Mrs. Andrea Orvos

aorvos@amherst.k12.va.us 

Andrea Orvos
BIOLOGY I
COURSE SYLLABUS
Room 206

Ms. Orvos’ Schedule
1st period: Biology I
2nd period: Pre-AP Biology
3rd period: Duty          
4th period: Biology I
5th period: Biology I
6th period: Planning
7th period: Biology I               

TextbookBiology, by Kenneth Miller & Joseph Levine, © 2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Course Description:  Students will discover the parts and processes of living things and their interactions with each other.  Representative organisms from the six kingdoms are examined and unifying concepts such as cell structure, genetics, evolution, reproduction, and life characteristices are explored.  The course gives students a better understanding of their physical selves and the world around them.
  
Course Objectives: Students will investigate and demonstrate understanding of: 
  •  Scientific Investigation
  •  Biochemistry
  •  Cell Physiology
  •  Genetics
  •  Evolution
  •  Six Kingdoms/Classification
  •  Ecology
Class Rules and Regulations
  • Treat yourself, each other, and class materials with respect.
  • Pay attention to and follow directions and lab safety rules.
  • Be in class and ready to work when the tardy bell rings.
  • Assignments must be neat and legible -- if I can’t read it I can’t grade it.
  • All student handbook policy and rules will be enforced.
  • Teacher’s pet peeves: doing work for other classes in my class; cell phone use of any kind; turning in assignments late; and cheating or the appearance of cheating.
Grading:  20%   9-weeks assessment
                  20%   tests or large projects
                  20%   class participation
                  20%   class work (such as projects, labs, writing assignments)
                  20%   quizzes (announced or unannounced)
                  
Supplies:  Come to class daily with paper and pencil/pen. You need to keep this syllabus, notes, homework, class work, quizzes, and tests together and organized in a 3-ring binder. 
 
Attendance, Make-up Work, and Late Work:  Students are responsible for obtaining missed assignments due to absences.  The make-up policy stated in the student handbook will be in effect.  In extenuating circumstances, please see teacher for alternate make-up plans.   Late work will be accepted but will only receive half credit.  This means the highest grade you can receive on a late assignment is a 50.  It's worth it to turn assignments in on time!
 
Grading Scale: The ACHS grading scale will be in effect (see student handbook).
 
 
Biology I Pacing Guide:

 

NINE WEEKS
TOPIC/CONCEPTS
SOLS
CHAPTERS
SUGGESTED LABS
1ST NINE WEEKS
 
 
 
Unit 1:  Study Skills and Lab Safety
·      Reading Assessment
·      Note taking and Study skills
·      Measurement and Safety
 Bio. 1
 Chapter 1
 Lab equipment identification and use
 
 
 
 
 
Unit 2:  Scientific Investigation
·      Scientific method
·      Lab design
·      Characteristics of Life
·      Body systems
Bio. 1 a-m,
Bio. 2 e
Bio. 7e
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
 Scientific method
 Living vs. non-living activity
 Invertebrate survey
 Vertebrate dissection
 
 
 
 
Unit 3:  Classification of Organisms
·      Classification
·      Overview of 6 Kingdoms
Bio. 1 a-m
Bio 2e
Bio 5
Bio 7
Chapter 18
Chapter 19-32
 Dichotomous key lab
 Roll call of kingdoms lab
 Bacteria lab
 Protist/fungi lab

 
NINE WEEKS
TOPIC/CONCEPTS
SOLS
CHAPTERS
SUGGESTED LABS
2nd NINE WEEKS
 
 
 
Unit 5:  Ecology
·      Levels of Organization in the
            Biosphere
·      Energy Flow
·      Interactions in Ecosystems
·      Biomes
·      Population Growth
Bio 1
Bio 2
Bio 4
Bio 8
 
Chapters 3-6
 Postcard from a biome
 Nature walk
 Population count data collection
 
Unit 6: Biochemistry
·      Atoms and Molecules
·      Properties of Water and pH
·      Carbon Compounds
·      Macromolecules
·      Chemical Reactions and Enzymes
·      Cell Structure and Function
·      Homeostasis
Bio 1
Bio 2
Bio 3
Bio 4
 
Chapter 2 (sections 1 - 4)
 Properties of water lab
 pH measurement lab
 Organic compounds lab
 Enzyme puzzle activity
 Chemical reaction demo
 Life in a Cell video
 Cell comparison microscope lab
NINE WEEKS
TOPIC/CONCEPTS
SOLS
CHAPTERS
SUGGESTED LABS
3rd Nine Weeks
 
Unit 7: Cell Growth and Division
·      Cell Growth
·      Mitosis
·      Meiosis
Bio 1
Bio 3
Bio 6
Chapter 10
Chapter 11 (section 11.4)
 Onion root mitosis
 Cell cycle video
 Meiosis activity
 
 
 
Unit 8: DNA and Heredity
·      DNA Structure
·      Protein Synthesis
·      Genetic Engineering
·      Mendelian Genetics
·      Inheritance Patterns
·      Probability in Genetics
·      Human Heredity
·      Genetic Disorders
Bio 1
Bio 2
Bio 6
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 11
Chapter 14
 DNA Model lab
 Video: The Secret of Photo 51
 Protein synthesis magnet demo
 Codon bingo
 Punnett square practice
 Monster meiosis lab
 Video: Ghost in Your Genes
 Blood typing game
 Genetic disorder projects
 
NINE WEEKS
TOPIC/CONCEPTS
SOLS
CHAPTERS
SUGGESTED LABS
4th Nine Weeks
Unit 9: Energy Flow and
   Transformation
·      Cellular Respiration
·      Photosynthesis
Bio 1
Bio 5
Chapter 9
Chapter 8
 
·      Exercise and cellular respiration
·      Leaf chromatography
·      Plant growth activity
·       
 
Unit 4: Evolution
·      History of Origin of life
·      Evolutionary Theory
·      Adaptations of Living Organisms
Bio 1a-m
Bio 2e
Bio 4 a-b
Bio 8
 Chapter 15-17
·      Bird beak adaptation lab
·      Fossil lab
·      Peppered moth activity
·      Video: Darwin’s Voice