance

• Pedigrees

• Biotechnology

• Culminating Project—Bioinformatics Research Project

• Unit 5—Evolution—Why have populations of organisms changed over time?
  *13 Days, Chapters 15, 16, and 17

  • Natural Selection

  • Geologic Time Scale

  • Adaptations

  • Population Dynamics

  • Natural Selection & Infectious disease

  • Culminating Projects—Protist Adaptation Research & Infectious disease WANTED Poster

   

Recommendations for Success:

It is the goal of the biology faculty for students to understand the MAJOR CONCEPTS in biology—not learn disconnected scientific trivia.  We have found that if students take time after class to reflect on and to record, in their own words, the concepts that we study during class, that it will greatly increase their achievement.  The only tasks that will be assigned will be work that will result in the mastery of our course goals, therefore, completion of all assignments is directly related to success in the course.