VCE Biology: Sample Teaching Plan

VCE Biology Units 1 and 2: 2016–2020; Units 3 and 4: 2017–2021 SAMPLE TEACHING PLAN

VCE Biology: Sample teaching plan

Sample Course Outline – VCE Biology Unit 3: How do cells maintain life?

Note: This is a sample guide only and indicates one way to present the content from the VCE Biology Study Design over the weeks in each school term. Teachers are advised to consider their own contexts in developing learning activities: Which local fieldwork sites would support learning in the topic area? Which local issues lend themselves to debate and investigation? Which experiments can students complete within the resource limitations of their learning environments? When will the practical investigation that crosses Units 3 and 4 be scheduled?

Week / Area / Topics / Learning activities
1 / How do cellular processes work? / Plasma membranes (fluid mosaic model of the cell and movement of substances across it; role of organelles in protein export through exocytosis; endocytosis) / · Model construction: fluid mosaic model to represent plasma membrane
· Experiment: movement of a variety of biomolecules and inorganic substances across a membrane
· Simulations and modelling: exocytosis and endocytosis
· Electron micrographs and ‘process line’: Meet the organelles
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3 / Nucleic acids, proteins and genes (nucleic acid functions; proteome; protein diversity, function and synthesis; DNA and RNA structures; gene expression; structural and regulatory genes; enzymes) / · Investigation: extraction and electrophoresis of DNA using fruits and vegetables
· Modelling: dipeptides and polypeptides
· Modelling of proteins: myoglobin, insulin and haemoglobin
· Comparison: structures of DNA and three forms of RNA
· Games and interactive tutorials: gene structure and regulation
· Animations: enzyme activity and inhibition
· Experiments: enzyme activity
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6 / Photosynthesis (purpose; chloroplasts; inputs and outputs of light dependent and light independent stages; factors affecting rate) / · Microscopy: comparison of cells with specialised functions
· Experiment: photosynthesis (light wavelengths and radish/spinach/lettuce)
· Model construction: chloroplasts and mitochondria
· Experiment: respiration in germinating and non-germinating pea seeds
· Experiment: manipulation of an enzymatic reaction of the Krebs cycle
· Comparison of processes of photosynthesis and respiration
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8 / Respiration (purpose; mitochondria; inputs and outputs of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain)
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10 / How do cells communicate? / Cellular signals (signalling molecules; stimulus-response model; apoptosis; disease – cancer; use of monoclonal antibodies in treating cancer) / · Models: signal transduction for hydrophilic and hydrophobic signals
· Multimodal presentation: researched examples of apoptosis
· Animations: cancer as a result of apoptosis malfunction
· Graphic organiser: monoclonal antibody mechanisms for treating cancer
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13 / Responding to antigens (antigens and allergens; cellular and non-cellular pathogens; role of lymphatic system in the immune response; innate and adaptive immune responses)
(From Unit 4) Biological knowledge and society (mode of action and effectiveness of antibiotics and antiviral drugs) / · Animations and simulations: immune response
· Problem-solving: immunity scenarios
· Microscopy: micrographs and direct microscopic examination of disease-causing organisms
· Experiment: effect of antiseptics and antibiotics on bacterial growth
· Graphic organiser: similarities and differences in the actions of antibiotics and antiviral drugs
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16 / Immunity (natural and artificial immunity; active and passive strategies for acquiring immunity; vaccination; deficiencies and malfunctions of the immune system – multiple sclerosis; HIV and pollen allergies) / · Exhibition: immunology zoo of immune system components
· Respond to the video ‘The Vaccine War’
· Annotations of online investigations: student-selected animations and simulations related to immunity
· Research: immune system disorder (jigsaw activity)
· Media response: view immune system scenarios
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18 / Unit revision
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