Syllabus Biology I
Burke County High School
2015-2016
INSTRUCTORS: Mrs. Bridges & Coach Lewise-mail:
Phone: 706-554-6691 Website:
Please make sure you contact our school to set up a Parent Connect account so you may view your child’s grade regularly online. You will find a Parent Connect Link on the BCHS Website.
ABSTRACT: Biology is an in-depth year long course exploring the biological principles that influence the lives of all living organisms. We will study the operations and interactions of living systems from the level of a single cell to the level of a complex ecosystem. This course is a laboratory course that will teach lab safety, microscope use, and other lab principles in addition to teaching state prescribed standards.
The material in this course is included in the Georgia Milestone Biology End of Course Exam
Class Rules and Procedures
CLASS RULES: All students are expected to follow the rules of the classroom. The rules are posted in the room as a gentle reminder of how you are expected to behave. In the event that you decide not to follow the rules, corrective action will be taken.
Each student must:
- Be in his/her seat ready to work when the bell rings.
- Bring all materials needed to class—books, notebooks, pencils/pens, homework, etc. Failure to come prepared will result in after school detention, parental contact, or referral.
- Take notes and participate in class activities.
- Not groom in class—brushing/combing hair, lotion, nails, applying makeup, etc.
- NOT bring food or drinks into the classroom!!
- Be responsible for getting the work they miss due to excused absences. To get this work you need to check the “While You Were Absent Binder” and then SEE ME—the TEACHER!!
- RESPECT others and other’s property—the school’s, student’s, and teacher’s.
- NOT sleep in class.
Corrective Actions:
First Offense—Warning
Second Offense—Student Teacher Conference and contact with Coach if applicable
Third Offense—Parent Contact
Fourth Offense—Detention—Student will pick one day within the next 5 school days to stay for detention
Fifth Offense—Counselor Referral
Sixth Offense—Office Referral
This set of actions will be followed unless the Bear Facts requires an immediate referral
MAKEUP POLICY: If a student misses a test, he/she has three days to set up arrangements to set up a date and time to make up the test. If the student does not make arrangements, then the test becomes an automatic (ZERO) 0. The exception to this policy is the student who is habitually absent on test day. The student will be informed of the habit and will then make up the test the first day that he/she returns to class. Any other exceptions will be handled on an individual basis.
MATERIALS NEEDED: Notebook with paper, dividers, pen/pencil, composition notebook, scientific calculator (useful but not required), and pleasant attitude.
Extra Credit: Any opportunities for extra credit will be posted on my web site. You may access this through the school’s media center before school, lunch or after school. Any other access will not be the school’s responsibility.
Textbook Information: Holt Physical Science Copyright 2008. The text will be used as a REFERENCE for the class. The Georgia Performance Standards drive instruction. If you wish to have a book issued to your child please let me know. Otherwise they will have access in class and on a daily check out basis.
GRADING PROCEDURES: There will be 5 basic types of grade: class work and homework, labs, test grades, notebook grades, & nine weeks exams.
Formative=60%
Summative=40%
- Semester exams will be 12% with each nine weeks period counting 44% per semester.
- There will be projects throughout the year.
- Another major area of concentration will be preparing the students for the End of Course Test and Georgia High School Graduation Test.
- Due to the nature of the course, there may be adjustments in the above guidelines, as needed to best serve the student needs.
Additional Information: Progress Reports in accordance with the school schedule.
Georgia Performance Standards: This course along with several others has recently been overhauled by the Georgia State Department of Education. The idea being to enhance student learning by having all teachers who teach the same subject collaborate on sequencing, concepts, assessment, testing, etc. This ensures the best quality education for you child.
Tutoring Opportunities: I am available for tutoring WHEN NEEDEDin the morning starting at 7:00. Students please let me know if you intend on coming in for morning tutoring. I am available for afternoon tutoring by appointment if you think it will last longer than 20 minutes. You will be given a pass to come to my room on mornings when assistance has been requested. Present the pass to anyone who may stop youwhenyou are coming to get assistance.
Biology I—Material to be Covered
First Semester
SB1. Students will analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions
in living cells.
a. Explain the role of cell organelles for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including
the cell membrane, in maintaining homeostasis and cell reproduction.
b. Explain how enzymes function as catalysts.
c. Identify the function of the four major macromolecules (i.e., carbohydrates, proteins,
lipids, nucleic acids).
d. Explain the impact of water on life processes (i.e., osmosis, diffusion).
SB4. Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of
energy and matter within their ecosystems.
a. Investigate the relationships among organisms, populations, communities,
ecosystems, and biomes.
b. Explain the flow of matter and energy through ecosystems by
Arranging components of a food chain according to energy flow.
Comparing the quantity of energy in the steps of an energy pyramid.
Explaining the need for cycling of major nutrients (C, O, H, N, P).
c. Relate environmental conditions to successional changes in ecosystems.
d. Assess and explain human activities that influence and modify the environment such
as global warming, population growth, pesticide use, and water and power
consumption.
e. Relate plant adaptations, including tropisms, to the ability to survive stressful
environmental conditions.
f. Relate animal adaptations, including behaviors, to the ability to survive stressful
environmental conditions.
Second Semester
SB2. Students will analyze how biological traits are passed on to successive generations.
a. Distinguish between DNA and RNA.
b. Explain the role of DNA in storing and transmitting cellular information.
c. Using Mendel’s laws, explain the role of meiosis in reproductive variability.
d. Describe the relationships between changes in DNA and potential appearance of new
traits including Alterations during replication. Insertions Deletions Substitutions Mutagenic factors that can alter DNA. High energy radiation (x-rays and ultraviolet) Chemical
e. Compare the advantages of sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction in different
situations.
f. Examine the use of DNA technology in forensics, medicine, and agriculture.
SB3. Students will derive the relationship between single-celled and multi-celled organisms
and the increasing complexity of systems.
a. Explain the cycling of energy through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration.
b. Compare how structures and function vary between the six kingdoms (archaebacteria,
eubacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals).
c. Examine the evolutionary basis of modern classification systems.
d. Compare and contrast viruses with living organisms.
SB5. Students will evaluate the role of natural selection in the development of the theory of
evolution.
a. Trace the history of the theory.
b. Explain the history of life in terms of biodiversity, ancestry, and the rates of evolution.
c. Explain how fossil and biochemical evidence support the theory.
d. Relate natural selection to changes in organisms.
e. Recognize the role of evolution to biological resistance (pesticide and antibiotic resistance).
The above may/will be adjusted to best meet the needs of the students.
Please detach this portion and return to teacher
Parent Signature ______Date______
Student Signature ______Date______
Teacher Signature Mrs. C. Bridges Date August 5, 201 5
Biology I Learning Contract
Burke County High School
Mrs. C. Bridges
All parties agree that academic success is the product of a cooperative effort between the Teacher, Student and the Parent. To ensure that ______will benefit from this union, each party has the following responsibilities:
As a student, ______will:
- Be respectful to my classmates and teacher.
- Put my best effort into my schoolwork.
- Only turn in his/her own work.
- Come prepared to school with all materials requested—including homework!
- Spend at least 20 minutes a day studying (even when I have no written homework)
- Ask questions of the teacher to ensure I understand.
- Show up for tutoring when I am confused.
As a parent, ______will:
- Monitor my child’s biology homework, even looking at it and checking the answers with the back of the book for them.
- Keep up with the test dates and help my child study for them.
- Attend all parent conferences requested by the teacher (if an event happens to prevent it I will reschedule immediately).
- Contact the teacher with any and all questions I have.
- Monitor Parent Connect so I know immediately when my child has a problem.
- Be fair and listen to both sides prior to “knowing” who is at fault immediately.
As teacher, Mrs. Bridgeswill:
- Provide a safe comfortable environment for my students to learn.
- Provide ample time for my students to receive tutoring—before and after school.
- Enforce school and classroom rules consistently.
- Provide clear and concise expectations.
- Grade and return work in a reasonable time frame (please feel free to ask about the work).
- Have an “open door” for parents who would like to “visit” class.
- Work to make learning an enjoyable experience.
- Realize they have other important classes as well.
- Have fun teaching, because I do enjoy it.
By signing below I agree to abide by the learning contact.
______Mrs. C. Bridges
Student Signature Parent Signature Teacher Signature
___________08/05/15_____
Date Date Date