Year at a Glance Biology I 2014-2015
Readiness, Supporting, Process TEKS
1st 8 Weeks
2 weeks
2 weeks
2 weeks
2 week
Capturing Kids Hearts and Safety in a Science Lab
( Process Skills will be taught throughout the year)
2nd 8 Weeks
2.5 week
Unit 1: Understanding life on earth
Understanding life on earth

Levels of organization: atoms elements
 molecules (TEK B.10C)

Biomolecule structure and function (TEK
B.9A) – use models (TEK B.3E)

Formation of simple molecules to complex
molecules – use models (TEK B.9A,
B9.D)

Characteristics of life

History of earth Fossil Record

Cell complexity explanations, including
Endosymbiotic Theory (TEK B.7G)

Process TEKS: B.1A, B.1B
Unit 2: Understanding homeostasis
Homeostasis in The Cell

Cell theory

Levels of organization: molecules  cells
(TEK B.10C)

Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic (organelles and
functions, mode of reproduction,
unicellular/multicellular,
autotrophic/heterotrophic, etc.) (TEK
B.4A)

Homeostasis - Movement of Materials in
cells passive and active transport
mechanisms in animals and plant cells
(TEK B.4B)

Scientists- Schleiden, Schwann, Virchow,
Hooke, Leeuwenhoek, Janssen (TEK B.3F)
Homeostasis in the Body
(examples from circulatory, excretory, nervous,
and endocrine systems)

Levels of organization: cells  tissues 
organs  systems  organism (TEK
B.10C)

Homeostasis/Regulation - Passive & active
transport in the circulatory and excretory
systems ( TEK B.4B , B.10A)

Feedback mechanisms for body
temperature and glucose levels (TEK
B.4B, B.10A, B.11A)

Specialized tissues: blood, epithelium
(TEK B.5B)

Human response to stimuli; (TEK B.10A)
2.5 week
Homeostasis in the Ecosystem: Effects of
Bacteria/Viruses

Structure of prokaryotic cell (TEK B.4A)

Structure of viruses (TEK B.4C)

Role of Bacteria and Viruses (TEK B.11C,
B.4C)
 Role of bacteria in causing
disease (TEK B.11C)
 Bacteria’s role in the Nitrogen
cycle (TEK B.12E)
 Viral reproduction (lytic and
lysogenic) (TEK B.4C)

Immune response to viruses and bacteria
(TEK B.10A)

Process TEKS: B.3C
Unit 3: Understanding energy
transformations
Energy Transformation in Animals
(examples from digestive system, respiratory,
muscular and skeletal systems)

Aerobic vs. anaerobic respiration

The matter and energy reactants and
products of photosynthesis and cell
respiration (TEK B.9B)

Structure of enzymes (TEK B.9A)

Role of Enzymes (TEK B.9C) – use models
(TEK B.3E)

Effects of temp and pH on enzymatic
action relate to the digestive system,
respiratory, muscular and skeletal systems
(TEK B.10A)

Specialized tissues & functions: muscles
(TEK B.5B)

Interactions between systems (TEK B.10C)

Homeostasis/Regulation - How systems
relate to cellular respiration

Plant cellular respiration
2 week
Energy Transformation in Plants

Specialized tissues – roots, stems, leaves
(TEK B.5B)

Transportation within plants, including
vascular tissues (TEK B.10B)

Light/dark reactions (TEK B.9B)

Reactants/products (TEK B.9B)

Carbon/oxygen cycle (TEK B.12E)

Scientists contributions (TEK B.3F)

Plant Tropisms (TEK B.10B)

Process TEKS: B.2B
1 week
Finals
3rd 10 Weeks
3 week
2.5 weeks
2 weeks
2.5 weeks
Unit 4: Understanding growth and
development
Growth and Development in a Cell: DNA /
Cell Cycle

DNA Structure (TEK B.6A) – use model
(TEK B.3E)

Function of DNA and RNA in cell
differentiation (TEK B.5C)

Commonality of genetic code (TEK
B.6B)

DNA Replication (TEKS B.5A, B.9D)

Stages and importance of cell cycle: G1,
S, G2, Mitosis
(TEK B.5A)

Disruptions to cell cycle: one example is
cancer (TEK B.5D)

Scientists- Watson, Crick, Franklin,
(TEK B.3F)
4th 10 Weeks
1 week
3 Weeks
Evolution

Elements of Natural Selection (TEK B.7D)

Natural Selection causes change in
populations (TEK B.7C)

Effects of Evolutionary mechanisms:
genetic drift, genetic flow, mutations,
recombination (TEK B.7F)

How adaptations and diversity affect
Natural Selection (TEK B.7E)

Common ancestry by fossil record,
biogeography, homologies: anatomical,
structural, developmental (TEK B.7A)

Commonality of genetic code (TEK B.6B)

Cladogram : statis, gradualism, punctuated
equilibrium (TEK B.7B)

Scientists – Darwin, Lamarck, Wallace (TEK
B.3F)

Limited resources affect survival of species
(TEK B.12D)

Pollution/Natural causes of environmental
change (TEK B.12F, B.11B)

Symbiotic relationships, predation,
competition (TEK B.12A)

Ecological Succession (TEK B.11D)

Adaptations and variations of organisms
w/in ecosystems (TEK B.12B)

Process TEKS: B.2A, B.2C, B.2D, B.3A
1 week
Classification

Define taxonomy and why it is important
(TEK B.8A)

Categorize organisms based on similarities
and differences (TEK B.8B)

Characteristics of each Kingdom (TEK
B.8C)

Scientists – Aristotle, Linnaeus (TEK B.3F)

Process TEKS: B.2E, B.2G, B.2H
1 week
STAAR EOC Review

Process TEKS: B.2F
1 week
STAAR EOC testing
2 weeks
Dissection or teacher chosen project
1 week
Finals
Growth and Development in the Body:
Meiosis/Reproduction

Meiosis (TEK B.6G)

Cell differentiation (TEK B.5C)

Human Reproduction - Specialized
tissues & functions (TEK B.10A)

Plant Reproduction - Sporophyte vs
gametophyte, Pollination (TEK B.10B)
Unit 5: Understanding heredity
Heredity in the Cell: Protein Synthesis &
Mutations

Purpose and process of transcription
and translation
(TEK B.6C)

Mutations (TEK B.6E)

DNA Fingerprinting, genetic
modifications & chromosome analysis
(TEK B.6H) – research impact (TEK
B.3D)

Gene expression(TEK B.6D)

Electrophoresis – know how to use
equipment (TEKS B.2F, B.6H)

Process TEKS: B.3B
Heredity in the Body: Genetics

Monohybrid/dihybrid Mendelian crosses
and non-Mendelian crosses including
sex-linked traits, co-dominance,
incomplete dominance, karyotypes
(TEK B.6F)

Scientists- Avery, Hershey/Chase,
Mendel (TEK B.3F)

Process TEKS: B.3E
Unit 6: Understanding biodiversity
Energy Transformation in the Ecosystem

Energy and matter flow in food chains,
webs, pyramid levels (TEK B.12C)

Population dynamics - Effects on
ecosystems of changes in food webs (TEK
B.12C, B.12F)

Process TEKS: B.3D