Biology Syllabus
Instructor: Mrs. Adams Room 130
Text: Biology, 2009, Pearson/ Prentice-Hall. Cost: $72.00
Email: beth_adams@cartersville.k12.ga.us
Required Supplies: 1 ½- binder, 10 dividers/tabs, 1 comp notebook, 1 jump drive, 300-3x5 lined index cards, 1 zippered binder
pocket, pencil, pen, notebook paper, also one of the following: roll of paper towels or a box of tissues
Course description: Biology is an introductory course designed for the traditional or accelerated ninth-grade student. Whether your child
has opted to take Biology, the principles and concepts studied are the same. The principles of study in this course includes: characteristics
of life, scientific method, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, gene expression, evolution and natural selection, ecology, classification, and
a survey of plant and animal diversity. (*Please refer to the tentative schedule of study, below.)
Goals/ Learning Objectives: The student will be able to:
1. use the concepts learned in class to successfully pass the Biology End-of-Course Test
2. work safely in a laboratory setting using correct procedures and equipment.
3. increase knowledge of biological concepts/ principles through successful completion of projects/ reports/ papers/ journal writing.
4. improve upon writing skills through successful completion of projects/ reports/ papers/ journal writing/ current event summaries.
Georgia Performance Content Standards (GPS):
SB1. Students will analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions in living cells.
SB2. Students will analyze how biological traits are passed on to successive generations.
SB3. Students will derive the relationship between single-celled and multi-celled organisms and the increasing complexity of systems.
SB4. Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of energy and matter within their ecosystems.
SB5. Students will evaluate the role of natural selection in the development of the theory of evolution.
Resources Used: textbook, powerpoint presentations, computer/ internet, jump drive, e-books, public/ school library books/ references,
current event sources, ancillary materials from various publishers (handouts, labs).
Major Assignments:
Writings: Journal entries-daily/ weekly basis, I-search Paper, Formal Lab Reports, life-science current event summaries, video notes,
guided notes
Tasks (include, but are not limited to): Acid/ Base Lab, Biomolecule Lab, Microscope Labs, Osmosis Lab, Mitosis/ Meiosis Internet Labs,
Baby Face Genetics Lab, Human Genetic Traits Lab, Karyotype Lab, DNA/ RNA Labs, Gene Pool Lab, Peppered Moth Lab, PredatorPrey Lab, Structure/ Function Creatures, Various Dichotomous Keys, Protist/ Fungi Internet Labs, Animal Dissections, Internet Labs/
Simulations, Microviewer Labs: Cell Structure, Cell Membrane, Mitosis, Meiosis, Plants, Ecology, Symbiosis, Taxonomy, Bacteria, Virus,
Protist, and Fungi.
Formative Evaluations/ Performance Assessments address: Nature of Life, Cells, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, Microorganisms to
Fungi, Plants, Animals
Projects (include, but are not limited to): Cell Project, Biome Project, Bacteria Poster, Genetics Project, Topic Brochures, Flip Books,
Presentations
Major Grades: Notebook-Portfolio/ Journal checks; Summative exams-Unit and Midterm Exams, Final Assessment/ Project, EOCT
*Tentative Schedule of Study:
Week 1-4: Scientific Method/ Biochemistry
Week 5-6: Cell Structure and Function
Bacteria/ Protists and Fungi
Week 7-8: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Week 9: Cell Growth and Division
Week 10-13: Intro to Genetics and Human Genome
Week 14-17: Replication/ Expression/ Gen Engineering
Week 18-19: Origin of Life/ Evolution/ Natural Selection
Week 20-23: Ecology
Week 24-26: Classification-Kingdom Overview/ Viruses
Week 27-30: Plant Survey/ Structure, Function, Reproduction
Week 31-35 Kingdom Animalia Invert/ Vert Overview
Week 35-36: Labs, Activities, Projects, Dissections, Final Exams
MIDTERM after Week 17
Biology End of Course Test
Final Assessment/Project
*Unit- related performance assessments are also assigned during the year.
Evaluation: The final grade for the course is cumulative for the year and also includes the student’s score on the Biology End-of-Course
Test (EOCT). Coursework evaluation is based on percentages. For freshmen and sophomores, percentages are listed below:
40%
Major Grades- Unit Tests, Notebook/ Journal Tests, Performance Assessments, Semester Projects
10%
Midterm Exam
40%
Daily Work -Homework, Quizzes, Classwork assignments, Labs and other performance assessments, Activities
10%
Final Exam
For students, entering high school prior to 2011, the percentages for the Major Grades = 55% and the EOCT = 15%.
Progress Reports: Parents, please use your powerschool log-in to see your child’s current progress in class. Grades are updated
once a week. Having “anytime” access to your child’s grades is a tremendous and informative monitoring tool for you and your
student. Hard copy progress reports are also issued every three weeks. These progress reports must be returned with a parent/guardian
signature within two school days of issue, or office detention will be assigned for failure to return a school form. These signed reports are
kept on file with the instructor.
Credit: A student earns one science credit towards his/ her diploma after passing (70% or greater) one semester of Biology and meeting
the state-mandated attendance requirements. After 5 unexcused absences, no credit will be received for the course, regardless of the
grade. Student and parent must appear before the Attendance Appeals Committee for the possibility of credit re-instatement.
Attendance: According to Georgia’s Compulsory School Attendance Law, more than 5 unexcused absences constitute truancy. For
explanation of excused/ unexcused absences and consequences for parent(s)/ guardian(s) of student’s whose unexcused absences exceed 5
days, please refer to attendance policy in the student handbook.
Classroom Policies and Procedures:
Homework Policy: Daily homework is assigned each night, whether reading or written. No late homework is accepted. Homework
must be turned in at the beginning of the class or it is not accepted. On semester projects, a minimum of 20 points is deducted for each
day late.
Notebook Policy: A 1 ½-inch binder with ten dividers are required for this course. The notebook must be separate from your other
classes. You will have periodic notebook tests. You will also turn in your notebook for 1 project grade at the end of the year. You are
permitted to have your notes section back at the end of the year. The notebook should have clearly labeled dividers in the following
order:
1st divider = Agendas/ Syllabus
4th divider = Genetics
7th divider = Micro-Fungi
2nd divider = Nature of Life
5th divider = Evolution
8th divider = Plants
rd
th
3 divider = Cells
6 divider = Ecology
9th divider = Animals
10th divider = EOCT/CE/Projects
Video Policy: You are required to take notes or fill out a study guide for videos. There is no talking, reading, or sleeping during the video.
Putting your head down on your desk, or covering your eyes or face will automatically be considered sleeping in class and will result in
teacher detention.
Test Policy: When you finish a test, you are required to remain silent until all students are finished. Once you have completed the test, you
should quietly begin the work assigned for the next unit. We will go over the test within the following few days and address any questions
or concerns.
CHS Final Exam Exemption Policy: A student is exempt from his/her final examination if the following criteria are met: no more than 5
tardies in the class, no ISS, or OSS; an 85% or above and zero absences; a 90% or above and two absences; or a 95% or above and four
absences. The final exam or cumulative final project is 10% of the overall grade earned in the class. The exemption policy does NOT
apply to the state-mandated Biology End-of-Course Test (EOCT). All biology students are required to take the Biology EOCT (20% or
your overall grade; or 15% for students entering high school prior to 2011).
OSS and grades: Students shall not be penalized in their academic grade for the first suspension if the student makes up the work in the
time allotted and discussed with the teacher. For subsequent suspensions, a student may receive a grade of no higher than “70” on graded
work missed during OSS if made up within the time allotted. If the student fails to make up the work, the teacher will assign a grade of “0”
for each assignment not completed. Long term assignments such as research projects/papers assigned before a suspension and due during
the suspension may be turned in on the day the student returns from suspension without penalty. Long term assignments made during a
suspension are due on the assigned due date.
Class rules:
1. Respect the instructor and your classmates.
2. ALWAYS come prepared to class. Bring your textbook, notebook, paper, pen and pencil every day. If forgetting materials becomes
a habit, teacher detention will result. Teacher detention is held on Tuesdays or Thursdays for one hour.
3. Act appropriately during labs and activities. Inappropriate behavior during lab exercises/ activities will not be tolerated.
4. Tardies: You are tardy if you are not in the classroom when the bell rings. If you are tardy, you will not be permitted into the
classroom without an admittance slip from the attendance office. One hour of office detention will be assigned for each tardy.
5. Cell Phone: Your cell phone should not be in view or left “on” during school hours. (This includes text messaging). It will be
collected and turned into administration, and consequences are as outlined in the student handbook.
6. Passes: Make time during class change or during your lunch to go to the restroom. You have two emergency passes to the restroom
or your locker for each semester. However, you must wait for the appropriate time to ask. (You should take care of personal business
between classes.)
FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions):
What if I miss class due to field trips and/or school functions?
Field trips/school functions are planned weeks in advance. You should deliver your assignments from the previous day to my room before
school on the day of your field trip/function. If you miss an assignment on the day of your field trip/ game, be prepared to turn in those
assignments the next day with the rest of your classmates. You are expected to get your missed assignments from one of two study-buddies.
If worksheets are involved, you must pick those up the morning of your field trip/school function. If you are struggling or missing a major
test, you should not attend the field trip. If you are failing the class, you are NOT permitted to attend a field trip. Field trips are a
privilege, not a right.
What if I miss class due to sickness lasting one day?
If the homework or classwork assignment is not made-up within two days after your return to school, a zero for the assignment will be
earned.
What if I miss class for more than one day (multiple, consecutive absences)?
A student will have the number of days missed to complete the homework or classwork assignment.
EXCEPTION TO THE MAKE-UP WORK POLICY: If you miss the day of a scheduled test, you MUST take the test on the day that
you return.
Extra Credit Policy: Miscellaneous extra credit assignments are not offered. You must make every effort to keep up with the work that is
assigned. Collecting zeros (even a few) is absolutely detrimental to your grade in the course! It is very difficult to recover from zeros.
Place the syllabus in your 3-ring binder. This signed form, information sheet (below) and your school
supplies (listed at the top of the syllabus) are due no later than Monday, August 13.
We (the parent/guardian and student) understand the classroom rules, policies, expectations and evaluation methods of
Biology as stated for the 2013-2014 school year. We understand that we have access to our child’s grades via powerschool
by acquiring the parent password, in-person, from the guidance office or from Mrs. Kellogg. We understand that if we have
any further questions or concerns about grades or otherwise, Mrs. Stone may be contacted via email or phone. A parentteacher conference may also be scheduled through the Guidance Office: (770) 382-3200.
Student name
_________________________________/________________________________________Date_______________
PRINT
Signature
Parent-guardian name
____________________________________/________________________________Date_____________
PRINT
Signature
Student Information Sheet- Please Print.
Student Name _______________________________________
Student ID Number ____________
Advisor___________________
Birthdate _____________________
Grade Level_________
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Street Address, City and Zip Code
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Mother/Guardian Name and Telephone Contact Number
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Mother’s place of employment and Phone Number
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Mother’s Email
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Father-Parent/ Guardian Name and Telephone Contact Number
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Father’s Place of Employment and Phone Number
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Father’s Email
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Emergency Contact (name and relationship)
Phone Number
Medical
Concerns:___________________________________________________________________________
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Extracurricular Activities/ Sports/Job
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Educational/ Career Plans and Goals
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