Timpview High School

Biology Curriculum Outline - Biological Sciences Credit 1.0

Unit / State Core Standards / Essential Questions / Prerequisite Skills / Content / Activities and Assessment / Term
Science Processes / See State Science Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO’s)
1. Science process skills
2. Scientific Attitudes
3d. Problem solving
4a. Evidence, inference, conclusions
6. Nature of Science, Technology / 1. What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?
2. How do scientists study the natural world in which we live? / 7th & 8th Grade Core ILO’s
1. How do humans affect ecosystems? How do ecosystems affect humans?
2. How does energy flow through ecosystems? How is energy lost through an ecosystem.
3. How do organisms interact within ecosystems? How do abiotic factors affect organisms?
4. How does matter cycle through an ecosystem? / 1. Science Methods
observation, gathering data, experimentation, graphing, modeling, inferences, evaluation and conclusions, use of technology
2. Characteristics of Life
3. Levels of Organization / 1. Microscope Use and Observation Skills
2. Data gathering and evaluations - Heart Rate Lab
3. Metrics and Graphing
4. Experiment Design Lab - Isopods / Term 1
Week 1- 3
Ecology / State Biology Core Standard I
Interactions of Living Organisms and their Environment.
1. Energy Flow - Food Chains, Food Webs, Food Pyramids
2. Cycling of Matter
3. Human Impact on Ecosystems
4. Interactions and Relationships of Organisms and their Environment / 1. How do humans affect ecosystems? How do ecosystems affect humans?
2. How does energy flow through ecosystems? How is energy lost through an ecosystem.
3. How do organisms interact within ecosystems? How do abiotic factors affect organisms?
4. How does matter cycle through an ecosystem? / 8th Grade Core Standard II
Introduction to:
1. Energy Flow
2. Food Chains
3. Food Webs
4. Human Impact / 1. Biotic and Abiotic Factors
2. Energy Flow - Food Chains, Food Webs, Food Pyramids
3. Cycling of Matter - water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus
4. Human Impact on Ecosystems
5. Interactions and Relationships of Organisms and their Environment
(symbiosis, predator /prey)
6. Population and Community Interactions
7. Global Interactions / 1. Testing Abiotic Factors (soil and water testing)
2. Testing Biotic Factors [sampling plants and animals, (transects, plot sampling, animal counts)]
3. Posters - Biomes, Cycles
4. Current Events - Articles , Research
5. Design a Food Web
6. Oil Spill Lab
7. Insect Collection and Ecosystem Project / Term 1
Week 4-9
Chemistry of Cells / State Biology Core Standard II Objective 1
Describe the fundamental chemistry of living cells. / 1. Why is water essential for life?
2. How do macromolecules make up living things? What macromolecules are important for life?
3. What is the role of enzymes in living systems? / 8th Grade Core Standard I
Introduction to:
1. Chemical & Physical Changes
2. Chemical Reactions / 1. Elements of Living Things
2. Macromolecules of Living Things (Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids)
3. Properties of Water
4. Role of Enzymes / 1. Molecular Models
2. PH of Foods and Household Products Lab
3. Food/Nutrient Testing Lab
4. Enzymes and Digestion / Term 1
Week 10-16
Cells / State Biology Core Standard II Objective 3
Investigate the structure and function of cells and cell parts / 1. How do cells make up living organisms
2. What are the levels or organization found in living organisms?
3. How do cells maintain homeostasis?
4. What are some examples of active and passive transport? / 7th Grade Core Standard III
Introduction to:
1. Cellular Structures and Functions
2. Interdependence of tissues, organs and systems / 1. Cell Theory
2. Nature of Science and Use of Technology
3. Cell Structure and Function (organelles)
4. Cell Types , Hierarchy of Organization
5. Homeostasis
6. Cell Membranes; Passive/Active Transport; Diffusion, Osmosis, and Transport Proteins / 1. Cell Lab – Types , Organelles
2. Osmosis Lab
3. Diffusion and Osmosis Demonstrations including potato and dialysis tubing
4. Building cells or cell analogy poster / Term 2
Week 17-22
Energy in Living Systems / State Biology Core Standard II Objective 2
Describe the flow of energy and matter in cellular function / 1. How do organisms make energy?
2. How is energy transferred from plants to animals living organisms? / 8th Grade Core Standard II
Introduction to:
1. Energy Flow
2. Food Chains
3. Food Webs
4. Human Impact / 1. Photosynthesis / Leaf Adaptations
2. Respiration – aerobic / anaerobic
3. ATP Production and Use / 1. Plant Pigments and Chromatography Lab
2. Leaf Structure and Stomata Lab
3. Photosynthesis / Respiration
(CO2 ) Lab / Term 2
Week 23-24
Genetics – Structure and Function of DNA / State Biology Core Standard IV Objective 3
Explain how the structure and replication of DNA are essential to heredity and protein synthesis. / 1. How does the structure of DNA affect protein synthesis?
2. What is the role of mutation in genetic diversity?
3. What are some modern applications of DNA technology?
4. What are some of the ethical considerations with using modern technology to affect the structure of DNA? / 7th Grade Core Standard IV
The passing of genetic information through sexual and asexual reproduction / 1. Structure of DNA
2. History of the Discovery of DNA and the Cumulative Nature of Science
3. DNA Replication
4. Protein Synthesis
5. DNA and Heredity
6. Mutations and Gene Expression
7. Genetic Technologies – gene splicing, transgenic foods and other products, forensics and DNA / 1. DNA model building
2. Research projects of Genetic Technologies
3. DNA Fingerprinting / Term 2
Week 25-27
Reproduction / State Biology Core Standard IV Objective 1
Compare sexual and asexual reproduction / 1. How do cells pass on genetic information to daughter cells?
2. What are advantages and disadvantages of sexual reproduction?
3. What are ethical considerations regarding reproductive technology? / 7th Grade Core Standard IV
The passing of genetic information through sexual and asexual reproduction / 1. Cell Cycle and Cell Division
2. Mitosis – phases, plants and animals
3. Advantages of asexual and sexual reproduction
4. Meiosis and its role in genetic variation
5. Chromosome Anomalies / 1. Mitosis Lab – phases and structures
2. Mitosis and Phase Counts and Relative Time
3. Plant Cuttings
4. Karyotype Lab / Term 2
Week 28-30
Genetics / State Biology Core Standard IV Objective 2
Predict and interpret patterns of inheritance in organisms / 1. How are character traits inherited? / 7th Grade Core Standard IV
The passing of genetic information through sexual and asexual reproduction / 1. Mendel’s Laws of Segregation and Independent Assortment
2. Inheritance of Traits – dominant/recessive traits, incomplete dominance, Codominance, Sex-linked Traits / 1. Corn Genetics Lab
2. Genetics Problems including monohybrid, dihybrid, incomplete, sex-linked, and multiple alleles (blood). / Term 3
Week 31-34
Evolution and Classification / State Biology Core Standard V Objectives 1 – 3
1. Natural Selection and Biodiversity
2. Evidences for Evolution
3. Classification Hierarchy / 1. What are the evidences that support the theory of evolution?
2. What is the role of natural selection in evolution?
3. How are organisms classified? / 7th Grade Core Standard IV
Adaptations of organisms to their environment. / 1. Definition of Evolution, Theories, Nature of Science
2. Evidences for Evolution – fossil record, homologous and vestigial structures, molecular evidence (DNA and Proteins)
3. Natural Selection and Modern Theories
4. Classification Hierarchy
5. Scientific Naming
6. Kingdoms and Diversity of Organisms / 1. Natural Selection Lab
2. What Can We Learn From Fossils Lab
3. Scientific Names and Levels Research Lab using field guides and other resources
4. How to Use a Classification Key / Term 3
Week 35-36
Structure and Function / State Biology Core Standard III Objectives 1-2
Describe the structure and function of organs and organ systems in plants and animals / 1. How do systems within organisms interact to maintain homeostasis?
2. How does the structure of a tissue or organ relate to its function? / 7th Grade Core Standard III
Introduction to:
1. Interdependence of tissues, organs and systems / 1. Plant Anatomy and Functions – roots, stems, leaves, flowers
2. Animal Organs and Systems – digestive, respiration, circulation, protection and support, nervous
3. Comparisons between animal and plant phyla. /
  1. Root and Stem Microscope Labs
  2. Flower Dissection
  3. Frog and other organism dissections
  4. Exercise Labs
  5. Virtual Labs
  6. Projects showing the comparison of organisms to each other.
/ Term 4
Week 37-38