BIOLOGY

SYLLABUS
2014-2015

Instructor:
E-Mail:
Tutoring:
Website:

Ms. Auble
bauble@mustangsla.org
W/F: Flex; F: after school or by appointment
www.mustangsciences.weebly.com

School Phone:
Class Location:

(323) 261-7124
Room 208

I.

Course Description
The purpose of this course is to provide exploratory experiences, laboratory and real-life applications in the biological
sciences. The content includes the nature of science (matter, energy, and chemical processes of life); cells (biology,
reproduction, and communication); genetics (principles, molecular basis, diversity, and biotechnologies); structure,
function, and reproduction of plants, animals, and microorganisms; behavior of organisms (interdependence of
organisms, humans, and the environment); biological selection, adaptations, and changes through time.
Laboratory investigations are an additional, and integral, part of this course and include the use of scientific research,
measurement, laboratory technologies, and safety procedures.

II.

Course Objectives
Through inquiry, students in this course will learn to discover, describe, and apply the following principles, or big ideas,
of biology:
a.
The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.
b.
Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, reproduce and maintain dynamic
homeostasis.
c.
Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes.
d.
Biological systems interact and their interactions possess complex properties.

III.

Required Texts and Materials

th

EasyWriter. Lunsford, AA. 4 Edition. ISBN - 978-0312583880

Internet access*
Email Address**
Spiral Notebook (for notes)
1.5 Inch Binder
Binder Dividers
Dry Erase Marker

Pens/Pencils
Colored Pencils
Agenda
$20 Lab Fee
Kleenex box

*If Internet access is not available at home, it is the expectation that the student will utilize available Internet
opportunities at a local library or at school (before or after school, or during breaks)
**Email addresses will be provided by the school as of the 2013-14 school year.

Materials must be obtained and brought to class each day by the end of the second week of school. Materials checks can be
administered at any time during the year. Lack of preparation for class because of missing materials will affect the students
participation/preparedness grade.

IV.

V.

Supplementary Texts and Materials (NOT MANDATORY, BUT MAY BE HELPFUL)

Prentice Hall Biology: Student Edition. 2008. Miller and Levine. ISBN: 978-0132013499
Prentice Hall Biology Workbook
Boundless Online Biology Textbook (Free text resource online)

Grading Policy ***

Grading Category
Homework/Classwork
Tests/Quizzes
Labs/Activities/Projects
Participation/Preparedness

% of Final Grade

30%
30%
30%
10%
100%

*** Grades will be kept up to date on AERIES ***

Homework/Classwork
You will be required to complete various assignments both in class and as homework. These assignments are
designed to prepare you for upcoming activities and/or provide you with practice using skills or concepts that have
been introduced in class. Remember, all of your assignments will lead to a major lab reports, project and/or
assessment. Be sure to save all work, keep organized and avoid falling behind. Assignments will be graded
according to the provided rubrics and instructions.

Tests/Quizzes
Throughout the course, you will take both comprehensive Unit Exams and shorter Quizzes that will consist of
multiple choice, matching, completion, short answer, and essay-type questions. Unit exams are typically worth
between 40 and 60 points; quizzes are typically worth between 1 and 30 points. You will be given at least one week
prior notice before a Unit Exam, and typically less than one week notice for Quizzes. Study guides for Unit Exams
will always be provided.

Labs/Activities/Projects

Laboratory investigations are an additional, and integral, part of this course and include the use of scientific
research, measurement, laboratory technologies, and safety procedures. Lab reports will always follow a
laboratory experiment, and must adhere to the provided lab report guidelines. Prior to entering the lab, a student
must pass the Lab Safety Test with 100% proficiency and sign a Lab Safety Agreement.
Additionally, projects and activities will occasionally be assigned to better and more creatively assess student
learning. All projects and activities will be accompanied with rubrics.

Participation/Preparedness
In order to succeed in this course, it becomes vital to actively engage with the subject matter. Therefore, students
will be held accountable for in-class participation and preparedness. Students will begin each semester with 100
total participation/preparedness points; points will be deducted following any infraction, such as but not limited to
sleeping, unexcused tardies or absences, material preparedness, warm-ups/exit-slips, etc.

VI.

Additional Grading Policies

Late Work Policy: Late work will be graded according to the following table:
One day late
Less than one week late
More than one week late

10% deduction of total points

25% deduction of total points
50% deduction of total points

Extra Credit Policy: Any student seeking extra credit must schedule an appointment with teacher. No student
with any missing work may acquire extra credit. Extra credit opportunities are also sporadically provided in class.

VII.

General Policies & Expectations

Student Expectations: Students will

1. Respect yourself and others; strive to build community in the classroom.
2. Follow laboratory procedures to ensure your safety and the safety of others around you.
3. Be punctual and prepared with necessary materials, a positive attitude, and a willingness to explore.
4. Challenge yourself to do better than your best.
5. Resist distractions (cell phones, iPods, off-topic conversations, eating, chewing gum, etc.).
Teacher Expectations: The teacher will
1. Come to class prepared and with a positive attitude.
2. Strive to clearly explain concepts, assignments, and expectations with the mindset of students achieving subject
mastery.
3. Encourage inquiry by making time for questions and discussion.
4. Return assessments with constructive feedback and in a timely manner.
5. Consistently model behaviors that ensure a safe, inclusive community.
Bellwork: At the beginning of class students will enter the room, remove the materials they need for the day (notebook, pen,
pencil, plus anything extra written on the board), turn in any completed homework, stow their backpacks, and find their seat.
Students will be working on the bellwork when the bell rings. Bellwork prompts will be answered on Bellwork sheets
distributed by the instructor. Bellwork sheets will be collected when all six spaces have been filled out. Bellwork prompts
will not be available from the instructor after class. Absences from a Bellwork assignment must be made up by asking
another student for the prompt.
Restroom Policy: Students will be able to use the restroom up to eight times per semester using bathroom passes distributed
at the beginning of each semester. Any remaining bathroom passes at the end of the semester will be added to the
paraticipation/preparedness grade, one point per remaining bathroom pass (up to eight points). Students are encouraged to use
break and lunch times to use the restroom.
Absences: Students who are absent from class will have one extra day to complete their assignment per day of class missed.
Students will notify the teacher of any pre-planned absences. Missed work can be found in the folders in the student
resources area marked by period. Students who miss class are responsible for picking up these materials.

Header: Assignments must be formatted with the following header in the upper right hand corner.
Name
Class, Period #
Date
Assignment Title

VIII.

E.g. Ms. Auble

Biology, Period 1
August 19, 2013
Syllabus

Schedule

Qtr

Unit

Units of Study

Major Assessments/Projects

Nature of Science and Life

Unit 1 Exam (Chapters 1 and 2)

Lab Safety Test

Labs(s):
Introductory Lab

Ecology

Unit 2 Exam (Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6)

Labs(s): Comprehensive Ecology WebQuest
Project and Presentation

Population Ecology Lab

Nutrient Cycling Lab

Biome Project

3, part 1

Evolution, Darwin, and Natural Selection

Evolution, Part 1 Unit exam

Labs(s): Natural Selection Peppered Moth
Simulation Lab

Bird Beak Adaptation Lab

Evolution, Part 2 Unit Exam
3, part 2

Evidence of Evolution and Speciation

Chemistry of Life

Comparative Embryology Activity

Comparative Anatomy Activity
Biochemical Evidence Activity
Fossil Evidence Activity
Water chemistry Quiz
Macromolecules Quiz
Chemistry of Life Unit Exam

Lab(s): Properties of Water Lab
Properties of Enzymes Lab
Macromolecule Stations Activity

Food lab Re: Macromolecules

Cells and Membrane Transport

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Cycle and DNA Replication

Mendellian Genetics

Protein Synthesis

Unit Exam

Lab(s): Diffusion and Osmosis Lab
Cell Analogy Project


Unit Test on Photosynthesis
Unit Test on Cellular Respiration

Lab(s):
Photosynthesis Exploration Lab
Factors that Affect Photosynthesis Lab
Cellular Respiration Exploration Lab

Cell Cycle Unit Test
DNA Structure Candy Activity
DNA Replication Quiz
Mitosis Quiz

Unit Exam
Monster Genetics Lab
Pedigree Project
Protein Synthesis Unit Test
DNA vs. RNA Structure Quiz
Transcription Quiz
Translation Quiz

10

Plant Classification, Anatomy and

Physiology

Lab(s): Transcription modeling activity
Translation Modeling Activity
Mutation Modeling Activity

Plant Classification Quiz
Plant Anatomy Quiz
Transpiration Lab
Plant Project

Return page to Ms. Auble for 10 points

STUDENT: I have read, understand, and agree to abide by this course syllabus for this
class 2014-2015.

Name (Printed): ___________________________________ Period: ____________

Student email address: _________________________________________________

Signed: ____________________________________ Date:____________________



PARENT/GUARDIAN: I have read, understand, and agree to the course syllabus.

Name (Printed): __________________________________________________________

Relationship to Student: ____________________________________________________

Signed: ____________________________________ Date: ________________________


1st Parent/Guardian email: _________________________________________________

1st Parent/Guardian phone #: _______________________________________________

Languages Comfortable Speaking: ____________________________________________


2nd Parent/Guardian email: _________________________________________________

2nd Parent/Guardian phone #: _______________________________________________

Languages Comfortable Speaking: ____________________________________________

Note to the teacher from Parent/Guardian:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________