Course Syllabus for 1^st Quarter

Honors Biology

Prerequisites: Life Science

Text: Holt, Rinehart, Winston, Modern Biology (2002)

Required Materials: Text, binder, pen/pencil

Course Outline:

 

First Quarter Topics:

 

Topic 1:           Characteristics of Life, Themes of Biology SIS1-2

Topic 2:           Scientific Method, Designing Valid Experiments, Writing a Lab Report SIS01-4

Topic 3:           Chemistry—Atoms, Elements (C,H,O,P,N,S), Compounds, Molecules, Bonds, Chemical Reactions, Enzymes 1.1, 2.5

Topic 4:           Biochemistry—Water, Carbon, Essential Organic Molecules 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

Topic 5:           Digestive System, Nutrients, Excretory System 4.1, 4.8, 1.2, 4.2

 

Student Prior Knowledge:

• Atoms, elements, compounds
• Hypothesis
• Cell Structure and Function

 

Student Objectives:

• Should be able to Determine if something is living based on the six characteristics of life
• Should be able to Develop a valid experiment to test a hypothesis
• Identify the six most common elements in living things
• Identify reactants and products in a chemical reaction
• Describe enzymes and how they affect chemical reactions
• Describe the structures (elemental composition, monomers, polymers, bonds) and functions of the four major classes of organic molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids)
• Identify the organs of the digestive system and describe their role in breaking down food
• List enzymes in the digestive system and identify the molecules they break down and what they are broken down into

Assessments:

• Characteristics of Life Poster/Concept Map
• Design Experiment
• Lab Reports:  TBA
• Make Models (kits) of organic molecules.  Show Condensation and Hydrolysis Reactions.
• Collins: TBA
• Digestive System Game/ Creative Writing—Journey through the Digestive System

Course Syllabus for 2nd Quarter

Honors Biology

Prerequisites: Life Science

Text: Holt, Rinehart, Winston, Modern Biology (2002)

Required Materials: Text, binder, pen/pencil

Course Outline:

 

Second Quarter Topics:

 

Topic 1:           Cells

Topic 2:           Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, ATP 2.1, 2.2, 2.4

Topic 3:           Cell Transport 2.1

Topic 4:            Respiratory System 4.3, 4.8

Topic 5:           Circulatory System 4.7, 4.2, 4.5

Topic 6:           Cell Division—Mitosis 2.6

Student Prior Knowledge:

• Characteristics of Life, Themes of Biology
• Scientific Method, Designing Valid Experiments, Writing a Lab Report
• Chemistry—Atoms, Elements (C,H,O,P,N,S), Compounds, Molecules, Bonds, Chemical Reactions, Enzymes
• Biochemistry—Water, Carbon, Essential Organic Molecules
• Digestive System, Nutrients, Excretory System

Student Objectives:

• Relate cell parts to their function
• Compare and contrast plant cells and animal cells
• Compare and contrast prokaryotes and eukaryotes
• Distinguish between tissues, organs, and organ systems
• Explain how the structure of the cell membrane suits its function as a highly selective barrier
• Explain the purpose of photosynthesis and Identify the reactants and the products of photosynthesis
• Describe the role of chlorophyll and chloroplasts in photosynthesis
• Give examples of how human activity impacts photosynthesis
• Explain the purpose of cellular respiration and identify the reactants and the products of cellular respiration
• Describe the role of mitochondria in aerobic respiration
• Describe the structure of ATP and its role in energy transfer
• Identify the major organs of the respiratory system
• Explain the function of the respiratory system
• Identify the major organs of the circulatory system
• Explain the function of the circulatory system
• Identify molecules that are transported by blood
• Describe how the respiratory and circulatory systems interact to maintain homeostasis
• Describe how the digestive and circulatory systems interact to maintain homeostasis
• Describe the phases and purpose of mitosis
• Contrast the structure of a eukaryotic chromosome with that of a prokaryote
• Give examples of haploid and diploid cells in the human body
• Explain the difference between sex chromosomes and autosomes
• Compare and contrast somatic cells and gametes

Assessments:

• Cells Analogy Write Up/Poster
• Collins: Compare and Contrast Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
• Osmosis and Diffusion Lab and Lab Report
• Cellular Respiration Lab
• Homeostasis and exercise Lab
• Scientific Method and Blood Lab

Course Syllabus for 3rd Quarter

Honors Biology

Prerequisites: Life Science

Text: Holt, Rinehart, Winston, Modern Biology (2002)

Required Materials: Text, binder, pen/pencil

Course Outline:

 

Third Quarter Topics:

 

Topic 1:           Cell Division—Meiosis 2.7

Topic 2:           Sexual Reproduction 2.7, 4.6

Topic 3:           Genetics—Mendel’s Laws, Punnett Squares 3.5, 3.6

Topic 4:           Genetics—DNA, RNA, Replication, Transcription, Translation 3.1, 3.2

Topic 5:           Genetics—Mutations, Inheritance Patterns 3.3, 3.4

Topic 6:           Nervous System 4.8, 4.4

Student Prior Knowledge:

• Characteristics of Life, Themes of Biology
• Scientific Method, Designing Valid Experiments, Writing a Lab Report
• Chemistry—Atoms, Elements (C,H,O,P,N,S), Compounds, Molecules, Bonds, Chemical Reactions, Enzymes
• Biochemistry—Water, Carbon, Essential Organic Molecules
• Digestive System, Nutrients, Excretory System
• Cells
• Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, ATP
• Cell Transport
• Respiratory System
• Circulatory System
• Cell Division—Mitosis

Student Objectives:

• Describe the purpose of meiosis and identify cells that undergo meiosis
• Explain crossing-over and how it contributes to the production of unique individuals
• Compare and contrast the results of spermatogenesis and oogenesis
• Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis
• Define, differentiate and give examples of the following terms:
  • Allele/gene
  • Incomplete dominance/codominance
  • Heterozygous/homozygous
  • Phenotype/genotype
• Distinguish between dominant and recessive traits
• Discuss the implications of the Laws of heredity and independent assortment on inheritance
• Explain how probability is used to predict the results of genetic crosses
• Use and interpret Punnett squares to explain Mendel’s Laws
• Create an analyze pedigree charts to describe inheritance patterns
• Give examples of traits or disorders transmitted by autosomal dominant, recessive, polygenic and X-linked recessive inheritance
• Contrast X-linked and sex-influenced traits
• Explain how nondisjunction can cause human genetic disorders
• Explain the inheritance of ABO blood types
• Identify the major organs in the nervous system
• Explain the function of the nervous system and how it communicates with different parts of the body
• Identify neurons as the basic unit of the nervous system and explain how they work
• Describe how the nervous system interacts with other systems to maintain homeostasis

Assessments:

• Probability Lab
• Make a Baby Lab
• DNA Model
• Genetic Disorders Research Project
• Collins:  Compare and Contrast Mitosis and Meiosis

Course Syllabus for 4th Quarter

Honors Biology

Prerequisites: Life Science

Text: Holt, Rinehart, Winston, Modern Biology (2002)

Required Materials: Text, binder, pen/pencil

Course Outline:

 

Fourth Quarter Topics:

 

Topic 1:           Muscular/Skeletal Systems 4.5, 4.8

Topic 2:           Endocrine System, Homeostasis and Feedback Loops 4.7, 4.8

Topic 3:           Evolution—Natural Selection, Populations and Speciation 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

Topic 4:           Ecology—Populations, Communities, Symbiotic Relationships, Trophic Levels, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3

Topic 5:           Water, Carbon, and Nitrogen Cycles 6.4

Topic 6:           Classification, Viruses 5.2, 2.8

Student Prior Knowledge:

• Characteristics of Life, Themes of Biology
• Scientific Method, Designing Valid Experiments, Writing a Lab Report
• Chemistry—Atoms, Elements (C,H,O,P,N,S), Compounds, Molecules, Bonds, Chemical Reactions, Enzymes
• Biochemistry—Water, Carbon, Essential Organic Molecules
• Digestive System, Nutrients, Excretory System
• Cells
• Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, ATP
• Cell Transport
• Respiratory System
• Circulatory System

• Cell Division—Mitosis
• Muscular/Skeletal Systems
• Endocrine System, Homeostasis and Feedback Loops
• Evolution—Natural Selection, Populations and Speciation
• Ecology—Populations, Communities, Symbiotic Relationships, Trophic Levels
• Water, Carbon, and Nitrogen Cycles
• Classification, Viruses

Student Objectives:

• Describe the basic function of a physiological feedback loop
• Describe the role of hormones in the endocrine system and give examples
• Explain the importance of and causes of genetic variations in populations
• Explain how geographic and reproductive isolation can lead to speciation
• Explain the 5 evolutionary forces
• List and describe three human caused environmental problems
• Contrast abiotic and biotic factors and explain the role of both in an ecosystem
• Explain the concept of niche and why two species do not occupy the same niche
• Create food chains and food webs to explain interconnectedness
• Distinguish between the 5 types of symbioses and give examples of organisms for each type
• Explain how competition can affect community structure including competition due to invasive and nonnative species
• Describe the water, carbon and nitrogen cycles and describe the ways humans impact the cycles
• Describe species as reproductively distinct groups of organisms
• Recognize that species are further classified into a hierarchical taxonomic system
• Use taxonomy to establish evolutionary relatedness
• List and Describe the 6 kingdoms and give examples or organisms representative of each kingdom
• Compare and contrast a cell and a virus in terms of genetic material and reproduction

Assessments:

• Natural Selection Moths Lab
• Food Web Poster
• Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Project
• Create a Cladogram
• Compare and Contrast Viruses and Bacteria