WHS Honors Biology
Summer Assignment
Welcome to Honors Biology!! We congratulate you on choosing a rigorous
curriculum for your ninth grade year at Woodstown High School. We have high
expectations and hope that you are ready to learn!
The summer assignment is designed to introduce and/or review with you to
procedures for conducting research, the challenges of critical thinking and the
importance of the scientific method. One of the requirements of Honors Biology is
a Science Fair Project, which encompasses each of these ideas. You will also have
1 double lab period each week and will be expected to complete and turn in a
detailed lab.
Objective:
1. Utilize key scientific processes and skill in order to solve problems.
2. Analyze scientific data and draw conclusions in a lab report format.
Due Date: This assignment is due the first day of school. If your assignment is
late, you will receive a 10-point deduction and an Academic Detention the first day
of school. This assignment will count as 2 lab grades for the 1st marking period.
Materials Needed: For Honors Biology, the course requires a 1 – 2 inch 3 ring
binder, notebook paper, pencils and pens, and 2 marble notebooks (1 for labs and 1
for science fair). You will use your lab marble notebooks to complete your
summer assignment in.
If you have any questions during the summer about the assignment, you may
contact Mrs. Sorbello at sorbello.j@woodstown.org or
Mrs. Adams at adams.a@woodstown.org.
Scientific Method Assignment:
Choose a simple experiment that you can conduct on your own at home this
summer. It can be on any topic of your choice. You may use one from the list
below, modify one from the list below or design your own. Make sure to choose a
topic that you are interested in so that your experiment will be enjoyable. It must
be an experiment for which quantitative (numerical) data is collected. The
experiment should be done this summer and NOT used for a previous purpose,
class or competition.
Sample Topics/Sample Experiments:
● Gardening
o Measure a few different types of plants a few times each week to see
how fast they grow
o Count the numbers of vegetables or fruits produced by each plant
every week
● Cooking
o Figure out how long it takes to cook 6 different foods at 5 different
temps.
● Pet training
o Teach your dog a new trick and record how many times out of 10
attempts they get it right for 30 days.
● Hiking
o Identify the different plants with your while you hike and count the
types of plant you find along the trail
● Fishing
o Go fishing a few times over the summer and count how many of each
species of fish you catch on different days
There is not a maximum amount of days or trials your experiment should consist of
although, remember that the more data that you collect, the more reliable your
experiment will be.
The Lab Report:
Utilize the Lab Report Rubric/Template that you received at the Honors meeting.
If you have lost this handout, you will find them on the biology teacher’s websites.
If you do not write up the lab using this format, it will be reflected in your grade.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Title – should reflect the topic of your experiment
Purpose/Problem/Objective
Hypothesis – if/then statement
Materials
Procedure
Results – includes data tables and graphs
Conclusion/Discussion
General guidelines in writing a lab report:
● Only write in blue or black ink
● Do not white out anything, just draw a line through what you do not want to
be graded.
● Always write as neatly as possible. If we cannot read it, we cannot give you
credit.
● All sections should be written in complete sentences.
So after all this, WHAT am I turning in on the first day of school?
● Your marble notebook with your experiment written up in the lab report
format. Be sure to include all data and charts/graphs if applicable.
Lab Report Rubric/Template
Section
o
Title
o Concise, yet descriptive title.
Purpose/Problem/Objective
o What question are you trying to answer?
Hypothesis/Prediction
o A testable ‘if…then’ statement (I, we
believe if writing a prediction) that is a
possible solution to the problem
Materials
o Materials listed in a column
Procedure
o Replicable procedure
o Written using command sentences
Results
o All data present
Data table and/or graph (if necessary)
o Properly labeled (independent,
dependent, derived, title, units, etc.)
Conclusion/Discussion
o Brief summary of experiment/restate
problem
o Re-state hypothesis
o Hypothesis supported or refuted?
o Why or why not? Must include data!
o Develop new questions and suggest
experimental improvements (sources of
error)
Presentation
o Neat and organized
o Proper format used
Possible
Points
10
4. Descriptive Title
Points
Received
Comments
5. Labels and UNITS!!! for each
column
10
10
Graph Checklist
1. Choose and appropriate graph
a. Line-time
10
b. Bar-how many
10
15
c.
Pie-parts of a whole
2. IV-x axis (horizontal)
3. DV-y axis (vertical)
4. Use as much of the graph paper
as
25
possible without running out of
space
5. Labels on the x and y axes
10
6. UNITS!!! On the x and y axes
7. Numbers along the x and y must
display equal distances between
gridlines
8. Select an appropriate range of
numbers for the x and y that
Data Table Checklist
will
1. IV-1st column
fit the data (DO NOT use the
2. DV-2nd column
data as the numbers on the x
a. Can be sub-divided for
trials if needed
3. Derived Quantity-last column
and y!)
9. Plot your points carefully!
10. Descriptive title