Senn High School
-IB Biology I HL / SL2015-2016 Course Syllabus
Teacher Name: Ms. Flanagin
Teacher Email: edflanagin@cps.edu
Schoology course code: QF48W-3HHW5
Course Description: IB Biology is a class that spends two years focusing on biology and the chemical reactions that occur
within living organisms. During the two years students will be required to do at least 60 hours of laboratory work, some of
which will have to be completed outside of classroom hours. Students are also required to complete a and group IV project
during their senior year. At the end of year two students will take three papers (tests) to judge how much of the content they
have grasped. This, along with their laboratory work, will determine if they get an IB diploma. This is separate from the
Senn grade.
Prerequisites: Junior who has been approved by class teachers and IB coordinators to enter the IB diploma program
Methods of Instruction: Inquiry laboratory experiences, lecture, discussion, group work
Expected Outcomes: Demonstrate an understanding of scientific facts and concepts, scientific terminology, methods and
techniques. Apply and use scientific facts and concepts, scientific terminology, methods and techniques. Construct and
analyze hypotheses, research questions, predictions, and scientific explanations. Demonstrate the personal skills of
cooperation, perseverance, and responsibility. Demonstrate manipulative skills necessary to carry out scientific
investigations with precision and safety.
Learning Strategies: Vocabulary infusion, bell ringers, Cornell notes, reading strategies, and lab reports
Evaluation:
20%
30%
40%
10%
Classwork (bell ringers, informal assessments, reading strategies, group work)
Labs (including Internal Assessment, IA, projects)
Assessments (quizzes, tests—5th, 10th, 15th, 25th, 30th, and 35th week common course, standards-based
assessments, 1st and 2nd semester assessments, projects)
Homework
Required Text/Materials:
 3” binder
 TI-84 Scientific Calculator
 Pen and/or Pencil
 IB Biology text books and supplemental reading materials. (Junior year: When Science Goes Wrong and
Napoleon’s Buttons. Senior year: Survival of the Sickest).
 Lab Notebook (grid-ruled composition notebook)
 Notecards and Shoe Box
Additional Course Information: This is a very rigorous class. Students should expect to spend some time on Biology
homework and/or studying every night. Some labs will need to be completed outside of class time. Students may also need
to make appointments to complete course work. It is also important that when students don’t understand they are pro-active
and get help with assignments and labs before or after school, or during their lunch periods. Having internet and/or
computer access at home is also strongly recommended.
Attendance Policy: Per CPS attendance policy, “Students who have unexcused absences in 20% [18 days] of the classes in
a particular course during the period for which a unit of credit is earned shall not pass the course and shall receive no credit
towards promotion.” Therefore, 18 days of such absence will result in failure of the course.
Standards Alignment: This course is aligned to the Common Core Standards for Reading and Writing in Science
Technical Subjects and the College Readiness Standards. Most students come in scoring between a 15-20 on the science
portion of the ACT. The goal is to get students above a 20 before they take their ACT in the spring of their junior year.
Date: ___________________
Student Signature: _______________________________________
Parent Signature: _______________________________________
Summary of Topics and Timeline: IB Biology Diploma Program Course (Revised 2016 Syllabus)
Core topics are required for all IB biology students (standard and higher level). Two option topics are also required for all
students. Additional higher level (AHL) is required only for higher level students.
Semester 1 Content (Grade 11)
Chapter
Topics
--
Statistical Analysis (Core)
4
Ecology (Core)
(communities, ecosystems, green house effect, populations, carbon cycle)
5
Evolution and Biodiversity (Core)
(natural selection, cladistics, classification)
1
Cell Biology (Core)
(cell theory, cell structure, origin of cells)
2
Molecular Biology (Core)
(chemical elements and water, carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, enzymes)
7
Nucleic Acids (AHL)
(proteins and enzymes)
Semester 2 Content (Grade 11)
Chapter
1
2
7
3
10
Topics
Cell Biology (core)
(Membranes, cell division)
Molecular Biology (Core)
(photosynthesis and cell respiration, DNA structure, replication, transcription and translation)
**IA Lab **
Nucleic Acids (AHL)
(DNA structure, replication, transcription, translation)
Genetics (Core)
(chromosomes, mutations, meiosis, theoretical genetics, genetic engineering and biotechnology)
Genetics and Evolution (AHL)
(meiosis, inheritance, dihybrid cross, gene linkage, polygenic inheritance, gene pools and speciation)
Semester 1 Content (Grade 12) – Subject to Change for 2015-2016 course
Chapter
6
A
Topics
Human Physiology (Core)
(digestion, transport system, defense against infectious disease, gas exchange, nerves, hormones,
homeostasis, reproduction)
**Group IV Project**
Neurobiology and Behavior (Core/AHL)
(Neural development, the human brain, perception of stimuli, innate and learned behavior,
neuropharmacology, ethology)
Semester 2 Content (Grade 12)
Chapter
11
9
8
Topics
Animal Physiology (AHL)
(immunity, muscles, kidney, reproduction)
Plant Biology (AHL)
(structure, growth, transport, reproduction)
Metabolism, Cell Respiration, and Photosynthesis (AHL)
(chemical reactions in detail)