SAMPLE COURSE OUTLINE
BIOLOGY
ATAR YEAR 11
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Sample course outline
Biology – ATAR Year 11
Unit 1 and Unit 2
Semester 1 – Ecosystems and biodiversity
Week
1
Key teaching points
Describing biodiversity
 Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2013
 A 100-year Biodiversity Strategy for WA
2–3
Classification
 Purpose–why classify organisms
 Taxonomy–naming groups
 Major groups–five kingdoms
 Using dichotomous keys
Start Task 1: Investigation – The effect of fire on ecosystems (fieldwork/camp/long term
investigation). Alternative activities may include rocky shore, beach succession, freshwater or
terrestrial community study.
4–5
Ecosystems
 Components of ecosystems
 Naming ecosystems
 Types of ecosystems
 Studying ecosystems and communities
6–8
Interactions in ecosystems
 Food chains and food webs
 Relationships–predation, competition, symbiosis, collaboration and disease
 Keystone species
Task 2: Test – Describing biodiversity
9–10
Ecosystem dynamics
 Flow of energy
 Cycling of matter–carbon and nitrogen
11–13
Population dynamics
 Populations–definition, ecological niches
 Size, density, composition and distribution
 Carrying capacity
 Monitoring populations
Task 3: Extended response – Population dynamics
14
Change in ecosystems
 Natural changes–daily, seasonal (migration routes), succession
 Fire
 Impact of human activity
 Modelling the impact of change
Task 1: Investigation – fieldwork/camp/long term investigation due
15
Conservation
 Sustainability
 Strategies used to maintain biodiversity
 Monitoring and managing ecosystems
 International agreements–World Heritage, biodiversity hotspots, migration routes
Task 4: Test – Ecosystem dynamics
16
Task 5: Semester 1 examination
Sample course outline | Biology | ATAR Year 11
2
Semester 2 – From single cells to multicellular organisms
Week
1
2–3
4
5–6
7
Key teaching points
Cells as the basis of life
 Cell requirements
 Composition of organisms
 Metabolism
Cell structure and function
 Cell theory
 Prokaryotes and eukaryotes
 Specialised structures and organelles in eukaryotic cells
Microscopy techniques
 Development of microscopes
 Use of microscopes
 Preparation of slides
 Interpreting images
Task 6: Practical – Microscopes
Cell membrane
 Fluid mosaic model
 Movement across membranes
 Factors affecting exchange of materials across membranes
Task 7: Practical – The cell membrane
Enzymes
 Models of enzyme activity
 Factors affecting enzyme activity
 Using probes technology and computer analysis
Task 8: Practical – Enzyme action
Photosynthesis
 Balanced chemical equation
 Light-dependent reaction – simple equation and site
 Light-independent reaction – simple equation and site
 Factors affecting rate of photosynthesis
Task 9: Test – Cells as the basis of life
8–9
Cellular respiration
 Balanced chemical equation
 Aerobic respiration
 Anaerobic respiration
 Factors affecting rate of respiration
Task 10: Extended response – Current research for the production of food, beverages and biofuels,
and breakdown of rubbish, involving the control of cellular respiration and photosynthesis
10
Multicellular organisms
 Hierarchical structural organisation
 Ethical treatment of animals
Gas exchange
 Exchanging gases with the environment
 Gas exchange in animals
 Gas exchange in plants
11–12
Nutrient acquisition and processing
 Nutritional requirements of animals
 Digestion
 Features of digestive systems
 Specialisation related to diet
Sample course outline | Biology | ATAR Year 11
3
Week
13–14
Key teaching points
Transport systems
 Features of transport systems
 Types of transport systems in animals
 Transport systems in plants
15
Plant adaptations to minimise water loss
 Temperature and water balance in vascular plants
 Adaptations of terrestrial Australian plants
Task 11: Test – Multicellular organisms
16
Task 12: Semester 2 examination
Sample course outline | Biology | ATAR Year 11