Course Syllabus

WELCOME TO MRS. JACKSON’S BIOLOGY CLASS

GOALS OF BIOLOGY

·        To awaken and maintain the joy and awe of learning about living organisms and their interactions with the environment

·        To develop life-long scientific learners able to apply scientific inquiry skills to every area of life.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

·        Appreciate the great diversity of life on earth

·        Investigate the interactions of living organisms through scientific inquiry

·        Describe how biology affects all aspects of life

·        Understand how humans function and how they fit in with the rest of the world

·        Equip students with the knowledge needed to help sustain the planet’s web of life

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE

SUBJECT	TIME FRAME
Lab safety and equipment use, Scientific method and experimental design, Microscopes, and Characteristics of living organisms	FIRST SIX WEEKS
Cells and organization, Water and organic compounds, and Cell transport	SECOND SIX WEEKS
Cell energy (ATP, photosynthesis, respiration), Energy flow, Cell Reproduction, DNA, and Protein synthesis	THIRD SIX WEEKS
Genetics, Patterns of heredity, Human heredity, Genetic engineering, Evolution and Natural Selection	FOURTH SIX WEEKS
Classification and kingdoms, Viruses and microorganisms, Invertebrates, and Vertebrates	FIFTH SIX WEEKS
Human Systems and Plants	SIXTH SIX WEEKS

SUPPLIES NEEDED

·        2” or 3” ring binder with filler paper

·        3-ring pocket inserts/dividers

·        pocket folder

·        black ink pens and pencils

·        markers or colored pencils

·        3 rolls of paper towels

·        index cards

Supplies are to be replaced as needed

GRADING GUIDELINES

                              Student semester grades will be based on the following criteria:

                                    Test scores                                                  (60-200 pts each)     30%

                                    Quizzes -Including Pop-Quizzes                (15-50 pts each)        10%

                                    Labs                                                               (30-200 pts each)      30%

                                    Projects/Research Reports                     (100-400 pts each)    15%

                                    Homework                                                     (10-40 pts each)       10%

                                          Homework assignments will be checked daily for completeness and indicated on a homework grade sheet kept by the teacher.  Homework points will be totaled every 3 weeks

                                   Other - Do It Nows, etc.                                (10-100 pts each)       5%

                                   Semester Exams                                      (10-15% of the semester grade)

                            This course follows the Zachary Community School System non-honors grading scale and all grades are cumulative.

94-100 =A; 88-93 =B; 78-87 =C; 70-77 =D; 0-69 =F

Dates for all make-up work will be assigned by the teacher on Thursdays after school unless other arrangements have been made.  All make-up tests will be essay.  Failure to make-up assignments in a timely fashion will result in a ‘0’ on course work.  Each student is responsible for making up the assignments- not the teacher.  If the student is given an assignment prior to being absent, the assignment is due immediately upon returning to school.  All absent students are expected to visit the teacher website to obtain notification of assignments missed.  If the student has all the necessary supplies and information to complete the assignment while they are out; then, the assignment is due upon returning to school the next day.  For instance, if the students were given 10 terms to define for homework and these terms are listed on the website; then, the absent student should have the 10 terms defined and ready to turn in upon returning to school.

Cheating in any way is prohibited.  Violators will be given ‘0’s.  Copying word for word work from homework, books, encyclopedias, peers, computer programs and the Internet is prohibited.  Never paste direct copies of work created by others- with the exception of graphics- into an assignment.  Individual work of any kind should never be identical in any way even if a study group was involved.  This is stealing and is a violation of school policies. 

DAILY ROUTINE

·        Students are to sit down immediately upon entering the classroom and complete the Do It Now (DIN) in the DIN section of the binder.

·        All other activities will be noted on the board and explained by the teacher.

BIOLOGY COURSE RULES AND REGULATIONS

1.      Be in your assigned seat before the tardy bell rings.  Please remain seated unless you have permission to do other wise or until the teacher dismisses you.  The teacher dismisses class – not the bell.

2.      All supplies and covered books are to be brought to school daily.  There are no extra books for class use.  If you don’t bring your book to class, you will receive a ‘0’ on that day’s assignment.  Surprise supply and book checks will be given for homework points.

3.      Don’t engage in any activities that inhibit the learning process.  Heads on the desk and sleeping in class is prohibited as is personal grooming, writing notes and talking with out permission. 

4.      Neglecting rules 1-3 will result in 2 warnings followed by parental contact.  A referral will then be issued if the negative behavior is not corrected.

5.      All lab safety rules and regulations must be followed.  There will be no warnings concerning deliberate disobedience of lab rules and regulations.  Rules prohibiting horseplay in the laboratory setting will be strictly enforced.  Students will immediately be removed from the lab activity and will be given a ‘0’ on that particular lab assignment.  Laboratory time for repeat offenders will be revoked and referrals will be issued.

6.      All students are always expected to be courteous and respectful.

TEACHER INFORMATION

            E-mail address:   tonya.Jackson@zacharyschools.org

            Website address:  http://teacherweb.com/LA/ZacharyHighSchool/MrsTJackson/

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