Biology
Early College Academy 2015-2106
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This course is divided into two semesters. Semester one is is designed to provide an excellent
foundation in cellular structure and function influent d3llulq4 p4od3ww3wthe second semester is
designed ot introduce the student to the diverse organisms that cohabitate with humans on the planet.
Instructor:
Dr. Mary-Anne Richards
(970) 348-5843
mrichards1@greeleyschools.org
B.S. Life Sciences
Colorado State University Ft.Collins
M.S. Applied Genetics
Texas A&M University College Station
M.A. Teaching Gifted and Talented
University of Northern Colorado Greeley
Ed.D. Science Curriculum and Instruction Design University of Northern Colorado Greeley
2015 - 2016 Biology Unit Outlines
There maybe changes as term oges on as to activities, Rubrics and schedule by
date will be posted separately
Unit 1 – Ecology
Major Activities:
 Biodiversity Experiment (Leaf Bag), pond critters
 Biome Project
 Create a continent! Biome component
Unit Outline:
A. Introduction to Biology
a. Characteristics of Life
i. Sewer Pods or Sammy Story
b. Scientific Method
i. Practice worksheets
ii. Design an experiment
B. Ecology
a. Biodiversity (Leaf Pack at PLC—booklet included)
i. Biotic/abiotic factors—in booklet
ii. C/N/P cycles—Nitrogen game, videos, worksheets
iii. Trophic levels
iv. food webs
v. energy pyramids
b. Populations (included in Biome Project)
i. Introduction—hierarchy activity
ii. Richness/evenness-- Bird Island activity
iii. Density dependent/independent factors – Dominos Demo
iv. Population growth curves
v. carrying capacity
c. Communities (included in Biome Project)
i. Interactions (symbiosis, predator/prey, competition, keystone species,
etc.)—Soaring Eagle lab
Biology
Early College Academy 2015-2106
ii. Succession
d. Ecosystems
i. Biome Project
1. Water cycle (review)
Ecology Common Unit Exam
Unit 2 – Energy and Matter
Major Activities:
 Carbon Experiment
 Enzyme Lab with enzyme supports in understanding
 Photosynthesis and cellular respiration labs
Unit Outline:
1. Biomolecules
a. Review of basic atom bonds
b. Polymers/Subunits
c. Carbohydrates, Protein, Lipids: happy meal lab
2. Enzymes
a. pH scale – cabbage juice demo
b. Enzyme Lab – Enzymes vs. the Environment Lab
c. Digestive system
3. Cell Transport
a. Cell membrane structure
i. Receptor proteins and drugs
b. Passive Transport
i. Carrot lab/potato lab/egg lab
ii. Roots, leaves, stems and turgor pressure (water properties)
c. Active Transport
i. Pumps, endo/exocytosis
ii. pHet simulations
d. Osmoregulation (homeostasis – focus)
i. Salt vs. fresh water fish activity
Assessment (Cellular Transport Quiz) optional, not common
4. Carbon Book – Carbon cycle (radish growing project)
a. Photosynthesis
i. Chloroplast structure and leaf anatomy
ii. Floating leaf disk lab/ elodea lab
b. Cell Respiration
i. Mitochondria and leaf anatomy
ii. Light/ dark chamber with probes
c. Fermentation
i. Yeast balloon
Cellular Energetics Common Unit Exam
Semester 2
Biology
Early College Academy 2015-2106
Unit 3 – Genetics
Major Activities:
 Genetic Resolution Essay and Philosophical Chairs
 Karyotype who did it lab
 Geneman
Unit Outline:
1) DNA (DNA Extraction Lab)
 Structure (Build a paper model)
 Replication
2) Cell Cycle
 Phases (G1, S, G2, M, Cytokinesis)
 Controls (check points)
3) Asexual/Sexual Reproduction
 Mitosis
o Process (paper plate mitosis, comic strip)
o Purpose (asexual reproduction – exact copies)
 Meiosis
o Process (compare/contrast with mitosis)
o Purpose (sexual reproduction – male/female gamete production)
o Crossing Over
o Non-disjunction
Assessment (Cell Cycle/Reproduction Quiz) optional, not common
4) Protein Synthesis (Ancient Language Translation, Protein Coloring Activity)
 Transcription
 Translation
 Proteins
o “Fruit Loop” Protein creation Lab
Assessment (Protein Synthesis Quiz) optional, not common
5) Genotype/Phenotype
 Genotype/Phenotype Lab
 Let’s Make a Baby
 Should This Dog Be Called Spot (Quiz)
6) Genetic Engineering Resolution Project (West MYP Unit)
 Essay
 Philosophical Chairs
7) Probability
 Probability Lab (penny flipping)
 Punnett Squares
o Monohybrid Cross (Westonia genetics, Sponge Bob genetics)
o Dihybrid Cross (Snake Genetics)
8) Special Case Genetics (Practice Packet)
 Co-Dominance
Biology
Early College Academy 2015-2106
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Incomplete Dominance
Sex-Linked Characteristics
9) Pedigrees
 Reading
 Building
Genetics Common Unit Exam
Unit 4 – Evolution
Major Activities:
 Evidence for Evolution Stations
 Rat/Squirrel island
 Walk in the footsteps
 Skull comparison lab
Unit Outline:
1) Genetic Variation
 Mutations (Monstrous Mutations, Mutation Appreciation)
 Effects on population
2) Natural Selection (Peppered Moth Lab, Wolves and Bunnies)
3) Artificial Selection (Cosmos Video “Samurai Crabs”)
4) Evidence for evolution (Evidence for Evolution Concept Map)
 Anatomical Evidence (Skull Lab)
o Homologous Structures
o Analogous Structures
o Vestigial Structures
 Biochemical Evidence (Gorilla Lab)
 Fossils
 Relative Dating
5) Microevolution (Immunity and Drug Resistance)
6) Co-Evolution (PBS video “Evolutionary Arms Race”)
7) Speciation (Salamander Speciation Lab)
 Gradual Equilibrium
 Punctuated Equilibrium
8) Cladograms
9) Human Evolution (Neanderthal the Rebirth Video)
Evolution Common Unit Exam
Biology
Early College Academy 2015-2106
Grading System:
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
90% + = A
80-89.9% = B
70-79.9% = C
60-69.9% = D 00-59.9% = F
THERE IS NO INDIVIDUAL EXTRA CREDIT WORK WILL BE OFFERED. IF EXTRA
CREDIT EXISTS IT WILL BE OFFERED AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE ENTIRE CLASS AS
A WHOLE
Assessments (Quizzes and Exams)
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Quizzes will be given frequently to assess your progress with the daily material.
Cumulative exams will be given with prior notice, including a comprehensive final exam.
Projects and lab reports.
Dishonorable conduct during an assessment will result in a score of ZERO.
Assignments
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70% of course grade
30% of course grade
Daily activities and skill building
Vocabulary for each unit will be expected and will be in weekly quiz
Lab activities and other hand-on activities to gain skills .
Deadlines and due dates will be announced during class.
Late assignments will be accepted for partial credit (70% of original value) and only within
the time frame of the current topic being studied. . It is the wish of the instructor that all
students turn in all assignments on time. However. Circumstances may arise which makes
this complicated, see attendance. Any assignment not submitted for reasons other than an
absence (for example just not doing it) will be given a grade of zero. The instructor reserves
the right to declare when assignments are due, and assignments are due on that day and
during the class period.
Additional instructional support:
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Students are expected to utilize the academic support time and tutors provided within the
daily schedule, if support beyond the regular class period is needed.
Additional support from instructor is available by appointment.
Please email or call if you ever have ANY questions.
Check the class page on the Early College Academy webpage for assignments, resources,
etc.
Check your grade at least once a week on the Early College Academy webpage (Infinite
Campus Portal).
Biology
Early College Academy 2015-2106
Attendance:
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Your first and strongest strategy for success is to fully participate in class EVERY DAY!
Excused Absences - Planned: If you will miss class because of a planned event, i.e. school
activity, family event, doctor’s appointment, you must get the day’s assignment prior to your
absence. This work is due on the same due date given to the rest of the class. Maintaining
this practice will ensure that you are keeping up with your classmates in the learning of the
content.
Excused Absences - Unplanned: If you miss class because of an unexpected event, i.e.
illness, family emergency, check the website and/or contact Mrs. Rupple by phone or email
for your assignment. You are allowed two days for each class missed to turn in your make-up
work.
Unexcused Absences: If your absence from school is unexcused, you are still required to
make up any work missed, but are only entitled to partial credit for that work (50% of
original value). This applies to any work missed, assignments or assessments.
At 4 and 8 absences from this class, the teacher will call home/email parents.
After the 4th day of absence, a letter will be printed from IC and will be sent home/emailed.
After the 7th day of absences, a letter will be printed from IC and will be sent
home/emailed.
After the 10th day of absences, the district will be notified as per truancy law, and the
student may be referred to truancy court.
Tardiness:
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Students are expected to be in their seats, prepared to begin class, at the appropriate time.
If tardy, students will be expected to stay either 10 minutes at the beginning of lunch OR 10
minutes after school ON THE DAY OF THE OFFENSE. If it becomes a problem I will adjust to
encourage professional behavior.
Repeated tardiness will be referred to the administration for disciplinary action, as defined
by the policies of Early College Academy.
Behavioral Expectations:
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RESPECT
Mutual respect and courtesy among all members of this classroom community – teachers,
students, tutors, administrators, visitors, etc.
Respect of the learning environment including the building, all equipment and furniture, etc.
Music devices and cell phones ARE NOT allowed in the classroom; it is your responsibility to
ensure that the device is silenced and stored. Violation of this policy shall result in confiscation
of the device. Confiscated devices shall be returned to you in accordance with the policies of
Early College Academy.
Water is allowed. No food or other drink is allowed in the classroom.
Personal needs must be addressed during the passing period; only emergent needs will be
dealt with during the instructional class period.
Standards of behavior and dress will otherwise be aligned with the current student handbook.
Food and Drink Policy:
Students are allowed to have a bottle beverage in the classroom provided that the following
two rules are followed.
1) The bottle must have a screw on lid (such as a standard bottle of water) which is to
remain closed when not being drank from.
Biology
Early College Academy 2015-2106
2) The bottle must be set on the floor, closed and out of the way while not being drank
from. These rules exist so that students may be comfortable in the classroom, while
maintaining a clean, dry work area. Further, this is for the preservation of Academy
provided laptops.
Should these rules not be followed, the instructor reserves the right to take away this
privilege.
At no time will food/candy/gum be allowed in the classroom.
Accommodations:
If you have a special need, an accommodation that works best for you please let me know. You do
not need to tell me in class, see me before school, after school or write me a note.
Students are expected to be active and responsible participants in their own education.
Biology
Early College Academy 2015-2106
______________________________________
Student Name (Please Print)
________________
Period
I have read and agree to comply with the policies for this course.
Student Signature
ID #
Date
I have read and agree to support my student in complying with the policies for this course.
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
E-Mail Address: (please print) ___________________________________________________
Cell phone number: _______________________________
Home phone number: ______________________________
Please list any comments or concerns I should be aware of: