Groth Biology

Biological Sciences
1st period (8:00-8:44)
2022-23
Instructor Information
Ms. Groth
email@school.doe

Course Information
Online Textbook Link
If requested and approved, you may receive a hard copy of the textbook for the year.
MUST BE RETURNED BEFORE THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Course Description
You will learn the biology basics that were not covered in living environments, largely focused on microbiology,
with short segments on cells and genetics.
Course Outline
Inquiry: The lessons should be organized into a conceptual framework that allows students to move from what
they already know about scientific inquiry, or think they know, to gaining a more complete and accurate
perspective on the nature of scientific inquiry.

Cells: should cover the structural and functional units of all living organisms.

Body Systems: in order to completely understand the effects different medications, diseases, events have on
the human body, it is important to better understand the "systems of the human body."

Genetics: cover the molecular structure and function of genes, with gene behavior in the context of a cell or
organism, with patterns of inheritance from parent to offspring, and with gene distribution, variation and
change in populations.

Reproduction: focus on the biological process by which new "offspring" individual organisms are produced from
their "parents". Reproduction is a fundamental feature of all known life; each individual organism exists as the
result of reproduction. The known methods of reproduction are broadly grouped into two main types: sexual
and asexual.

Evolution: focus that change over time in one or more inherited traits found in populations of organisms.
Inherited traits are particular distinguishing characteristics, including anatomical, biochemical or behavioral
characteristics, that are passed on from one generation to the next.

Ecology: focus on the study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their
natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount (biomass),
number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems.

Human Impact: in the past, human interaction with nature, although often having a disruptive effect on nature,
however, human pressure on natural environments is greater than before in terms of magnitude and efficiency
in disrupting nature and natural landscapes.

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Course Policies
 Attendance and Tardiness: Any unexcused absences will be met with a call to home. Parents, please
remember to call the front office if your child is sick. I will only be able to provide make-up work if I
know you are going to be absent.
 Late Assignment: Every class period that an assignment is missing will result in a 1 point penalty from
your overall grade. (If you turn in an assignment 4 classes late and score an 84, you will receive an 80).
 Academic Honesty/Plagiarism: If I suspect plagiarism or cheating, we will have a private meeting first.
Should the behavior continue or I catch you in the act, your parents will be called in immediately and
school administration will be informed.

Resources For Students

 Resource
 Resource
Assignments and Homework
 Homework: only assignments not finished in class or make-up work will be assigned. Regular homework
assignments will not be a part of your overall grade.
 Projects: 25%
o There will be at least one project every unit throughout the year. Projects will differ from one
another (so no, you do not have to create 17 PowerPoint presentations for this class) and may
be individual or in groups.
 Quizzes: 20%
o Quizzes will happen at the midpoint and end of each unit. With each quiz, you get the
opportunity for one retake. The better of the two scores will be inputted into the gradebook.
There is no limit to how many quizzes you can retake.
 Labs/Participation: 25%
o Labs will be a regular part of the class and will generally have a packet and/or discussion
questions/problems included. You are expected to regularly participate in class discussions as
well, this can be asking/answering questions, offering ideas, and peer review.
 Notebook: 10%
o All scientists keep a notebook where they record data and observations. In this class, you will be
required to keep a notebook throughout the year. It should be organized enough that I can
recognize where one lab ends and another begins. This is also where you will write the learning
target for each class at the beginning of the period.
 Tests: 10%
o There will only be two traditional style tests this year. One will be before the winter break in
December, and the other will be in mid-April.
 Research Project: 10%
o The last assignment for the year will be a research project. This project can be done individually
or as a group (you will all receive the same grade and will have to complete a peer review). You
will have almost complete control over this project: you can choose your topic, mode of
presentation, and how you complete the research. The only thing that has already been decided
for you is the due date: the second to last day of class.

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Course Schedule
Week Topic Assignment

1 Topic Assignment

2 Topic Assignment

3 Topic Assignment

4 EXAM #1

5 Topic Assignment

6 Topic Assignment

7 EXAM #2