 Dear Parents and Guardians:   If you have any questions, pleasecontact call me 313-3661

I am pleased to have your child in my class this year. I would like to share with you the course description, grading policy, class procedures and expectations, and safety guidelines. Please go over these pages with your child to make sure they understand what is expected in this class. When completed, please sign and return this paper. Also, please write down your phone numbers & email addresses so that we can stay in touch.

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Important items that deserve your attention again.

Late work will only be taken when there is an excusedabsence approved by the attendance office. Forgetfulness, lack of motivation, or any other excuse will not be tolerated.

Exams and quizzes make up 50% of overall grade.

Grades are NOTupdated daily. Grades are updated every two weeks.

As much as possible, this will be a “paperless” classroom. What this mean is majority of your child’s work will require the use of a computer with internet access. Most of the work will be started and even completed in the classroom but there maybe times where your child will need access to the computer at home.

I expect everyone, including myself, to follow the classroom rules & expectations at all times. Theseare designed to help me teach & more importantly, help your child get the best education possible.

Your child is expected to sign and abide the science laboratory contact (see below)

*********************************Science Laboratory Contract*********************************

I ______will follow all safety guidelines and classroom rules set forth byMs. Henriques.

(print last name, first name)

IF /
  • I do not follow the classroom procedures, safety guidelines, and rules,
  • I do not follow directions from the teacher,
  • My behavior is disruptive to the learning environment of myself or others,
  • My behavior presents a threat to the physical safety of myself or others,

THEN / I will not be allowed to perform the activity or laboratory exercise,
I will receive a “0” for the activity or lab, and
I will be given an alternative written assignment as a consequence.
$$MONEY MATTERS$$ / $$ I will be financially responsible for any equipment that I lose or damage as a result of carelessness and/or off task behaviors$$

______

We have read through, understand, and agree to the course policy, rules and expectations required for Ms. Henriques’ class.

We also understand and agree that in order to provide an effective, safe learning environment, student need to abide by the laboratory contract.

Student’s NameStudent’s SignatureDate

Parent/Guardian’s NameParent/Guardian’s SignatureDate

Parent/Guardian #1 / Daytime phone number / Best time to call / Evening phone number / Best time to call
Parent Email Address:
Parent/Guardian #2 / Daytime phone number / Best time to call / Evening phone number / Best time to call
Parent Email Address:

Department: Science (course – BIOLOGY) SY: 2015-2016

TEXT: Biology, by Miller & Levine Saul Brecher, Devlyn Henriques, Kathy Okumoto-Miller, Peter Rossman

Biology Syllabus

Quarter 1 / Tools and procedure (CH. 1)
Lab Safety Symbols, precautions, in the lab rules
Proper use of lab equipment
Microscope
Scientific Method (CH. 1)
Controlled Experiment (CH. 1)
Control of the experiment
Control group and experimental group
Independent variable
Dependent variable / Characteristics of Living Things (CH. 1)
Living vs. nonliving
Virus
Hierarchy of life
Atom Biosphere
Linnaeus’ Levels of Classification (CH. 18)
Finding order in diversity
Kingdom & domains
The chemistry of life (ch. 2)
Nature of matter
Carbon compounds
Chemical reactions & enzymes / Q1 ends:______
Quarter 2 / Cells (CH. 7)
Prokaryotic cells (archae vs. bacteria) & Eukaryotic cells (plant vs. animal)
Organelles & function
Organization
Transport
Bio energy(CH. 8)
Energy and life
Photosynthesis, An overview…reactants and products / Cellular respiration (CH. 9)
An overview…reactants and products.
Aerobic cellular respiration and anaerobic fermentation
Ecology
What is ecology
Energy flow (food chains/web)
Cycles of matter (water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) / Q2 ends:______
Quarter 3 / Cell growth and division (CH. 10)
Cell Cycle
Mitosis
Meiosis
Genetics (CH. 11)
Gregor Mendel
Punnett Square / Meiosis
DNA & RNA (CH. 12)
DNA
Chromosomes & DNA replication
RNA & protein synthesis
Mutations (Gene & Chromosome)
Gene regulation / Q3 ends:______
Quarter 4 /

Genetic engineering (CH. 13)

GMO
Cloning
Electrophoresis
The human genome (CH. 14)
Human heredity
Human chromosomes
Human molecular genetics / Evolution
Origin of species
Darwin
Evidence of evolution
Evolution of populations
Speciation
Patterns of evolution / Q4 ends:______

Quarter 1 – design a controlled experimentQuarterly Project

Quarter 2 – research and presentation of a specialized eukaryotic human cell with accompanying model.

Quarter 2 – create a human organ system t-shirt.

Quarter 2 – alternate…semester 1 review project (examples: design a board game, standards book, teach a review session)

Quarter 3 – research and presentation of a human genetic disorder/disease.

Quarter 3 – design a transgenic organism.

Quarter 4 – alternate…semester 2 review project (examples: ABC of biology, board game, standards book, teach a review session.