Biology Course Syllabus 2017-2018

Instructor: Mr. Ross

Room 500
Teacher website: mrdross.weebly.com
Email: dillonross9392@gmail.com

Rationale and Overview

Biology is the study of living organisms and their environment. In this
course, students will be learning how life interacts with the world through
making observations, analyzing data, and forming conclusions. My goal is
that students will walk away from this class with a better grasp of what it
means to be a living organism, how they are organized, how they replicate,
and how living organisms interact with their environment. I believe it is
essential for students to know this to become science literate as citizens of
the world. In this course, we may have the opportunity to learn why we look
like our parents, why our muscles get sore over time, why mosquitos are not
all bad, and why peacocks have elaborate feathers. I want my students to
construct explanations and design solutions to problems relevant to their
daily lives. By the end of the year, my students will be able to plan and carry
out investigations on their own and critically explain their thinking. I look
forward to working with you throughout the remainder of the school year.
Supplies
Five subject notebook for notes and classwork
Composition notebook for lab reports
Pencils and pens
A ruler
A scientific calculator
Flash drive to store the textbook
Classroom norms
1. All students need to respect each other and the teacher.
2. All students must respect each others right to learn in the classroom.
3. When having classroom discussions, we criticize ideas, not people.
4. Each student is responsible for their own learning.
5. All students must follow the schoolwide student code of conduct.
Classroom policies and routines
 Absences
o Students are responsible for obtaining all missing assignments,
notes, etc. when a student is absent.
o Once they have returned, students will have two days to
complete missing assignments for credit.
o Credit will not be given to students turning in work from
unexcused absences.
Late Work
o Late work will be reduced by 25% after the first day it is late.
o Late work will no longer be accepted after the unit has ended.
Academic Honesty
o Students are responsible for their own work.
o Anyone cheating in class will have a meeting with me and will
receive a zero on the assignment.
o Parents of students who cheated will be notified.
o Plagiarism will not be tolerated in class, students must site
sources and be careful copying from the internet.
Extra Help
o If extra help is needed, please meet with me after class or during
one of my prep periods at 2nd and 4th hour.
o I stay after school most Mondays-Thursdays so if you would like a
meeting with me please let me know in advance.
o Tutoring for freshmen is offered Monday-Thursday 3:20-5:30 PM
in room 403 with Focus on Freshmen.
Grading Scale
90.0 and above = A
80.0% - 89.9% = B
70.0% - 79.9% = C
60.0% - 69.9% = D
59.9% and below = F
Grading Weight
Exams = 20%
Classwork = 50%
Labs = 20%
Projects/Quizzes = 10%
Textbook
 An electronic version of the textbook will be provided to each student
to be downloaded onto their flashdrive. I will also be posting each chapter as
we go through it on the classes Edmodo webpage. If a student does not
have access to a computer at home, then they may check out a paper
textbook to take home with them. A set of paper textbooks will be provided
for in class work.
Schedule of Topics

Timelin
Topics Learning Objectives
e
Sept 9th Ecosystem and Population Ecology
- Oct 7th Objectives:

Construct an explanation to
show how ecosystems usually
establish equilibrium between
their biotic factors and abiotic
factors.

Model population growth to

show unless it is disrupted it
will follow a predictable
pattern.

Construct an explanation to
show how humans impact
population growth through
habitat disruption, invasive
species, greenhouse effect,
and global warming.

Oct 10th- Chemistry and Biochemistry Objectives:

Oct 28th
Develop a model to show that
atoms are the building blocks
of all matter.

Investigate how atoms are

divisible into three subatomic
particles: protons, neutrons,
and electrons.

Living systems are made up

of four main types of organic
molecules: carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins, and nucleic
 acids.

Carbohydrates and lipids

contain many C-H bonds that
store energy.

Plan and conduct an

investigation to illustrate how
calories are a unit of energy
of food.

Oct 31st- Cell structure and Function Objectives:

Nov 11th
All cells have important
similarities, but significant
differences in cell structure
and function which allows for
biodiversity of life.

Cells combine to form more

complex structures.

Eukaryotic cells contain

organelles with specific
structures and functions
within the cell.

Nov 14th Cell Energetics Objectives:

Dec 2nd
Use a model to show how
photosynthesis converts the
sun's energy into the
chemical and potential energy
of food.

Use a model to illustrate how

cell respiration converts
chemical potential energy
stored in food to the chemical
potential energy stored in ATP.

ATP supplies the energy to do

work in a cell.
Dec 5th- Cell Division Objectives:
Dec 23rd
Use a model to describe how
the process of mitosis
produces new cells needed for
growth of an organism. These
cells differentiate into specific
cells with specialized
functions.

Meiosis produces sex cells for

sexual reproduction, which
passes on genetic material to
the next generation.

Jan 9th- DNA/RNA Protein Synthesis Objectives:

Jan 20th
Use a model to illustrate how
DNA codes for proteins.

Construct an explanation to
show how proteins determine
the capabilities of the cell and
the structure of the cell.

The process by which proteins

are made from DNA are
transcription and translation
with RNA being the message
carrier.

Defend a claim based on

evidence how DNA must
replicate itself to pass all
genetic information onto
descendent cells, including
sex cells.

Jan 30th- Mendelian/Molecular Genetics Objectives:

Feb 16th
Explain why each cell of an
organism contains all the
genes of the organism but not
all genes are used in all cells.

Traits are gene expressions

which may be produced by a
single gene pair or more than
 one gene pair.

Analyze and interpret data to

show that mutations in
the DNA code may lead to
advantageous, disadvantageo
us, or no noticeable effect.

Feb 21st- Evolution and Natural Selection

March Objective:
17th
Explain using evidence that
the millions of different
species of plants, animals,
and microorganisms that live
on Earth today are related by
descent from common
ancestors.

March Comparative Structure and Function Objectives:

20th- of Living Things
April 7th The same or similar functions
are accomplished through
different structures in
different organisms.

Systems work together

physiologically to support the
needs of the entire organism
and the cells of which it is
composed.

April Human Systems Objective:

10th-
May 12th Human systems work
together to maintain the short
and long term health of the
organism.
 May Homeostasis and Health Objectives:
15th-
June 21st Analyze and interpret data to
show that body systems
function together to maintain
homeostasis as conditions
inside and outside the body
changes.

Regulatory mechanisms are

responsible for many of the
homeostatic control systems
in living organisms.

Explain from evidence how

human body systems work
together to maintain human
health.

I acknowledge the classroom norms routines and expectations of Mr. Ross

Biology class.
Parent Name: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________

Parent Signature: __________________________________________

Student Name: _____________________________________________ Date: ______________

Student Signature: __________________________________________