BIOLOGY II CURRICULUM GUIDE
UNIT
1. ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
CONCEPTS/QUESTIONS
What are the limitations of
technology?
What is carrying capacity?
What is the relationship between
human population growth and
key ecological problems?
ILLINOIS LEARNING STANDARDS*
12.B.4a, 4b
12.B.5a
13.B.4c
13.B.5d
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student reading:
Videos
*Illinois state learning standards
for science referred to are found in
appendix 1.
Activities: Demographic calculation
2. INTRODUCTIONS TO ANATOMY How does anatomy and physiology
AND PHYSIOLOGY
differ from other branches of
science?
How do feedback loops maintain
homeostasis?
How is the human body positioned,
sectioned, and referenced for
anatomical study?
11.A.5a, 5b
12.A.5a
13.A.5b
3. BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
11.A.5c
12.A.4b
12.A.5a
12.C.4b
12.C.5a
How do organisms function at the
molecular level?
How are anabolism and catabolism
interrelated?
What differences exist between
four major categories of biologically
important organic compounds?
What environmental factors affect
enzyme activity?
DELIVERY
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 1
Activities: Torso Model
(text for this class refers to
Introduction to the Human Body
Gerard J. Tortora & Sandra
Reynolds Gradbowski
2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New York)
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 2
Lab activities: Measuring pH,
environmental factors affecting
amylase
UNIT
CONCEPTS/QUESTIONS
ILLINOIS LEARNING STANDARDS
DELIVERY
4. CYTOLOGY
What functions are performed by
the major cellular organelles?
What processes transport materials
into and out of cells?
What metabolic processes occur
in a typical cell?
How does DNA regulate cell
function?
How do cells reproduce?
12.A.4a, 4b
12.A.5a, 5b
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 3
Videos
Lab activities: Osmosis & diffusion
5. HISTOLOGY
What structural and functional
differences are present in human
tissues?
What issues arise in tissue and
organ transplantation?
12.A.4b
13.A.4c
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 4
Lab activities: Human tissues
6. SKELETAL SYSTEM
What are the functions of the
skeleton?
What are the parts of a typical long
bone?
How does ossification convert
cartilage to bone?
How do fractures heal?
What range of motion is permitted
by each of the major types of
joint?
12.A.4a, 4b
13.A.5a, 5b
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 7
Videos
Lab activities: Skeleton Lab
UNIT
7. MUSCULAR SYSTEM
CONCEPTS/QUESTIONS
What are the functions of muscle?
How does skeletal muscle contract?
How is energy supplied for muscle
contraction?
What are the stages in a typical
muscle twitch?
ILLINOIS LEARNING STANDARDS
DELIVERY
12.A.4a
Lecture
12.A.5a, 5b
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 8
Videos
Activities: Learn major muscles and
their actions
Lab activities: Blood pressure lab
8. NERVOUS SYSTEM
How is the human nervous system
12.A.4b
organized?
12.A.5a, 5b
How do neurons differ in structure
13.B.5d
and function from other cells?
How are nerve impulses generated
and conducted?
How do reflex arcs operate?
What functions are centered in each
major brain region?
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 9 & 10
Videos
Lab activities: sheep brain
dissection
9. EYE AND VISION
What role do the structures of the
eye play in producing vision?
How are visual defects caused and
corrected?
12.A.4b
12.A. 5a, 5b
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 10
Videos
Lab activities: cow eye dissection
10. EAR, HEARING AND
EQUILIBRIUM
What role do the structures of the
ear play in hearing and balance?
How are sound waves produced?
What characteristics of a sound
wave determine pitch, loudness
and timbre?
12.A.4b
12.5a, 5b
12.c.4a
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 10
Activities: Harmonics and tuning
forks
UNIT
CONCEPTS/QUESTIONS
ILLINOIS LEARNING STANDARDS
DELIVERY
11. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
What role do the structures of the
digestive tract play in mechanical
and chemical digestion?
How are the breakdown products of
digestion absorbed?
12.A.4b
12.A.5a, 5b
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 16 & 17
Videos
Lab activities: Fetal pig dissection
12. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
What role do the structures of the
respiratory system play in gas
exchange?
12.A.4b
12.A.5a, 5b
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch. 15
Videos
Lab activities: Fetal pig dissection
13. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
What role do the structures of the
cardiovascular system play in
delivering nutrients and oxygen
to body cells?
What are the major components of
blood?
12.A.4b
12.A.5a, 5b
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: text ch.12, 13
& 14
Videos
Lab activities: Fetal pig dissection
14. INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
What are the structural and
functional characteristics of skin,
hair and nails?
12.A.4b
12.A.5a, 5b
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: ch. 6
Lab activities: Fetal pig dissection
UNIT
CONCEPTS/QUESTIONS
ILLINOIS LEARNING STANDARDS
DELIVERY
15. URINARY SYSTEM
How do the kidneys filter the blood?
12.A.4b
12.A.5a, 5b
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: ch. 18
Lab activities: Fetal pig dissection
16. ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
What are the locations of the major
endocrine glands?
What hormones are released by
each?
12.A.4b
12.A.5a, 5b
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: ch. 11
Lab activities: Fetal pig dissection,
sheep brain dissection
17. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
What are the structural and
functional characteristics of the
male and female reproductive
organs?
What are the major steps in
fertilization, implantation, and
early development of humans?
12.A.4b
12.A.5a, 5b
Lecture
Classroom discussions
Student readings: ch. 19 & 20
Videos
Lab activities: fetal pig dissection