Grading policy:
Any test/quiz or lab assessment not made up within a week will result in a zero. There will be a 10% penalty for each day (up to three days) for any late lab/project/classwork assignment. No late homework will be accepted.
The final grade for Biology will be computed using six scores.
Each marking period grade will account for 20%. Midterm grades and final exam grades will account for 10% each.
20% Marking Period 1
20% Marking Period 2
20% Marking Period 3
20% Marking Period 4
10% MidTerm Exam
10% Final Exam
The Curriculum for the year is as follows. The topics are for both Academic and Honors unless otherwise indicated as an (H) or (A).
Quarter 1
- 50% Tests/Quizzes
- Individual Assignments based on specific or general content knowledge
- 20% Labs/Projects/Classwork
- Any group work primarily completed in class to be checked and/or graded for completion
- 25% Lab Assessments
- Individual assessments based on group work
- 5% Homework
Any test/quiz or lab assessment not made up within a week will result in a zero. There will be a 10% penalty for each day (up to three days) for any late lab/project/classwork assignment. No late homework will be accepted.
The final grade for Biology will be computed using six scores.
Each marking period grade will account for 20%. Midterm grades and final exam grades will account for 10% each.
20% Marking Period 1
20% Marking Period 2
20% Marking Period 3
20% Marking Period 4
10% MidTerm Exam
10% Final Exam
The Curriculum for the year is as follows. The topics are for both Academic and Honors unless otherwise indicated as an (H) or (A).
Quarter 1
- Review of scientific concepts of experimental design
- Homeostasis
- Cell membrane structure
- Diffusion of molecules through the membrane
- Osmosis
- Biomolecules
- Organic vs. Inorganic chemistry
- Basic Chemistry: Isotopes, electron bonding (ionic and covalent bonding), atomic structure, functional groups (H)
- Biomolecules - Discuss structure and function of: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins and Nucleic Acids
- Bonding of biomolecules: Dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis
- Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis
- Understanding of ATP as an energy molecule
- Parts of a leaf and parts of a chloroplast
- Relationship between cellular respiration and photosynthesis
- Stages of cellular respiration (inputs and outputs) (A)
- Stages of cellular respiration (inputs and outputs) (A)
- (Note - Honors will cover the specific stages of both processes)
- Cell division
- Mitosis
- Identify the steps of mitosis and the movement of chromosomes
- Identify cells in the body that go through mitosis as well as the end result
- Identify how errors in cell division can lead to abnormal cell growth
- Identify and discuss the importance of checkpoints in the cell cycle
- Differentiate between the G0, Interphase and the cell cycle
- Meiosis
- Create an interpret a Karyotype
- Identify how mutations in chromosomes can be result in chromosomal disorders
- Identify and discuss cells in the body that go through meiosis as well as the end result
- Identify the steps of meiosis via the movement of chromosomes
- Mitosis
- DNA
- Identify the parts of a DNA molecule, as well as its function
- Use the base-pairing rule in the process of replication
- Correctly model and the process of replication, and discuss why the process of replication is semi-conservative
- Protein Synthesis
- Discuss the function of DNA in the process of protein synthesis
- Correctly model the process of protein synthesis
- Identify the enzymes associated with protein synthesis (H)
- Discuss why the protein (product of the protein synthesis) needs to be folded in order to be functional
- Discuss mutations (both gene and chromosomal) and how they affect the final protein
- Use a karyotype to identify genetic disorders and discuss the effect on the protein
- Genetics
- Single gene traits (monohybrid)
- Two gene traits (dihybrid) (H)
- Codominance
- Incomplete dominance
- Multiple alleles (blood types)
- Genetic engineering
- Evolution
- Natural Selection and Variation
- Evidence of Evolution
- Fossils and Radiometric dating
- Anatomical relationships
- DNA and protein relationships
- Cladograms
- Microevolution
- Macroevolution
- Types of Evolution (Convergent, divergent, and disruptive)
- Speciation
- Human Evolution
- Ecology
- Social Behavior
- Energy Transfer
- Interdependence of organisms
- Trophic levels
- Carrying capacity
- Density Dependent and independent limiting factors
- Predator-Prey relationship (cycle)
- Symbiotic Relationships
- Succession
- Cycles - Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus
- Human Impact, Conservation and Management plans