Biology Course Syllabus
Mrs. S. Lloyd and Mrs. S. Stephens
Course Description: Biology is a survey course of the study of life. It is taught in the ninth grade as a one unit course and is required for graduation. Approximately 40% of the GHSGT is based on biology content. There is an end-of-course test (EOCT) over biology near the end of the semester.
Biology Content Objectives
Students will:
- analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions in living cells.
- analyze how biological traits are passed on to successive generations.
- derive the relationship between single-celled and multi-celled organisms and the increasing complexity of systems.
- assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of energy and matter within their ecosystems.
- evaluate the role of natural selection in the development of the theory of evolution.
Instructional Materials: Textbook, Biology: The Dynamics of Life, textbook study guides, pertinent videos, computer programs and on-line search, lab activities.
Materials Needed at School: One-inch (or larger) ringbinder notebook, pens, pencils, notebook paper.
Materials Needed at Home: Colored pencils or crayons, scissors, stapler, tape, and other items for projects as assigned.
Grade Distribution:
- Classroom Grade (85% of overall final average for the class)
- Tests, RC book 35%
- Science Project 25%
- Labs 25%
- Homework, Class work 15%
- EOCT – End Of Course Test (15% of overall final average for the class)
- 90 – 100 = A, 80 – 89 = B, 70 – 79 = C, 0 – 70 = F
Important Websites
www.mcsdga.net ------- Muscogee County School District
http://kendrick.mcsdga.net/ -------Kendrick High School Website
teacherweb.com/ga/kendrickhighschool/lloyd -------Homework, Classwork, Projects, Study Guides, etc.
slloyd@mcsdga.net --------Mrs. S. Lloyd's email address
sstephens@mcsdga.net --------Mrs. Stephen's email address
PROCEDURES
- Enter without talking.
- Be IN YOUR SEAT when the bell rings or you are TARDY!
- Prepare for DO NOW assignment and read the daily transparency on the overhead.
- Continue completing independent tasks IN THE ORDER presented on the board.
- Once you finish your independent tasks (if any), you may read your SRC book or a science magazine.
- The teachers dismiss you, NOT THE BELL!!!
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
- Be prepared…bring book, notebook, and pencil everyday!
- Dress properly and wear ID.
- Throw away all trash in the garbage cans.
- Stay awake and pay attention – SLEEPING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!!!
- Work independently AND QUIETLY unless instructed otherwise.
- RESPECT yourself, others, and the classroom environment!
- Do your work, read your book, and STUDY EVERYDAY!!!!!
RC BOOKS
- Read one science-related RC book each 9 weeks, must be 125 pgs. minimum or teacher’s approval.
- Required: 70 C or better and a paragraph explaining how the book relates to science. Anything lower than 70 is a zero.
- Result: Test grade 7/10 = 70, 8/10 = 80, 9/10 = 90, 10/10 = 100
- Test grade report MUST BE CERTIFIED by the teacher you took the test with. You MAY NOT take a test without a teacher present or it will not count. Tests may be taken in Room 316 with Ms. Norman or in an English class with an English teacher.
ASSIGNMENTS & KEEPING UP THE NOTEBOOK
- 2” ringbinder notebook.
- Order: See Portfolio guide for setting up divided notebook. Instructions will be given for assignment placement into the divisions.
- Random homework quizzes will be given…READING AND STUDYING is essential to your success as well as your group’s success in this class.
- INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY: Although you may sometimes work in groups, you are the only one that will take the test to assess what you have learned. COMPREHEND what you write. If you don’t comprehend it, ASK FOR HELP!
COOPERATIVE LEARNING GROUPS
- Work QUIETLY!
- Stay on task…conversation should be limited to biology/school (no socializing and/or clowning).
- Migration to other groups is not permitted.
- Keep discussions within your group.
- Always confer with your group members first. If a consensus can’t be reached, then raise your hand for the teacher’s help.
MAKEUP WORK DUE TO ABSENCES
- STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
- 3 days to bring an excuse AND makeup any work missed.
- Tests, quizzes, labs, videos, and some group assignments must be made up after school.
- Textbook assignments, workbook assignments, and handouts should be completed on your own time, but within 3 days. Tests will not be delayed due to a one-day absence.
- Mrs. Stephens will also be maintaining a notebook and a log of all assignments.
- If all else fails, ask Mrs. Stephens before your 3 days is up!
- Unexcused absences result in a zero on ALL GRADES taken for the day!!!!!!! This means suspensions.
- ISS absences: the student is responsible for informing his/her teacher of the placement in ISS. Some assignments, such as labs and tests cannot be completed in ISS. The student is expected to stay after school.
DETENTION
- Being tardy to class, sleeping, being off-task (not doing assignments), excessive talking, misbehavior with a substitute, no materials (pen, pencil, paper, book, and notebook), not following procedures.
- Teacher detention is held on Friday afternoons in room 416 from 2:50 pm to 3:50 pm. Central detention is to be determined.
EMERGENCY PASS CARD
- Students are expected to take care of personal issues between classes during the 5 min. class change. However, we do understand that emergencies occur.
- The emergency pass card allows a student to leave the classroom to go to the restroom, locker, etc without penalty.
- Students are required to have the card with them at the time they request to leave the room. The student must also have their KHS handbook signed, and the card is not valid the first fifteen minutes or the last fifteen minutes of the class.
- Emergency passes that are not used may be turned in at the end of the grading period for 1 point each added to the student’s 9 weeks class report card grade.
- If a student does not have the emergency pass card with them when they need to use it, they may still leave the room for an emergency or be tardy, but the consequence is detention
I have read the course syllabus. Students are to keep a copy in their notebook at all times and refer to it when necessary. There will be a copy of the syllabus posted under Mrs. S. Lloyd's and Mrs. Stephens faculty listing on the Kendrick High and class websites.
Student Print Name_____________________________________________________
Student Sign Name_____________________________________________________ Date_______________________
Parent/Guardian Print Name______________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Sign Name______________________________________________ Date_______________________
____________________________________________________PAGE 1______________________________________________
STUDENT PROFILE
Class: Biology Block:___________________ Advisor Teacher:___________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Last Name First Name Middle Name
Name student goes by if different from first name:_________________________________________________
_______________________ __________ ________________
Birthdate Age Current Grade Level
________________ _____________________________________________________ ________________
Street Number Street Name Apt. # (if any)
____________________________ _________________ ______________
City State Zip Code
______________________________________________________________ _________________________
Name(s)…first and last… of parent/guardian student lives with Relationship(s) to the student
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Home Phone Number__________________________________
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Cell Phone Number(s)__________________________________
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Place of Employment______________________________________________________
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Work Phone Number______________________________________________________
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Email Address____________________________________________________________
Are you okay with us emailing you a copy of your child's progress report in addition to sending the hard copy?____________________________
If there is an emergency or the teacher needs to contact you, what number is best to reach you first?__________
Alternate Emergency Contact (name)____________________________________________________________
Relationship to the student______________________________________________
Phone Number with area code____________________________________________
Please list below any medical concerns we need to be aware of. This includes allergies, disorders (such as diabetes, sickle cell, kidney problems, bowel problems, thirst problems, etc), medications your child takes on a regular basis (and whether or not they take the meds at home or at school), ADD, ADHD, chronic ongoing health issues.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________PAGE 2_______________________________________________
LAB SAFETY GUIDELINES
Read and observe the following guidelines. These are established for your safety and convenience as well as others in the lab.
- No horseplay.
- No unauthorized experiments.
- No experiments without supervision.
- Goggles are to be on your eyes at all times…even when you think you are not doing something of apparent possible danger. Goggles must be worn at all times. THIS IS A STATE LAW.
- If you do not know what something is, ASK! Do not bother anything unless you have been instructed to touch it.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before and after all labs.
- Wash your hands anytime you get anything (liquid or solid) on them. Notify the teacher immediately.
- If you break it, you buy it.
- Never clean up glass yourself. Notify the teacher and let them clean it up.
- Clean up spills (other than mercury) immediately. Notify the teacher of the spill.
- If a thermometer breaks, call the teacher. Do not attempt to clean it up. Mercury from the thermometer is poisonous even by touching it.
- All injuries, no matter how small, must be reported to the teacher.
- Never eat or drink anything in the lab (this includes gum).
- Never stick your nose directly over a test tube or bottle to sniff it. Simply wave your hand over the bottle and let the smell drift to your nose….this is called "wafting"
- Bringing and wearing an apron on lab days is suggested.
- Ties are forbidden
- Long hair must be pulled back
- Always read your lab sheets carefully and FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. No unauthorized experiments or work!
- Use gloves when so instructed
- Begin cleanup when the teacher instructs you to do so.
- Contact lenses are worn at your own risk. However, if working with strong chemicals, contacts will be forbidden on those lab days since it may cause the contacts to adhere or "melt" to the eye.
- Treat all living things with respect.
- The fire extinguisher is located on the wall by the entrance door.
- The safety shower and eyewash station is located on the wall at the side of the room. You must notify the teacher immediately so the station can be turned on.
- The sinks are located throughout the room. Do not put paper or other items in the sinks.
- IF IN DOUBT, THEN DON'T.
I have read and understand the above rules for lab safety. I understand that a violation of the above rules could result in the loss of my lab privileges and diminish the opportunity for learning the objectives needed to pass the EOCT (End of Course Test) in Biology.
Student Print Name:_________________________________________________
Student Sign Name:_________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Print Name:_______________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Sign Name:________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian E-mail address:_____________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Phone #'s (for immediate emergency contact): Area Code________ Phone#________________
Alternate Emergency Contact Name:__________________________________________________________
Relationship______________ Emergency Contact Phone Number:____________________________________
