LS-B3. Explain the characteristics of life as indicated by cellular processes including: a. homeostasis; b. energy transfers and transformation; c. transportation of molecules; d. disposal of wastes; e. synthesis of new molecules
SI-A1. Research and apply appropriate safety precautions when designing and conducting scientific investigations (e.g., OSHA, MSDS, eyewash, goggles and ventilation).
SI-A2. Present scientific findings using clear language, accurate data, appropriate graphs, tables, maps and available technology.
SI-A4. Draw conclusions from inquiries based on scientific knowledge and principles, the use of logic and evidence (data) from investigations.
SK-A3. Recognize that science is a systematic method of continuing investigation, based on observation, hypothesis testing, measurement, experimentation, and theory building, which leads to more adequate explanations of natural phenomena.
In this unit, we will be focusing on a couple of general topics: methods/skills that scientists use; designing and analyzing experiments; characteristics of living things (what defines life); and biological tools (microscope). This covers chapter 1 in your text and should take us about 2 weeks.
At the end of the unit, you will have a mixed format test (multiple choice, short answer, diagrams, etc.). The test has about 50 points, and goes in the 70% category.
Pages to read: 1.1 & 1.3: 4-9, 17-25, Appendix B
Notecards due on: Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014
Vocab/Bookquiz on: Friday, Aug 29, 2014
+ if you’re an expert (can explain to someone else)
 if you’ve heard of it (and know a little)
0 if you’ve never heard of it
______ Hypothesis ______ ______ Control group ______
______ Control variable ______
______ Dependent variable ______
______ Biology
______ Homeostasis
______ Biosphere
______
______
______
______ Stimulus
______ Ocular lens
______
______
______ Coarse adjustment ______
______ Diaphragm
______ Magnification
______
______
______ Independent variable ______
______ Bias ______
______ DNA
______ Metabolism
______ Cell
______
______
______
______ Evolve
______ Objective lens
______ Fine adjustment
______ Stage
______ Nose piece
______
______
______
______
______

Learning Targets/Skills:
_______ Identify independent variables, dependent variables and control variables/groups (ch1.1)
_______ Critique experimental designs (i.e. is it a good experiment, explain why)
(ch1.1)
_______ Describe what peer review is and why it is important (ch 1.2)
_______ List/describe the 8 characteristics of living things (ch 1.3)
_______ Identify/give an example of the 8 characteristics of life (ch 1.3)
_______ Identify something as living or not according to the 8 characteristics of living things and support that opinion (ch 1.3)
_______ Identify parts of the microscope and their functions (Appendix B)
_______ Describe how to use/care for microscopes (Appendix B)
A note about notecards and Vocab/Bookquizzes:
 Notecards (HW grade): o are due 3 school days from the time the green sheet is passed out. The notecards must be on notecards…not paper; not your phone. You can cut them in half if you want, but no smaller than that. o The purpose of the notecards is for you to learn the vocabulary for the unit. The earlier you make them, the more class will make sense to you, since we’ll start using the words day 1 of the unit. If you wait until the night before they’re due to make them, you’ll get the HW points, but may not do well on the quiz. o I suggest you use the book chapters and not the glossary for the definitions and put things in your own words (as much as you can). I will not use the book definitions on the quiz; I will use my own. Most units will also have a Magic Square so you can practice those definitions.
 Vocab Quiz (Quiz grade) o The vocab quiz is given first. It is matching, but you can not sue notes or notecards for this part. When the vocab quiz is done you can move on to the bookquiz.
 Bookquiz (Quiz grade) o Open note quiz over the pages in the book, after you turn in the vocab quiz. You can use your notes, so if you take notes, you can use them; if you don’t…  What should you take notes on? Take a look at the pretest, and learning targets. Those are the things I think are important and are most likely to quiz you on. I won’t ask vocab questions on the bookquiz
(though you can put it in your notes) because I asked you vocab separately. o The vocab and bookquiz are combined into 1 quiz grade, usually between
25 and 40 points.