Honors Biology

2014-- 2015
Faculty Name: Tamara Aho, M.S.
Contact: taho@ames-slc.org
Course Description
Honors Biology is a two-semester course with an emphasis throughout on developing writing
skills in the sciences, and eploring concepts with an emphasis on depth versus !readth.
Additionally a la!oratory component is incorporated throughout the course to rein"orce ma#or
concepts and provide students with an opportunity "or application and in$uiry. The la!oratory
component will culminate with a "etal pig dissection at the end o" the year.
The "ocus o" instruction will cover the "ive ma#or standards as outlined in the %tah State core
curriculum, availa!le at& http&''www.usoe.k().ut.us'curr'science'core'!io'de"ault.htm. A !rie" outline
o" topics covered is included on page * o" this sylla!us.
%pon completion o" this course, if you apply yourself and engage in the content material you
will !e ready "or more advanced studies in !iology.
Learning Outcomes
Outcomes of this Course
%pon success"ul completion o" this course you will !e a!le to&
(. +emonstrate an enduring understanding o" the ma#or principles o"& ecology, cells ,"unction,
li"e-processes, and !iochemistry-, genetics ,reproduction, inheritance and the !asic structure
o" +.A-, !iological diversity, evolutionary processes, and how structure relates to "unction
in organs and organ systems.
). +emonstrate an understanding o" the nature o" science and science concepts.
/. +isplay the a!ility to use science processes and thinking skills, and an awareness o" social
and historical aspects o" science.
*. 0ommunicate e""ectively using science language and reasoning.
1. +emonstrate the a!ility to competently use various pieces o" !iological la! e$uipment to&
make o!servations, take measurements, collect, organi2e and record data in a la! note!ook or
la! report.
3. +emonstrate a!ility to analy2e data, draw conclusions and prepare written and oral reports o"
investigations.
(
Textbooks & Reading Materials
Text:
.owicki, Stephen. ,)4()-. HOLT McDOUGAL BIOLOGY Boston& Houghton, Mi""lin Harcourt.
Text Website: myhr!com
Course Website: htt":##$mesbiology!eeblycom
%u""lement$l &e$'ing:
5n addition to the tet, supplemental readings "rom periodicals, #ournals and other sources will !e
assigned.
Behavior Expectations & Classroom Conduct
6760T89.50S
AM6S has a consistent en"orcement policy on electronic devices during class time. :ou may use
electronic devices !e"ore and a"ter school, during lunch, and during school !reaks, however
during classroom and la!oratory instructional time all electronic devices ,i-pods, cell-phones,
M;-/ players, etc.- are to !e turned o"" or they will !e con"iscated and given to the o""ice.
SA<6T: - 7a!oratory investigations included in the course are designed to rein"orce !iological
concepts, encourage student in$uiry and !e <%.= However to ensure student sa"ety, it is
a!solutely necessary that you "ollow directions care"ully, "ocus attention on the task at hand,
appropriately handle e$uipment, and !e on your !est !ehavior at all times to avoid inherent risks
possi!le in the Biology la!. All students will need to sign a sa"ety agreement prior to working in
the la!.
H9.6ST: - :ou are epected to do your own work ecept while working in cooperative groups
when sharing in"ormation and ideas is appropriate. 0opying another student>s homework or
assignment and turning it in as your own will result in a 2ero ?4@ "or !oth students on that
assignment.
07ASS899M B6HAA598 - :ou are epected to !e on time and prepared with materials. A
$ui2 or other activity may occur at the !eginning o" each class. There"ore it is important "or you
to !e on time B i" you are late or a!sent and it is unecused you will not !e a!le to make up
missed portions o" the $ui2 or assignment. To enhance a positive, pro"essional, and cooperative
learning environment, 5 would ask you ,and A77 students- to !e considerate and respect"ul o"
your classmates> property, opinions, and "eelings, as well as those o" your own. Hats, hoodies,
sagging pants, etc., are not appropriate in the !iology classroom or la!.
)
C8A+6S
Crades are earned through the completion o" homework, $ui22es, tests, group pro#ects and
participation points, !ased on the "ollowing scale&
A D (44 - E*F
A- D E/- E4F
BG D HE-HIF
B D H3-H*F
B- D H/-H4F
0G D IE-IIF
0 D I3-I*F
0- D I/-I4F
+G D 3E-3IF
+ D 33-3*F
+- D 3/-34F
< D !elow 34F
Crades are weighted as "ollows&
34F - $ui22es, homework, la!s, group work, participation
*4F - tests
M5SS6+'7AT6 J98K ;9750:
5" you have an ecused a!sence on the date an assignment is due B you may turn it in upon your
return. As "or a missed test, you need to schedule a make up test within 9.6 week upon
returning to class. 5n cases other than ecused a!sences, students may turn in one late
assignment per term with no penalty. Beyond this tests or other in class activities given during a
student>s unecused a!sence may not !e made up.
;lease don>t hesitate to see me in the event o" etenuating circumstances=
(relimin$ry C$len'$r of )nstruction !su"#ect to change$
/
Time
<rame
%nit Title Standards 9!#ectives
August-Sep Scienti"ic
Method
6cology
STA.+A8+ 5& Students will
understand that living organisms
interact with one another and
their environment.
(& Summari2e how energy "lows
through an ecosystem.
)& 6plain relationships !etween
matter cycles and organisms.
/& +escri!e how interactions among
organisms and their environment
help shape ecosystems.
9ct-.ov-+ec 0hemistry o"
7i"e'0ells
STA.+A8+ 55& Students will
understand that all organisms are
composed o" one or more cells
that are made o" molecules,
come "rom preeisting cells, and
per"orm li"e "unctions.
(& +escri!e the "undamental
chemistry o" living cells.
)& +escri!e the "low o" energy and
matter in cellular "unction.
/& 5nvestigate the structure and
"unction o" cells and cell parts.
Lan-<e! 0ell +ivision'
Cenetics
STA.+A8+ 5A& Students will
understand that genetic
in"ormation coded in +.A is
passed to o""spring !y seual
and aseual reproduction. The
!asic structure o" +.A is the
same in all living things.
0hanges in +.A may alter
genetic epression.
(& 0ompare seual and aseual
reproduction.
)& ;redict and interpret patterns o"
inheritance in seually reproducing
organisms.
/& 6plain how the structure and
replication o" +.A are essential to
heredity and protein synthesis.
<e!-March Biological
+iversity'
0lassi"ication'
6volution
STA.+A8+ A& Students will
understand that !iological
diversity is a result o"
evolutionary processes.
(. 8elate principles o" evolution to
!iological diversity.
). 0ite evidence "or changes in
populations over time and use
concepts o" evolution to eplain
these changes.
/. 0lassi"y organisms into a
hierarchy o" groups !ased on
similarities that re"lect their
evolutionary relationships.
March-May 9rgans and
9rgan
Systems
STA.+A8+ 555& Students will
understand the relationship
!etween structure and "unction
o" organs and organ systems.
(. +escri!e the structure and "unction
o" organs.
). +escri!e the relationship !etween
structure and "unction o"
organ systems in plants and animals.
*