Teachers Name: Hildah Makori

Grade 12, Biology Curriculum Map 2016

Month

Content/Topic

Essential
Questions

Standards/Benchmarks

January
&
February

Chemistry of
life.
Characteristi
cs of Life
The steps of
the Scientific
Method
Scientific
measurement
Atoms,
bonds,
molecules
Properties of
water, pH
Macromolec
ules:
carbohydrate
s, fats,
proteins and
nucleic acids
and Enzymes

How do we
determine if
something is
living?

1.1: Recognize that biological

organisms are composed primarily

of very few elements. The six most
common are C, H, N, O, P, and S

1.2: Describe the basic molecular

structures and primary functions of

the four major categories of

organic molecules (carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins, nucleic acids)

March

Prokaryotic,
eukaryotic
cells
Cellular

How are molecules

formed and lead to
living things?
How do molecules
come together to
form and functions
as the smallest unit
of life, the cell?

Why are cells

different?

1.3: Explain the role of enzymes

as catalysts that lower the
activation energy of biochemical
reactions. Identify factors, such as
pH and temperature that have an
effect on enzymes.

2.2: Compare and contrast, at the

cellular level, the general
structures and degrees of
complexity of prokaryotes and

Skills

Activities

Assessment

Data collection &

analysis
Critical thinking
Scientific literacy
Scientific Inquiry
Problem solving
Technology:
Using electronic
scales, Utilizing
the microscope
Technology:
Pipetting &
Electrophoresis
Data collection &
analysis
Critical thinking
Scientific literacy
Scientific Inquiry
Problem solving
Oral Presentation
Graphing and
interpreting data

-Marty Martian
Characteristics
of life lab
-Macromolecule
identification
problem solving
lab
-Enzyme Jello
Lab
-Microscope Lab
Organelle
-Experts
Problem Solving
(jigsaw)

Data collection &

analysis
Critical thinking

-Transport flip
charts
-Leaf

Tests &
quizzes
Characteristi
cs of life lab
Quizzes &
tests
Macromolec
ule lab
Enzyme Jello
lab
Microscope
Lab
Comparing
cells lab
Organelle
Experts
Problem
Solving

Test &quizzes
Diffusion lab
Diffusion formal

April

Organelles
Plant vs.
animal cells
Photosynthes
is and
Respiration

Evolution and
biodiversity

How do living
things obtain and
use energy?

eukaryotes
2.4: Identify the reactants,
products, and basic purposes of
photosynthesis and cellular
respiration. Explain the
interrelated nature of
photosynthesis and cellular
respiration in the cells of
photosynthetic organisms.
2.5: Explain the important role
that ATP serves in metabolism

How can evolution

be supported?

5.1: Explain how evolution is

demonstrated by evidence from
the fossil record, comparative
anatomy, genetics, molecular
biology, and examples of natural
selection.

5.2: Describe species as

reproductively distinct groups of
organisms. Recognize that species
are further classified into a
hierarchical taxonomic system
(kingdom, phylum, class, order,
family, genus, species) based on
morphological, behavioral, and

How does
evolution happen?

chromatography
lab activity

lab report
Photofinish lab

Data collection
& Analysis
Critical thinking
Scientific
literacy
Scientific
Inquiry
Problem solving

Birds & Beaks

lab

Test & quizzes

BLAST search
activity

Scientific literacy
Scientific Inquiry
Problem solving

Population
genetics activity

Birds & Beaks

lab
Population
genetics activity

May
Taxonomic
classification in
relation with
evolution and
speciation

How can
characteristics,
methods of
classification and
technology be used
to describe and
compare organisms
and how can this be

Data collection
& Analysis
Critical thinking
Scientific
literacy
Scientific
Inquiry
Problem solving

Test & quizzes

BLAST search
activity
Guppy lab

used to understand
evolution?

molecular similarities. Describe

the role that geographic isolation
can play in speciation
5.3: Explain how evolution
through natural selection can result
in changes in biodiversity through
the increase or decrease of genetic
diversity within a population.

June
Ecology.
What is
ecology?
Ecosystems,
biotic &
abiotic
communities,
biodiversity
Biomes.
Food chains
and food
webs, energy
pyramids.
Relationships
between
organisms
Water,
carbon,
nitrogen and
phosphorous
cycles.
Population

How does Nature

regulate itself?
How do living and
non-living things
interact

What is mans
impact on the
environment?
How does
watershed health
impact our lives?
What factors and
dynamics affect

6.3: Use a food web to identify

and distinguish producers,
consumers, and decomposers, and
explain the transfer of energy
through trophic levels. Describe
how relationships among
organisms (predation, parasitism,
competition, commensalism,
mutualism) add to the complexity
of biological communities
6.4: Explain how water, carbon,
and nitrogen cycle between abiotic
resources and organic matter in an
ecosystem, and how oxygen cycles
through photosynthesis and
respiration.

Data collection
& Analysis
Critical thinking
Scientific
literacy
Scientific
Inquiry
Problem solving
Technology:
Water quality lab

-Water quality
lab
-Owl pellet
dissection lab
-Desktop
Estuary
-Where in the
World is Mr.
Jones?
- Food pyramid

Tests quizzes
Water quality lab
Owl pellet
dissection lab

Ecology
Logistic vs.
Exponential
growth

population growth?