Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute
301 Charles St. E., Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 2P8 (519) 578-8330 http://chc.wrdsb.ca
Course Outline: Science, Grade 12 IB Biology, SBI 4UW
Semester: 1
Block: A/B
Room:
Teacher:
Teacher Contact Information:
christopher_busch@wrdsb.on.ca
519-578-8330 x434 (no voicemail)
Course/Teacher Website:
http://teachers.wrdsb.ca/busch/grade12-biology/
Mr. Busch
B432
Course Description
This course enables students to deepen their understanding of Biology through the study of plant biology, human physiology, nucleic
acids and proteins, cell respiration and photosynthesis, and neurobiology and behaviour. Students will further develop their lab
design and writing skills through the completion of the individual investigation that will be submitted to IB as the internal
assessment component of the IB Biology Course.
Essential Learnings
Demonstrate an understanding of the following essential ideas:
Plant Biology:
 Structure and function are correlated in the xylem of plants
 Structure and function are correlated in the phloem of plants
 Plants adapt their growth to environmental conditions
 Reproduction in flowering plants is influenced by the biotic and abiotic environment
70%
Quizzes,
Tests,
Activities
and
Assignments
30%
Final exam
(mimics the
IB exam
that will be
written in
May)
Human Physiology:
 The structure of the wall of the small intestine allows it to move, digest and absorb food
 The blood system continuously transports substances to cells and simultaneously collects waste
products
 The human body has structures and processes that resist the continuous threat of invasion by pathogens
 Immunity is based on recognition of self and destruction of foreign material
 The lungs are actively ventilated to ensure that gas exchange can occur passively
 Hormones are used when signals need to be widely distributed
 Sexual reproduction involves the development and fusion of haploid gametes
 Neurons transmit the message, synapses modulate the message
 The roles of the musculoskeletal system are movement, support and protection
 All animals excrete nitrogenous waste products and some animals also balance water and solute
concentrations
Nucleic Acids and Proteins:
 The structure of DNA is ideally suited to its function
 Genetic information in DNA can be accurately copied and can be translated to make the proteins
needed by the cell
 Information stored as a code in DNA is copied onto mRNA
 Information transferred from DNA to mRNA is translated into an amino acid sequence
 Biologists have developed techniques for artificial manipulation of DNA, cells and organisms
Metabolism, cell respiration and photosynthesis:
 Cell respiration supplies energy for the functions of life
 Energy is converted to a usable form in cell respiration
 Photosynthesis uses the energy in sunlight to produce the chemical energy needed for life
 Light energy is converted into chemical energy
Neurobiology and behaviour
 Modification of neurons starts in the earliest stages of embryogenesis and continues to the final stages
of life
 The parts of the brain specialize in different functions
 Living organisms are able to detect changes in the environment
 Behavioural patterns can be inherited or learned\
 Communication between neurons can be altered through the manipulation of the release and reception
of chemical messengers
 Natural selection favours specific types of behaviour
Demonstrate scientific investigation skills:
Analyse, Evaluate and Communicate the measurement and determination of transpiration rates along
with statistical analysis of the data gathered(Practical 7)
3 labs
Individual
Investigation
Design and Communicate an experiment to test the effect of exercise on the rate of ventilation
(Practical 6)
Analyse, Evaluate and Communicate an experimental investigation of chromatography determining
and measuring the Rf values of photosynthetic pigments(Practical 4)
Design, Analyze, Evaluate and communicate an individual investigation of your choosing (II) which
will form the internal assessment component of the IB Biology course
SBI 4UW Course Outline
Page 1
Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute
301 Charles St. E., Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 2P8 (519) 578-8330 http://chc.wrdsb.ca
Practical Skills:
Use of proper dissection techniques eg. dissect a heart, fetal pig, kidney and an eyeball
Use of the microscope to make proper biological drawings eg. skeletal muscle
Use of the microscope to identify tissues eg. monocot and dicot roots and stems and mesophytic,
hydrophytic and xerophytic leaves
Dissection
Lab skills
Biological
Diagram
Practical
Quizzes
Course Evaluation


Throughout the course, teachers will gather evidence of student learning through observations, conversations, and studentproduced work.
Seventy percent (70%) of the final mark will come from term work, and thirty percent (30%) will come from final evaluations.
Report card grades will reflect the student’s most consistent level of achievement, with consideration given to more recent
evidence.
Learning Skills
The Learning Skills and Work Habits section of the provincial report card is an integral part of a student’s learning. Students will be
assessed in the following areas:

Responsibility

Independent Work

Organization

Initiative

Collaboration

Self-Regulation
The following scoring system is used for Learning Skills: E=Excellent; G=Good; S=Satisfactory; N=Needs Improvement
Course Materials
In order to be successful it is important to be organized and prepared for each class. You will be expected to have the following
items with you in class each day:
 Pens, pencils, ruler and calculator (cell phones and other electronic devices are not permitted)
 Binder with plenty of lined paper
 Biology Course Companion textbook, 2014 ed.
Labs and assignments are expected to be completed using a computer, and a working knowledge of software such as Word and
Excel is needed. Sometimes internet access is required and although students have access to computers at the school, these resources
are often limited.
Absences
Absences must be validated and missed work completed outside of class time. If you miss a unit test or major lab for a valid reason,
be prepared to complete it on the day you return. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed and catch up after being
absent. If you know ahead of time about an absence make arrangements beforehand!
Extra help is available– your teachers are pleased to assist you! The Science Office is Room F434; please make
arrangements with your subject teacher or visit tne peer tutoring in room A202 if extra help is needed.
For more information about the content of this course outline, please consult:
 Higher Level IB Biology syllabus (available in class and online)
 WRDSB’s Administrative Procedure 1660 (Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting)
 The appropriate CHCI teacher or administrator.
Signatures
Please share the information with your parents. Sign below indicating you have read and understood this course outline, including
the requirements for successful completion of this course.
Student
SBI 4UW Course Outline
Parent/Guardian
Page 2