SAMPLE COURSE OUTLINE
BIOLOGY
GENERAL YEAR 12
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2015/13034v3
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Sample course outline
Biology – General Year 12
Unit 3 and Unit 4
Semester 1 – Unit 3 – Reproduction and inheritance
Week
Key teaching points
Reproduction
1–2
3
Asexual reproduction
 asexual reproduction (binary fission, budding, vegetative propagation, cuttings, bulbs, tubers,
spores, parthenogenesis)
 plant propagation by asexual reproduction
 observation of yeast cells
 use of the microscope
Cell division
 mitosis
 use of the microscope to observe growing root cells
 meiosis
Sexual reproduction
 types of gametes
 fertilisation (restoring the diploid number)
4–6
Life cycle of a flowering plant
 alternation of haploid and diploid stages
Reproduction in flowering plants
 structure and function of parts of the flower
 dissection of a variety of flowers (real or virtual dissections)
 mechanisms of pollination
 human facilitation in pollination of native plants
 seed dispersal – agents for dispersal and adaptations, self-dispersal mechanisms
 adaptations of Australian plants to regular burning – seed dispersal and recolonisation
 requirements for germination
 use of smoke-water to promote germination in native Australian plants
Task 1: Science inquiry – Reproduction in flowering plants
7–8
Animal reproduction
 reproductive structures for external and internal fertilisation
 timing of reproduction
 strategies for survival of offspring, including parental care and number of offspring
Life cycles of animals
 life cycle of insects/amphibians and Australian marsupials
 pest control based on knowledge of life cycles
Task 2: Test – Reproduction
Sample course outline | Biology | General Year 12
2
Week
Key teaching points
Inheritance and change
9–11
12–14
15
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
 structure and function of DNA
 models of DNA
 genes
Mutations
 gene
 chromosome (structure and number)
Sex determination
 genetics
 influence of environmental conditions (temperature, day length)
Task 3: Science inquiry – Structure of DNA
Variation and Natural selection
 causes of variation
 selection pressures
 survival and reproduction
Task 4: Externally set task – A task set by the SCSA based on the following content from Unit 3 –
<teacher to insert information provided by the Authority>
Task 5: Extended response – Natural selection
Selective breeding used in animal husbandry
 agriculture/horticulture/domestic pets
Local ecosystem study
 introduction to citizen science
 identification of local environmental project/scientific data collection
 liaison with relevant groups to form partnerships/involvement in projects
Task 6: Test – Inheritance and change
Sample course outline | Biology | General Year 12
3
Semester 2 – Unit 4 – Ecosystems and eco-issues
Week
Key teaching points
Local ecosystem study
1
Long-term project
 planning/links to agency or community organisation
Ecosystems
 definition and characteristics
 types of ecosystems
2–4
Energy flow
 flow of energy
 biogeochemical cycling
 food chains/webs
 trophic levels
Long-term project
 data collection
5–7
Communities and populations
 relationships in communities competition, predation, symbiosis
 population size, density and carrying capacity
 community structure and composition
Long-term project
 data collection and collation
Task 7: Test – Ecosystems
8–10
Biodiversity
 unique WA biodiversity
 World Heritage areas – Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef, Purnululu National Park
 biodiversity hotspots
 keystone species
 bioindicator species
Task 8: Extended response – Case study
11
12–14
15
Long-term project
 data collection and collation
Threats to biodiversity
 habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation
 spread of invasive species
 unsustainable use of natural resources
 climate change
 burning/fire
 aquatic ecosystems and water flows
Task 9: Test – Biodiversity
Long-term project
 complete and submit report
 present findings to local government, agency or community group
Task 10: Science inquiry – Long-term project
Sample course outline | Biology | General Year 12