IB Biology Higher Level Year 2
Ms. Tonja Weimer
tweimer@sturgischarterschool.org
I.
Course Goals IB Biology HL2 is the second year of a two-year course. The major goal is a broad, general understanding
of the principles of biology. This course will enable students through the overarching nature of sciencefrom the use of a variety of methodologies, creativity and imagination to the collection and analysis of
evidence with emphasis on reflection as a basic learning tool. The study of IB Biology aims to lead
students to appreciate the interconnectedness of life within the biosphere. With a focus of understanding
the nature of science, the course will allow students to develop a level of scientific literacy that will better
prepare them to act on issues of local and global concern, with a full understanding of the scientific point
of view. (Adapted from Oxford Biology, 2014)
 Intentions:
Welcome back to IB Biology! It is my intention that at the end of the course that every student will have
an appreciation of the study of life.
 Science is highly collaborative and the scientific community of people working together. I am hoping
to achieve an environment where every student can work together and help each other. Collaboration
is necessary in many of the activities we will be doing in class- from note taking, performing a lab to
sharing and communicating lab results.
 It is important that in our course, the integrity and honest representation of data should be practiced
thereby, ensuring academic honesty.
 We should all be aware of the moral, ethical, social, economical and environmental implications of
using science and technology and exert our best effort to contribute to class discussions so we may all
learn from them.
 Essential Questions:
 What are living things?
 How does structure relate to function?
 How do living things interact internally, with other organisms, and with their environment?
 How do continuity and change lead to evolution of living organisms?
II.
Course Content:
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IB Biology HL Core Topics
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Genetics
Ecology and biodiversity (Topic 5)
Human physiology (Topic 6)
IB Biology AHL Topics
Nucleic acids
Metabolism, cell respiration, and photosynthesis
Plant Biology (Topic 9)
Genetics and evolution (Topic 10.3)
Animal Physiology (Topic 11)
IB Biology Option Topics (only one will be selected to study- Year 2)
Neurobiology and behavior
Biotechnology and bioinformatics
Ecology and conservation
Human physiology
Skills:
 Analysis of results from experiments involving biological procedures.
 Use of the compound light microscope and other scientific tools, including micrographic visuals to
reinforce content learned.
 Research and experimental skills including designing a lab, data collection, analysis, evaluation and
communication of results.
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 Apply mathematical skills including basic arithmetic functions, calculations involving means,
decimals, fractions, percentages and ratios, interpretation of various forms of graphs, correlation
between two variables using plot graphs, statistical analysis of data.
 Use of information technology
 Being aware of moral, ethical, social, economical and environmental implications of using science
and technology.
Cross Disciplinary Connections (with examples) include links to other natural sciences (Group 4
Project), mathematics (IA data analysis, solving pedigrees), ethics (Living vs. non-living, IB animal
experimentation policy, stem cell research), history (classical experiments, key scientists), social sciences
(lactose intolerance, diet and health around the world), literature (technical writing and fictional accounts
of biological concepts), and visual arts (biological illustration, animation of cellular processes).
III.
Teaching Strategies and Resources:
Learning experiences will include student and teacher-designed hands-on laboratory or field investigations,
cooperative group work, student presentations, and authentic problem solving, drawing, labeling and
annotating scientific diagrams, reading beyond the text. Teaching strategies will serve to model the nature of
scientific work and to meet the needs of students with diverse learning preferences.
Resources will include the text Pearson Baccalaureate Higher Level Biology 2nd Edition by Pearson, IB Study
Guides: Biology for the IB Diploma by Allott (Oxford University Press), as well as lab equipment, the
Internet, scientific journal and news articles, teacher handouts, video, and simulation computer program.
IV.
Extra-help: Tuesdays, starting at the end of the fall sports’ season, 3:30- 4:15 PM, and Thursday during
lunch from 12:00-12:25 during the fall sports’ season. Extra help sessions can also be scheduled by
appointment before school, small break, and/or lunch.
V.
Assessment:
Grades will be based on formal quizzes and tests (60%), labs and projects (30%), class participation and
homework (including informal quizzes) (10%).
 Formal Quizzes and Tests. Formal quizzes are normally announced at least one day in advance and
evaluate material covered over 1-4 lessons. Tests are usually announced at least one week in advance and
evaluate material studied over two or more weeks. Questions will model a variety of types of IB Biology
examination questions.
 Lab activities (for Internal Assessment)/Projects may include teacher and student-designed lab
investigations, data collection and analysis, drawing inferences, and evaluating methods and the quality of
data.
 Class Participation. Students are expected to engage in a range of tasks, including note-taking, Internet
research, presentations, review, class discussions and working cooperatively with their fellow students.
This will be assessed every meeting and grades will be cumulative for each week.
 Reading (Informal) Quizzes are part of the homework/participation category. Serious effort is essential
and completion of reading assignments. Reading quizzes will be given the following meeting after a given
reading assignment is assigned. Students can seek help beyond class time or via teacher email.
NOTE: Attendance and adherence to deadlines are important to successful progress in the course. Regular
absences and late or missed assignments without excuse will have a detrimental impact on the grade earned in
the course. NO assignment will be accepted after two days past the due date.
VI.
Required daily materials:
 Textbooks (specific titles as needed)
 One three-ring binder with section dividers for notes, handouts, and tests for each topic
 Calculator for calculations, data entry and statistical analysis
 Blue or black pen, pencil, set of colored pencils and a straight edge (15-30cm ruler)
VII.
Tests and Quizzes and External Assessment (EA)
Test and quiz responses will be marked at IB standards. Generally, the value of multiple-choice questions
(MCQ) is 1 mark, while longer written responses vary from about 3-9 marks. Short-answer questions,
extended-response questions and data-based questions (DBQ) are often comprised of multiple parts, and the
total value may range from a handful to roughly 20 marks. Mark values are typically shown in [ ]. You
should keep in mind that IB marks positively; that is you earn marks for what you show you know. Marks are
always shown as positive numbers, never deductions.
External Assessment is a set of examinations that a student will be taking at the end of year 2. There are three
papers (Exams). Paper 1 will comprise 40 multiple-choice questions that will cover both core and additional
high-level topics. Paper 2 will include DBQ, short-answer and extended response questions from the core and
additional high level topics. Paper 3 will include short answer questions based on experimental skills and
techniques, analysis and evaluation from the core material. It will also include short-answer and extendedresponse questions from the option we have learned in class.
VIII.
Internal Assessment (IA):
Internal assessment is ONE individual investigation to be carried out by the student sometime during the
course of the two-year program. This investigation requires at least 10 hours of research, data collection,
analysis and evaluation and is worth 20% of your overall IB Biology grade. This investigation will be
assessed against marking criteria common to all IB Group 4 subjects (except the trans-disciplinary ESS). The
IB assessment criteria rubrics will be given and discussed in class.
The students are also required to complete 60 hours of lab practical work in the course of the 2-year program.
These labs and hours will be reports to the IBO at the end of year 2.
IX.
Academic Honesty (as stated in the IB course guidelines):
This course requires academic honesty; therefore, all work that you submit must be your own. If you use any
outside sources, they need to be correctly documented. Any form of cheating is unacceptable and will result in
a zero (0) grade for the work, no matter how large the assignment. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:
 Copying another person’s work in and out of school
 Submitting another person’s work or ideas as one’s own (including internet and other sources)
 Stealing tests or quizzes
 Bringing unapproved texts and media into an examination
X.
Feedback pledge:
Teacher feedback on your work is a two-way street. As a student, you have the right to expect feedback and
comments in a timely fashion so that you can make progress and improvement while that topic/skill is still
relevant. As a teacher, I have the right to expect that you will carefully consider my comments and act upon
them. There is no excuse for making the same mistake over and over.
That being said, feedback on class participation in activities and homework submitted on time will be updated
on School Brains weekly and/or before the end of the unit; feedback on major tests with teacher comments
and given marks shared within one rotation cycle of the class schedule. Marked IA’s expect a minimum of a
three week turnaround.
IB Biology HL 2
IB Biology HL 2: Year 2 Topic Sequence
 Ecology (T 5)
o Species, Communities and Ecosystem
o Energy Flow and Carbon Cycling
o Climate Change
 Genetics (T 10.3)
o Gene Pools and Speciation
o Genetic Modification and Biotechnology
 Group 4 Project
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Internal Assessment Lab Investigation (10 hours)
 Plant Biology (T 9)
o Transport in the Xylem of Plants
o Transport in the Phloem of Plants
o Growth in Plants
o Reproduction in Plants
 Human Physiology (T 6)
o Digestion and Absorption
o The Blood System
o Gas Exchange
o Defense Against Infectious Disease
o Neuron and Synapses
o Hormones, Homeostasis and Reproduction
 Chosen Option Topic
 Review of all Year 1 and Year 2 course material throughout both semesters