Honors Biology Syllabus
East Duplin High School
Instructor: Kirk Kennedy
Email:
Textbook and Resource Materials: (supplied by school)
· Biology, Miller & Levine, Prentice Hall
Course Description:
Honors Biology is designed as a survey course introducing students to the major concepts of Biology. Students will be asked to draw relationships between these concepts and current issues related to them. For example, what is the biological evidence for climate change, how do invasive species impact a local ecosystem, what are the potential uses for the human genome, etc. The goal is for students to understand the impact of their actions and decisions to facilitate their development as productive contributors to society as well as to introduce potential careers related to the biological sciences.
It is expected that honors level students are prepared to take responsibility for their academic success and that this course will further develop their skills as independent learners. Students will engage course concepts through text readings, independent research projects, inquiry and modeling activities. Students will develop critical reading and effective writing skills as well as data synthesis and critical thinking strategies.
Over the course of the year students will work independently in structured and randomly assigned groups. In the course of covering the curriculum students will be preparing for the Science EOC test in Biology. They must pass the exam with a Level III or Higher to receive credit for the course. Students will be offered many opportunities to be engaged in the concepts covered on the exam.
Required Materials:
1. 9 ½ by 7 ¾ bound notebook (Used for Journal & Opener entries)
2. 3 ring spiral notebook & dividers
3. Loose leaf paper
4. Box of colored pencils
Notebooks:
The maintenance of a notebook is required for success in Honors Biology. It is expected that students will keep all key terms, notes, webquests, abstracts, readings, and work sheets until the end of the year. Concepts covered in the course will be reviewed in preparation for the Biology EOC. Student’s notes and assignments from the entire semester will be needed for review. Notebooks will be checked for an exam grade at the end of each six weeks.
Unit Projects:
Students will be required to complete an independent project each unit. This is one of the elements that differentiate regular and honors sections. The due date will be sometime within the last two weeks of each unit. You can find rubrics & ideas on my website.
Unit 1: Cell Project
Choose one of the activities that deal with the structure and function of organelles within a cell. Possible choices are construct a 3-D model of an organelle, children’s book, create songs or poems, make a soundtrack, or edible cells.
Unit 2: DNA Model
Construct a 3D model of a DNA molecule. Also, type a one page paper that talks about the processes of protein synthesis, the differences between DNA & RNA, and the composition of a DNA nucleotide.
Unit 3: Taxonomy Project
You will be an alien taxonomist. You will draw your aliens, assign taxonomic names (Kingdom, Phylum, Genus, and species), construct a food web, and construct a dichotomous key.
Unit 4: Animal Book Project
The purpose is to discover something new about the animal kingdom. Create a neat and informative guide to the phyla of the animal kingdom.
Current Event Articles:
The purpose of preparing a current event is to acquaint you with scientific literature and to expose you to current topics in biology. It has to be a “science related” article.
How to prepare a current event:
1. A current event can be found in the newspaper or on the internet.
2. A copy of the current event must be handed in with your summary.
3. Current event summaries must be handwritten and at least two paragraphs in length.
4. Current events will be placed in your journal, perferrably in the back (the last 3 pages).
5. The first paragraph will summarize the article.
6. The second paragraph will explain what you learned or found intersting about the article.
7. Write your name, date, and period should be at the top of the summary with the copy of the article stapled or folded up in the back of the journal.
Students will turn in a summary of current event articles every six weeks. Current event articles will be due when journals are due & will count as an exam grade.
Preparing an Abstract:
An abstract is a summary or synopsis of an article in a journal or magazine. The purpose of preparing an abstract is to acquaint you with scientific literature and to expose you to current topics in biology.
How to prepare an abstract:
1. Type your name, date, and period at the top of the abstract.
2. Articles to be abstracted must typed & at least one page (text) in length (3 paragraphs).
3. Work cited must be included at the top of the abstract page (Work cited for this Article).
4. Triple space between the citation & the start of your paper
5. Abstracts must be double spaced.
6. Submit your abstract through www.turnitin.com. I will also have a link on my website for this.
Abstracts are due the 2nd Tuesday of each month! (March 13, April 10, May 8)
* Choose any one of the following each month (total of 3 submit per semester):
Honors Biology Articles to Abstract1. Stem Cell Research
2. Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
3. RNA Interference
4. Dying To See
5. Insect Repellants
6. Battle of the Hermaphrodites
7. An Endangered Species in the Stomach
Journal Entries:
Journal entries are done throughout the semester. Usually they are graded on completion and not for correctness. Most of the time, they are designed to encourage thinking and/or familarity with certain pictures that will be covered on the EOC. Openers from class will be included in the journal. All diagrams must be colored and labeled correctly. Also, even though you may not have artistic ability, drawings must show time and effort. Most experiments done in class will be included in journals as well.
All journal entries will be numbered and dated. Journals will be handed in the Friday before the end of each grading period. Journals count as an exam grade.
Chapter / Entry
Chapter 1 / Scientific Method
Is a flame alive?
Chapter 7 / Draw a plant/animal cell
7.4 Diversity of Cellular Life
Chapter 10 / 10.3 Regulating the Cell Cycle
Chapter 11 / Inquiry Activity
Chapter 12 / Draw a DNA molecule
Draw a RNA molecule
NoL - The Double Helix (James D. Watson) Summary + CQ 1,5,6; AQ 1,6
Chapter 14 / Inquiry Activity
Pedigree
14.3 Human Molecular Genetics
Chapter 18 / Class Dichotomous Key
NoL - Conclusion to On The Origin of Species (Charles Darwin) Summary + CQ 1,2,5; AQ 2; DQ 1
Chapter 19 & 40 / Draw a bacteria phage
The Environment and You
Chapter 3 / Food Webs
Cycles of matter & fact
NoL - Silent Spring (Rachel Carson) Summary + CQ 7,9; AQ 2,4; DQ 1
Chapter 4 / Terrestrial ecosystems
Chapter 21-24 / Draw cross section of a leaf
Draw a stomota
Unit 1 - Molecules and Cells( Days)
Date / Topic of Study / Chapters to read / Labs/Webquests/Projects
Molecules & Cells / Chapter 1
Chapter 2 / Only you can save Sam!
Toothpickase Lab
Chapter 7 / Potato Osmosis Lab
Microscope Lab (Onion & Cheek Slides)
Cells Alive (Organelles) Webquest
Chapter 8
Chapter 9 / Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration Lab
Snail & Elodea Webquest
Chapter 10 / Limits of cell size (pg 242)
Modeling the phases of the cell cycle (pg 254 – 255)
Mitosis Webquest
Unit 1 Project Due: Cell Project
Benchmark Test #1
Unit 2 - Genetics( Days)
Date / Topic of Study / Chapters to read / Labs/Webquests/Projects
Genetics / Chapter 11 / Mitosis & Meiosis: “Doing it on the table” Lab
Plastic Egg Genetics
Monohybrid Cross Worksheet
Dihybrid Cross Worksheet
Oompah Loompah Genetics
Sponge Bob Genetics
Chapter 12 / Constructing a DNA Model (Paper Lab)
Extracting DNA from Cheek Cells
Modeling DNA replication (pg 313)
Codon Bingo
Snork DNA
Gel Electrophoresis / DNA Webquest
Chapter 13
Chapter 14 / Investigating Inherited Human Traits – Paper Lab
GATTACA – Movie Discussion
Blood Type Worksheet
Cloning Webquest
Unit 2 Project Due: DNA Model
Benchmark Test #2
Unit 3 - Evolution( Days)
Date / Topic of Study / Chapters to read / Labs/Webquests/Projects
Evolution / Chapter 15
Chapter 16 / Adaption of Human Hand
Natural Selection within Peanuts
Peppered Moth Webquest
Video Quest Evolution
Chapter 17
Chapter 18 / Where the Hippos Roam (Fossils)
Modeling Coevolution (pg 441)
Chapter 25
Chapter 34 / Animal Behavior Webquest
Unit 3 Project Due: Taxonomy Project
Benchmark Test #3
Unit 4 - Ecology( Days)
Date / Topic of Study / Chapters to read / Labs/Webquests/Projects
Ecology / Chapter 19
Chapter 40 / Viruses – “Who Started the Epidemic?”
Chapter 3 / Ecology Webquest
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6 / Population Ecology Lab
How does biological magnification occur? (pg 153)
Mammal Webquest
Vertebrate & Invertebrate Webquest
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24 / Challenger Snack Dichotomous Key
Leaf Pigment Chromatograpy
Unit 4 Project Due: Animal Book Project
Benchmark Test #4
EOC Review( Days)
Covered over the last two weeks of course! / EOC Review Packet / * Will check Goal 1-3 and have a test on it the next day.
* Will check Goal 4 & 5 and have a test on all five goals the next day.
EOC Extra Packet / * Will check packet after completion.
Study Island / Worth extra credit points on 2nd nine weeks for every blue ribbon achieved with at least 20 questions attempted. Each ribbon will add 2 points to a test grade.
Plus Period / Everyone will be required to attend the last 3 weeks of the semester.
Grading Scale:
Grading Scale / Grade Points93 -100 A / A = 4
85 - 92 B / B = 3
77 - 84 C / C = 2
70 – 76 D / D = 1
0 - 69 F / F = 0
Honors Biology receives weighted credit on the student's rank GPA and on the state GPA appearing on the transcript.
Grading Breakdown:
Exams: unit tests, unit projects, notebooks, journals, current events = 45 %
Quizzes: quizzes (pop and announced) = 20 %
Daily assignments: worksheets, abstracts, openers, key terms, etc… = 35 %
Semester Average is determined as follows:
1st six weeks 25 %
2nd six weeks 25 %
3rd six weeks 25%
EOC* 25 %
* There are NO exemptions from the Biology EOC!
Late Work:
Definition: “Work that is turned in after (even one minute) teacher collects assignment.”
· Learning to manage time and meet deadlines is a life skill that is essential in the “real world”.
· Late work will be given 70% of total points until assignments have been graded and handed back to the class at which time the assignment WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
· If you are absent for class, but in school earlier in the day your work is due.
· TESTS ARE TO BE MADE UP ON THE DAY YOU RETURN AFTER A ONE DAY ABSENCE.
· If you are absent the day before the test you are NOT excused from taking the test on the scheduled date.
· Any exceptions to this policy will be handled by the teacher on an individual basis.