General Biology (10th Grade) Course Outline with standards
General Process Skills
SkillsCategory / Chapter / Skills / Skill Standards:
Students will be able to … /
Observation & Measurement / Observation / 1. Make accurate and detailed qualitative observations.
Measurement / 1. Select appropriate measuring devices and make accurate quantitative measurements of variables such as mass, volume, temperature and time.
Record Keeping / 1. Record data and observations accurately in neatly organized tables, including appropriate units of measurement.
Data Analysis / Quantitative Analysis / 1. Utilize a variety of statistical methods to analyze data sets, such as averaging, calculating rates and ratios, and finding uncertainty.
2. Correctly analyze data sets for averages, correlations, rates of change, central tendency, uncertainty and other patterns.
Graphical Analysis / 1. Correctly interpret graphs of data, including:
a. identifying values of points on a graph
b. calculating slopes/rates
c. identifying correlations between variables
d. locating maxima and minima
2. Correctly graph a set of data, including:
a. Selecting an appropriate type of graph, with appropriate scales and units
b. Correctly plotting points
c. Adding a best fit line
d. Indicating uncertainty
Scientific Inquiry / Scientific Method / 1. Apply the steps of the scientific method to real or hypothetical scientific investigations, including:
a. developing a hypothesis.
b. designing and conducting a controlled experiment to test a hypothesis
Research (Literature Search) / 1. Use a variety of sources to learn about scientific concepts on their own, including identifying and locating reliable sources, evaluating their value for the research task, and assembling information found into a coherent understanding.
Laboratory Skills / 1. Follow appropriate safety precautions in the lab with minimal supervision from instructor.
2. Follow a procedure with which they have been provided or which they have written themselves, with minimal supervision by the instructor. Specific skills include:
· measuring and mixing reagents
· preparing wet mount slides
· viewing specimens under the microscope
· mixing, loading and running samples for agarose gel electrophoresis
· selecting appropriate measurement/observation tools for an experimental procedure of their own design.
· See also Observation & Measurement category (above) for related Laboratory Skills.
Communication / 1. Summarize the main ideas in material they have read or researched in their own words.
2. Listen actively and appropriately to information presented orally by their instructor, other adults or peers.
3. Take appropriate notes on material presented orally and/or visually in class.
4. Describe the steps of an experimental procedure clearly and succinctly.
5. Explain scientific concepts orally and in writing.
6. Explain their reasoning or the steps they used to arrive at an answer, both orally and in writing.
7. Participate constructively in discussions one on one with peers or their instructor, in small groups and with the whole class.
8. Defend their opinions or conclusions with credible facts or data from experimental observations.
9. Critique the work of others constructively and incisively.
10. Ask appropriate clarifying or informational questions of peers, instructors or other presenters.
Specific Content Knowledge
ContentUnit / Topics / Content Standards:
Students will be able to … /
Scientific Method & The Study of Life / Biology, the Study of Life / 1. Distinguish things that are alive from those that are inanimate and explain which properties allowed them to decide.
The Scientific Method / 1. Distinguish Observations from Inferences.
2. Describe the steps of a scientific investigation.
3. Distinguish between observations, hypotheses, theories and laws.
4. Explain what a controlled experiment is.
5. Distinguish control and experimental groups, identify independent (manipulated), constant (controlled) and dependent (responding) variables in an example experiment.
6. Develop a hypothesis for an example experiment, including a prediction of results and rationale that reflects a conceptual understanding of the experiment.
7. Design an experiment with one manipulated variable that accurately tests a hypothesis.
Ecology / 1. Explain 2 or more examples of how biotic factors interact with abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
2. Describe the basic structure (i.e. trophic levels, populations & communities, niches, Pyramid of Numbers/Biomass, etc.) of ecosystems and explain how various interactions between organisms and the environment result in this structure.
3. Describe the way matter and energy flow through an ecosystem (i.e. matter is recycled and energy is not).
4. Identify and describe the major material flows in the water, carbon and nitrogen cycles.
5. Define and give examples of symbiosis, including parasitism, commensalism and mutualism.
6. Explain the effects of predation and competition on populations in an ecosystem.
7. Describe the steps of ecological succession, explain why it occurs, and distinguish between primary and secondary succession.
8. Identify the effects of pollution on an ecosystem, especially cultural eutrophication, acid rain, thermal pollution and bioaccumulation/biomagnification.
The Cell / Macromolecules & Biochemistry / 1. Explain processes like diffusion in terms of the movement of molecules.
2. State the structures, properties and functions of important macromolecules: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids.
3. Explain the functional properties of enzymes (i.e. catalysis & specificity) as a consequence of their 3-D structure.
Cell Structure and Function / 1. Describe the elements of the Cell Theory and distinguish between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
2. Explain that functions are compartmentalized within eukaryotic cells, and give 3 or more examples of functional localization in cells (e.g. describing the function of organelles such as the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, mitochondrion and/or chloroplast).
Cell Membrane, Osmosis & Diffusion / 1. Explain the structure and function of the eukaryotic cell membrane.
2. Apply the concepts of osmosis, diffusion and permeability to explain or predict the effects of environmental solute concentration on cells.
3. Understand and apply the concepts of hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions.
Mitosis & the Cell Cycle / 1. Describe the steps of the Cell Cycle, and its role in growth, development, and reproduction.
2. Explain the relationship between mis-regulation of the cell cycle and cancer in multicellular organisms.
Evolution / Evolution by Natural Selection / 1. Explain the concept of Natural Selection and how it leads to biological evolution.
2. Describe the molecular, anatomical, fossil and embryological evidence for biological evolution.
Matter & Energy Transfers in Living Systems / ATP / 1. Explain how the interconversion of ADP and ATP is used by cells as a mechanism to store and release energy for metabolic reactions.
Photosynthesis / 1. Describe the process of photosynthesis.
2. Explain the significance of photosynthesis for ecosystems.
Cellular Respiration / 1. Describe the overall process of cellular respiration.
2. Explain the purpose and significance of both lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation.
3. Distinguish between aerobic and anaerobic processes of respiration.
Homeostasis – Human Health, Anatomy & Physiology
Homeostasis / Homeostasis / 1. Explain the concept of homeostasis and give 3 or more examples of homeostasis in living things (e.g. regulating blood pressure or body temperature, or avoiding noxious stimuli through reflexes, etc.).
2. Explain how human organ systems help maintain health, especially:
a. Cardiovascular system
b. Pulmonary system
c. Digestive system (w/ emphasis on nutrition)
Human Anatomy & Physiology / 1. Describe the general structure and primary functions of the following systems:
a. Immune
b. Endocrine
c. Nervous
d. Reproductive
e. Skin (Integumentary)
2. Describe the role of human organ systems during growth and development.
Inheritance and Molecular Biology / Mendelian Inheritance / 1. Explain that genetic information is encoded and transferred from one generation to the next through the DNA of chromosomes.
2. Apply the concepts of Mendelian inheritance to solve simple monohybrid and dihybrid genetics problems.
Non-Mendelian Inheritance / 1. Apply the concepts of sex-linked inheritance, codominance, incomplete dominance and multiple alleles to solve simple monohybrid and dihybrid genetics problems (e.g. A/B/O blood-type problems).
Inheritance in Humans / 1. Apply the concepts of inheritance listed above to solve simple monohybrid and dihybrid genetics problems related to human inheritance (e.g. A/B/O blood-type problems, color-blindness, etc.).
Meiosis / 1. Describe the process of meiosis.
2. Explain how meiosis relates to gametogenesis and the inheritance of traits.
DNA Structure & Function / 1. Describe the structure and function of DNA.
2. Describe how DNA is packed into chromosomes.
3. Explain that DNA encodes the information necessary to make proteins, which, in turn, determine an organism’s traits.
Replication / 1. Describe the process by which DNA is replicated.
Protein Synthesis / 1. Describe the main ideas of how DNA is transcribed into mRNA, which is then translated into protein by ribosomes.
Bio-technology / Gel Electro-phoresis / 1. Describe various applications of biotechnological techniques such as transformation, restriction digest of DNA and gel electrophoresis.
DNA Finger-printing / 1. Separate mixtures of DNA fragments using agarose gel electrophoresis and analyze the results.
Gene Therapy &
Transformation / 1. Carry out a simple bacterial transformation.
Text: Biology: The Dynamics of Life, (1998). Glencoe-McGraw Hill; Westerville, OH.
MIHS Science Dept. 9/8/2008 pg. 1