Course Syllabus

Biology Part II

Dear Parents and Students,

I would like to welcome you to biology class. I look forward to teaching this class and hope you will gain much useful information from the lessons and lab activities. In the following paragraphs, you will find information that will be useful during the course of the trimester. Please let me know if you have questions or concerns.

Course Description:

            This course is a comprehensive biology course which includes the study of taxonomy, bacteria, viruses, protists, fungi, plants, and the various phyla of animals.

Instructor:

            Jackie Donaldson

                        Room: C-1102

                        Phone: 734-3923 (work) or 739-5679 (home)

                        E-mail: jdonaldson@cullmancats.net

                        Planning: 5th (1:51-3:05)

Course Objectives:

1.      Students will select appropriate lab equipment and perform safe procedures when using equipment, specimens and chemicals.

2.      Students will identify the reactants and products associated with photosynthesis and cellular respiration and the purposes of these two processes.

3.      Students will distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and give examples in each category.

4.      Students will describe locomotive structures of cells and organisms.

5.      Students will compare sexual and asexual reproduction of various organisms.

6.      Students will differentiate between the previous five-kingdom and current six-kingdom classification systems.

7.      Students will sequence taxa from most inclusive to least inclusive in the classification of living things.

8.      Students will understand how to use a dichotomous key.

9.      Students will identify ways in which specific organisms are both helpful and harmful.

10.  Students will distinguish among the taxonomic groups by major characteristics.

11.  Students will distinguish between monocots and dicots, angiosperms and gymnosperms, and vascular and nonvascular plants.

12.  Students will describe the histology of roots, stems, leaves and flowers.

13.  Students will recognize chemical and physical adaptations of plants.

14.  Students will differentiate structures, function, and characteristics of plants.

15.  Students will classify the various phyla of animals according to structure, symmetry, body coverings, locomotion, etc.

16.  Students will differentiate structures, functions, and characteristics of animals.

17.  Students will give examples of mimicry, camouflage, hibernation, etc.

Course Content:

1. Course lectures/notes and power points with each unit of study.
2. Bell-work.
3. Class discussions.
4. Quizzes involving terminology/labeling/concepts from each unit of study.
5. Tests on material from each unit of study.
6. Possible notebook quizzes on selected topics.
7. One comprehensive final exam covering material from all units of study.
8. Lab activities and/or dissections for specified units of study.
9. Computer and library research/projects for selected units.

Course Requirements and Evaluation:

            Grades will be determined based on the points system. Each assignment, quiz, test, etc. will be worth an assigned point value. Students may calculate averages by dividing the points earned by the points possible. Trimester exams are worth 20% of the final grade, while each six-week average constitutes 40% of the final grade. Progress reports will be sent after the first three weeks of each six week period. Report cards will be sent out at the end of each six week period.

(90%-100%=A. 80%-89%=B, 70%-79%=C, 60%-69%=D. below 60%=F)

Materials:

1. one 3-ring binder (~1?)

2. pencil and black or blue ink pen

3. notebook paper

4. colored pencils (for artwork and lab activities)

5. one small box of latex free gloves (for dissections)

6. two large packs of index cards (optional bonus added to exam grade)

*Required text will be provided for student use.

Absence Policy:

            Students are expected to attend class regularly. Any class session missed reduces the academic opportunities of the student and may adversely affect the grade achieved in the course. Students are responsible for all material covered during the class and lab sessions. Make-up exams and labs should be arranged with the instructor. Labs provided by Science in Motion are often not available for make-up, so students who are absent on lab days may be given an alternate assignment.

*The attendance and tardy policies of Cullman High School will be followed in this course.

Responsibilities:

1. Enter the classroom or laboratory quietly and respectfully. Absolutely no loud talking or horseplay.

2. Be in assigned seat with required materials, working on bell-work when tardy bell rings.

3.  Keep your area clean both in the classroom and lab.  Eating and drinking in the lab are not allowed.  Drinks with a lid are fine in the classroom.  Students are not allowed to leave class to go to the vending machines.

4.  Put away any unrelated materials.

5.  Computers are to be used only during designated times. 

1^st offense-warning/conference after class or at break

2^nd offense- 15 minutes of time owed before school

3^rd offense- 30 minutes of time owed before school

4^th offense- office referral

·         Severe behavior such as profanity, fighting, damaging property or any behavior that is determined to be dangerous to the student or their peers will result in an immediate office referral.

·         Please remember that no student will be allowed to distract others from learning.  Be on your best behavior at all times.

Restroom:

            Each student will be allowed three restroom visits per six weeks. If you feel your child needs more allowed visits, please contact me or send a note. This policy is to maximize class time as in most cases students will have time for restroom breaks between classes, at break, and after lunch.  Students who use more than the allotted breaks will be asked to make up the time at break.

Accommodations:

            Requests for accommodations are welcomed for students whose personal characteristics require specific instructional and testing conditions. Please make certain the instructor is aware of any special needs such as seating requirements, medical conditions, etc.

Once again, I am very excited about this course and hope each and every student has a successful year. Please fill out, sign, and return the lab safety contract which also acknowledges the syllabus. I truly hope everyone has an outstanding trimester and please let me know if I can help you in any way.

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                                    Jackie Donaldson