Learning Recommendations:
- Entry-level life science course for identified students who are striving to learn science content and lab techniques
- A desire to gain strategies for success in high school lab science
- Counselor and administration approval required
General Description:
- This is a year-long course which fulfills a lab science requirement for graduation.
- Biodiversity is the study of organisms present in a particular ecological community, their ranges, or system.
- Students will understand genetic variations within and between species and hypothesize and research causes.
- Students will participate in labs, identify problems and approach the problem as a scientist would. Correct lab procedures, safety issues, and equipment use will be used.
- Students will develop and study models to depict a wide range of biology content.
- There is an emphasis on application standards, problem-solving, and using scientific inquiry.
- Biodiversity will prepare students to make informed decisions about health, medicine, genetics, and the environment.
- This course will prepare students to meet Literacy in Science Common Core State Standards (ELA).
- Scenarios modeling the Biology End of Course exam will help students prepare for the state exam.
- Successful completion of this course prepares students for SCI200 - Biology.
Content: Students will be actively engaged in learning and experiencing the following:
- Basic chemistry concepts, the structure of the atom, and periodic table
- Describe the formation of molecules and ions, & compounds and solutions
- Predict the outcomes of chemical reactions
- How matter cycles in ecosystems
- Interrelationships of organisms and how they affect the stability of an ecosystem
- Appreciate the human impact on limited resources and how society can protect the environment
- How cells use DNA, cell processes and structure
- Genetic variability and speciation
- Plant systems physiology and anatomy; photosynthesis
Skills taught in this course:
- Safe laboratory procedures
- Use and care of microscopes and probe ware
- Problem solving and critical thinking strategies
- Data collection and mathematical analysis
- Graphing skills: creating and interpreting (including scatter plots, exponential growth in population/survivorship graphs)
- Planning investigations, drawing conclusions and communicating clearly
Strategies: Students will learn through a combination of:
- Formative assessment probes
- Manipulation of physical models
- Inquiry-based laboratory work
- Critical thinking exercises
- Multimedia offerings (computer simulations, video features)
- Online textbook, web activities & reinforcement
- Demonstrations (teacher or student-directed)
- Student project and research
- Cooperative learning
- Interdisciplinary applications are used when appropriate/possible
- Science discourse
- Lecture
Homework: Students should expect homework assignments 1-2 times in a typical week. Often, homework will involve completion of an in-class assignment or laboratory investigation. It may also involve work from the textbook to reinforce concepts, practice worksheets, or independent research, to name a few. Additionally, students are expected to review and study on a daily basis.
Course Fee / Materials: set of colored pencils, journal or notebook, basic calculator, goggles (nitrile gloves optional)