Lead Deadwood School District Syllabus
Course Title: Biology I
SD DOE Common Course Number: 03051
Course Description: Biology is a full year laboratory science designed to give the students a broad and general
overview of the main concepts found in the biological sciences. These topics will include, but are not limited
to, the areas of cellular biology, genetics, plants, ecology, evolution, and animals. Much of the course work will
be supported by lab work.
Teacher Introduction: Thomas Tieszen
Teacher Contact Information: Thomas.tieszen@k12.sd.us ext.
State Content Standards Alignment:2014-2015
Course Concepts and Standards and Direction: Content Standards to be covered
36 Week Outline
1st Grading Period -
2nd Grading Period –
Concepts Covered:
Concepts Covered:
Introducing Biology
Biology in the 21st Century
The Study of Life
Unifying Themes
Scientific Thinking and Processes
Biology Tools and Technology
Dimensional Analysis and Measuring
Chemistry of Life
Atoms, Ions and Molecules
Properties of Water
Carbon-Based (Organic) Molecules
(enzymes)
Chemical Reactions (Balancing
Equations)
Standards Delivered/Assessed:
Cells
Cell Structure and Function
Cell Theory
Cell Organelles
Cell Membrane
Cellular Transport (osmosis, diffusion,
and active transport)
Cells and Energy
ATP
Overview of Photosynthesis
Overview of Cellular Respiration
Cell Growth and Division
The Cell Cycle and Regulation
Mitosis and Cytokinesis
Chromosomes and the Process of Meiosis
Standards Delivered/Assessed:
(Include indicators addressed)
3rd
Grading Period –
(Include indicators addressed)
4th Grading Period –
Concepts Covered:
Concepts Covered:
Genetics
Mendel
Heredity
Traits, Genes, and Alleles
Evoloution
Principles of Evolution
Early Ideas About Evolution
Darwin’s Observations
Traits and Probability
Meiosis and Genetic Variation
Extending Mendelian Genetics
Chromosomes and Phenotype
Complex Patterns of Heredity
Gene Linkage
Human Genetics
Ecology
Ecosystems
Ecosystem study
Populations and Communities
Environment
Mineral Cycles
Standards Delivered/Assessed:
Theory of Natural Selection
Evidence of Evolution
Evolutionary Biology Today
The Evolution of Populations
Genetic Variation Within Populations
Natural Selection in Populations
Other Mechanisms of Evolution
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Patterns of Evolution
The History of Life
The Fossil Record
The Geologic Time Scale
Origin of Life
Classification
Micorobes
Bacteria and Viruses
Protists
Fungi
Plants
Diversity and Life cycles
Plant structure and growth
Processes
Animals
Invertebrates
Mollusks and Annelids
Arthropods and Echinoderms
Fish and Amphibians
Reptiles and Avian Reptiles
Mammals
Standards Delivered/Assessed:
Assessment Types:
The student is expected to monitor their grade throughout the semester.
All tests will be scheduled and announced. There may be unannounced quizzes to ensure consistent studying
habits. Standardized Tests, Essays, Labs, and projects will all be utilized to assess student learning.
Grading Scale and Policy:
Student assessment will be based on homework, tests and quizzes, labs and any projects that are assigned.
Letter grades will be used for reporting to parents/guardians for each marking period.
Letter grades and GPA will be based on the Lead Deadwood School District policy. The following grading
scale will be used by all departments and all instructors and will determine grade point average (GPA), class
rank, and honor graduate status. The LDSD grading scale is as follows:
100
95-99
A+
A
4.33
4.00
4.17-4.33
3.83-4.16
93-94
91-92
88-90
86-87
84-85
80-83
78-79
76-77
72-75
70-71
69<
Incompletes
A-
3.66
B+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
3.33
3.00
2.66
2.33
2.00
1.66
1.33
1.00
0.66
0.00
3.50-3.87
3.17-3.49
2.83-3.16
2.50-2.82
2.17-2.49
1.83-2.16
1.50-1.82
1.17-1.49
0.83-1.16
0.50-0.82
0.00
All grades reported as incomplete must be removed within two weeks following the end of a grading period
unless special permission for an extension is granted by the building administration. An incomplete will be
recorded as an “F” if it is not removed within two weeks. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the work
and hand it in to the instructor.
Standardized Testing Preparation: As a part of this course, significant effort will be directed towards the
preparation for the Dakota STEP assessment. Students who have already taken and passed the DSTEP will
benefit in their preparation for the ACT or college-placement exams when applicable.
Materials: Holt: Biology, Author: DeSalle Heithaus. A means of taking notes is required daily. Paper and a
writing utensil should be brought every class.
Attendance Policy:
MAKE-UP WORK: It is the responsibility of the student to manage his or her make-up work. You must get
the assignments, take the make-up tests etc. When possible, this can be done via your school email account. It
is suggested you do so before/after school or during SRB immediately returning to school. Do not expect your
teachers to automatically inform you and schedule your make-up work. You will be expected to use the course
website when applicable and other tools to avoid falling behind. The late-work policy from the student
handbook appears below:
High School students who are absent for more than five (5) days of a block class during a school
semester will not receive credit for the course work without special extenuating circumstances and the
recommendation of exception from the principal. Students may request an appeal to the loss of credit
through a committee of five teachers selected by the student and the building principal.
The building Principal is granted the right to make exceptions to this minimum attendance standard in
extra-ordinary cases. If a student reaches the absence limit and thus will potentially lose credit, he or
she must continue in the course until the end of a semester unless approved by the building
administration. Students who are permitted to withdraw with no credit will be assigned to the “CABIN”
for the remainder of the semester.
The student is allowed (2) school days for make-up work for each excused absence.
Contact Information:
LDHS phone 717-3899, e-mail: thomas.tieszen@k12.sd.us
Planning time – Gold 1
This syllabus is a tenative outline of this course and may be changed as deemed necessary by the instructor.