Course Overview

High School Biology is a fundamental survey of Biology designed to provide students with a solid foundation in life processes and organismal biology.   This course is aligned with California State Standards.

Course Goals

The main goals of this course are for students to:

1. Demonstrate analytical thinking skills by working cooperatively on labs and research assignments
2. Demonstrate the ability to rework complicated facts and concepts into models that students understand
3. Understand the basic life processes of living organisms, including human beings
4. Develop skills necessary to make informed decisions as scientifically literate adults

Course Objectives

In this course you will:

1. Design experiments, test hypotheses, and formulate written results and observations
2. Become familiar with the major conceptual fields of Biology:  including Ecology, Human Physiology, Genetics, Evolution, and Zoology.  Molecular Cell Biology will be integrated throughout the course within context.
3. Utilize diverse note taking techniques to organize information:  including concept maps, flow charts, comparative data tables, outlines, and diagrams
4. Be held responsible for knowledge gained from independent reading assignments through written and oral responses

Materials

You will need to bring the following materials to class everyday:

• 3-ring binder for THIS CLASS ONLY, with separate sections for class notes, labs, and graded assignments that have been returned
• Loose-leaf, 3-hole, ruled notebook paper (not spiral bound)
• Pencils and Pens
• Colored Pencils
• A basic calculator for labs and grading calculations

Text and Readings

Each student will be assigned a copy of Glencoe’s Biology:  An Everyday Experience.  Additional supplementary reading will be distributed as needed throughout the year.

Notebooks

The ability to keep a complete and organized notebook is one of the most important skills that high school students should master.  It is essential that you keep all of your assignments organized in your 3-ring Biology binder.   Never throw away (or recycle) any of your work.  You will need all of your assignments for notebook quizzes several times throughout each quarter.   

Assessments

A variety of assignments will be given including (but not limited to) quizzes, tests, papers, lab write-ups, review questions, and projects. At the end of each quarter, your grade will be calculated by dividing the points earned by the total points possible.  You will monitor your own grade throughout each quarter by recording your scores as assignments are returned.   

The following grading scale will be used:

      A+: 97.5 and above A: 93.5 to 97.5   A-: 89.5 to 93.5

      B+: 87.5 to 89.5  B: 83.5 to 87.5   B-: 79.5 to 83.5

      C+: 77.5 to 79.5  C: 73.5 to 77.5   C-: 69.5 to 73.5

      D+: 67.5 to 69.5  D: 63.5 to 67.5   D-: 59.5 to 63.5

      F: 0.0 to 59.5 

Mid-term and Final Exams

Comprehensive exams will be given at the end of the second and fourth quarters.  Scores on the mid-term and final exams will be averaged into the student’s overall grade for the quarter in which they are given.

Science Fair Requirement

Completion of a science fair project is a requirement of this class.

Students, and parents, will be given more information about the science fair project several weeks into the first quarter. 

Absences

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get and complete any work you have missed.  In general, for EXCUSED absences due to illness or emergencies, you will have one day for each day you are gone to complete the work.  If you are absent for more than 2 days, please call the school to request make-up assignments.  If you know that you will be absent ahead of time, please arrange to get your work before you go.  In any case, upon your return, you will need copies of all the class notes and handouts you have missed for exams and future assignments.   

If you are absent from science class (for any reason)

1^st  Find out what we did and what was for homework

2^nd Check the HANDOUT BINDER for any Handouts you may have missed

3^rd Complete and TURN IN all missing assignments

If you are absent on the day of a test or quiz, you should plan on making up the test or quiz after school following your absence.   If this is not possible, you are responsible for making other arrangements.  Except in the case of an extended EXCUSED absence, all missed tests or quizzes must be made up within one week of the original test date.
 

Late Work

Late work will not be accepted for credit unless accompanied by a late work pass.  Each student will be given 2 passes each semester that may be used, during that semester, at the student’s discretion. With a late work pass, an assignment will be accepted without penalty for up to 5 school days after the due date.  These passes can be found in your Student Reference Guide.  To redeem a late work pass, you must show the teacher your completed assignment along with the late work pass and obtain the teacher’s initials.  Lost late work passes will not be replaced.       

Students who turn in all work on time throughout the semester can redeem unused late work passes for extra credit at the end of each semester.

Lab Information

A portion of this lab science course will consist of hands-on science activities that involve inquiry, observation, analysis, and write-up.  Safety is of the utmost importance during science lab.  Please be aware that you may be asked to secure long hair or loose clothing during lab time.  For some labs, safety goggles and/or gloves may be required.  Any student not following safety directions during lab time will be removed from the lab and will earn zero points for that activity.  Remember, there is no eating, drinking, or chewing gum in a working science laboratory.

Classroom Rules

All WCS rules apply in the science classroom. In addition:

1. Be in your seat and silent at the start and end of class.
2. Only one person talks at a time.
3. Behavior that interferes with another student’s learning or the teacher’s teaching will not be tolerated.
4. Follow all safety instructions the first time they are given.

 

The consequences for choosing not to follow the rules are:

1^st  incident – Reminder

2^nd incident – Blue slip

Major infractions of school or classroom rules will result in a referral (orange slip).

Assignments

Readings, chapter questions, and other homework assignments will be due every MONDAY.  Other assignments, including more long-term projects, will have specific due dates that may not necessarily fall on a Monday.