Hinsdale High School
Course: BIOLOGY
Teacher: Teresa L. Chirichella
Email: tchirichella@hnhsd.org
Course Description:
The course is going to be an overview of the major concepts in Biology today: Biology as a
discipline, Diversity and Ecology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Evolution, and Human
Biology.
The course is divided into 8 Units (2 Units/quarter). We will have a test after each unit and
review quizzes in between units.
Grading Policies:
Your grade each quarter will be calculated as follows:

5 % for class participation and preparedness.
 15 % Homework. Missing homework = detention (first offense)
 25 % Portfolio: Notes and vocabulary, charts and in-class assignments.
 25 % for Laboratory reports and projects
 30% Tests and quizzes
Total: 100%
What you will need: (must bring to class every day)
 3 ring binder (this year you will need to keep ALL your worksheets and assignments in
your binder)
 Notebook
 Pen or pencil
(If you wish you can store your binder and notes in the classroom so that you don’t forget to
bring them in)
Useful additional materials: Calculator, ruler (metric), color pencils and markers, glue stick,
scissors.
A Note on Discipline:
I enjoy teaching as much hands on activities and lab experiments as I possibly can. These
require that the students follow directions and use the materials provided for what they are
intended for. There cannot be ANY horsing around during labs. Students that cannot behave
appropriately will be asked to go to the office and will receive a zero for the lab.
As in any other classroom be respectful of your classmates and your teacher, raise your hand
when you want to participate and listen when the teacher is giving instructions. Please let me
know if you have any issues with the class. Usually they can be resolved.
I hope you have a good time and enjoy learning Biology this year!!!!
Course Outline
UNIT 1: The Study of Life
 Definition of Biology and its branches. Life Science Careers
 Characteristics of Life
 Levels of Organization: From Atom to Organisms.
 Tools of Biology: Types of Microscopes
 Steps of The Scientific Method
 LAB 1: Use of Light and Stereo Microscope
 LAB 2: Using the Scientific Method.
 LAB 3: Living and Non-Living Things.
 TEST 1
UNIT 2: Classification and Diversity of Living Things
 Diversity of Cells: Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells
 Prokaryotic Domains: Archaea and Eubacteria
 Domain Eukarya:
o Plant Kingdom
o Animal Kingdom
o Kingdom Protista
o Kingdom Fungi
 Viruses and Prions
 Methods of classification
 Taxonomic categories: Kingdom to species
 LAB. 4 Diversity of Plants
 LAB. 5 Diversity of the Animal Kingdom
 LAB. 6 Diversity of the Fungi Kingdom
 LAB. 7 Diversity of the Protist Kingdom
 LAB. 8 Growing bacteria from the environment
 TEST 2
Quarter Project 1: Herbarium, Insect Photographic Safari or other Diversity related project.
UNIT 3: Chemistry of Life: Biochemistry
 Elements of Living things
 Types of Bonds
 Water and solutions
 Acids and Bases
 Molecules of life: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids and Nucleic Acids
 Protein Structure
 Energy and Enzymes
 DNA discovery, structure and replication. DNA vs.RNA
 LAB 9: Water properties
 LAB 10 : Enzymes
 LAB 11: DNA extraction from Kiwi Fruit
 TEST 3
UNIT 4: Cell Structure and Function
 Discovery of the Cell and the cell theory
 Structure of a Prokaryotic Cell
 Structure of a Eukaryotic Cell: Animal and Plant Cells
 Eukaryotic cell organelles and their functions
 Structure of the Cell Membrane
 Osmosis and Diffusion
 Cellular respiration and the Mitochondria.
 Photosynthesis and the Chloroplast
 Protein synthesis: Nucleus, Ribosomes and Golgi apparatus
 Cell signaling and communication
 LAB 12: Osmosis lab
 LAB 13: Cellular respiration
 LAB 14: Photosynthesis
 TEST 4
Quarter 2 project: Making models: Cell models (prokaryote, plant or animal) Virus models,
DNA structure and replication model, Protein structure model, etc.
---------------------------------------------MID YEAR EXAM-----------------------------------------------
UNIT 5: Reproductions and Genetics:
 Cell Reproduction: Mitosis and Meiosis
 Asexual and Sexual reproduction, Life Cycles, Alternation of generations.
 Mendel and Heredity
 Human Genetics: Pedigrees and karyotypes, genetic disorders.
 DNA technology and genetic engineering: Cloning, Recombinant DNA, etc.
 LAB 15: Mitosis lab
 LAB 16: Dragon Genetics
 TEST 5
UNIT 6: Evolution and Natural Selection:
 History of evolutionary thought
 Darwin’s theory
 Natural Selection
 Speciation
 Evolutionary trees and cladograms
 LAB 17: Natural Selection lab.
 LAB 19: Making cladograms lab
 TEST 6
Quarter 3 project: Family pedigree or research a genetic disorder.
UNIT 7: Animal body plans, organs and organ systems.
 Overview of animal phyla
 Patterns of development
 Nervous systems
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Digestive system
Excretory system
Respiratory system
Circulatory system
Integumentary system
Muscular and skeletal system
Endocrine system
LABS: Dissections of different animal phyla
TEST 7
UNIT 8: Ecology: Interdependence of living things
 Populations and Communities
 Throphic levels: Primary producers, consumers, relationships in ecosystems
 Energy flow in the environment
 RIVER ECOLOGY LAB
 TEST 8.
-------------------------------------------------FINAL EXAM-------------------------------------------------