Ms. Rubin’s Biology General Syllabus 2010 - 2011

 The Massachusetts State learning standards for Biology at the high school level fall under the following six subtopics: The Chemistry of Life; Cell Biology; Genetics; Anatomy and Physiology; Evolution and Biodiversity; and Ecology.

Our program will mirror the State Standards:

SEMESTER   I

Unit I: INTRODUCTION

Unit II: Ecology

Unit III: The Chemistry of Life

Unit IV: Cell Biology

     a. Structure and Function of Cells
     b. Cellular Membrane Transport

Unit V: Photosynthesis

MID TERM

SEMESTER II

Unit VI: Cellular Respiration

Unit VI: Genetics

a. Cell Division

Unit VII: Evolution and Biodiversity

FINAL EXAM

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Additionally, Biotechnology may be introduced as time is allowed & when applicable.

**Biotechnology - a rapidly expanding field of biology that uses a growing set of techniques to derive valuable products from organisms and their cells.  This field already is commonly used to identify potential suspects in crimes or exonerate persons wrongly accused, determine paternity, diagnose diseases, make high-yield pest-resistant crops, and treat genetic ailments.

 

Through biotechnology we can grasp a better understanding of the molecular basis of heredity.

 

We will also build upon skills of Inquiry, Experimentation, and Design through scientific literacy to enable success in post-secondary education, careers, and as contributing members of a democratic society.  To achieve this, students need to develop skills that allow them to search out, describe, and explain natural phenomena and designed artifacts. Scientific inquiry, experimentation, and design involve practice (skills) in direct relationship to knowledge; content knowledge and skills are necessary to inquire about the natural and human-made worlds.

 

Four Scientific Inquiry Skills (SIS) standards are included in each introductory high school course:

 

SIS1.      Make observations, raise questions, and formulate hypotheses.

SIS2.      Design and conduct scientific investigations.

SIS3.      Analyze and interpret results of scientific investigations.

SIS4.      Communicate and apply the results of scientific investigations.

 

Mathematical skills are emphasized for a solid understanding of each high school student to analyze and support findings of investigations or the design process.  

 

Some expected and specific skills from the Mathematics Framework that students in this course will have the opportunity to apply:

• Construct and use tables and graphs to interpret data sets
•   Solve simple algebraic expressions.
•   Perform basic statistical procedures to analyze the center and spread of data.
•   Measure with accuracy and precision (e.g., length, volume, mass, temperature, time)
•   Convert within a unit (e.g., centimeters to meters).
•   Use common prefixes such as milli-, centi-, and kilo-.
•   Use scientific notation, where appropriate.
•   Use ratio and proportion to solve problems

The following skills are not detailed in the Mathematics Framework, but are necessary for a solid understanding in this course:

• Determine the correct number of significant figures.
• Determine percent error from experimental and accepted values.
• Use appropriate metric/standard international (SI) units of measurement for mass (kg); length (m); and time (s).
• Use the Celsius scale.