| Date |
Class Events |
Assignments Due |
Reading that should be completed |
| 5 |
Introduction to the course, pass out books.
Lecture: Chapter 1.1 Themes of Biology: Cells, Reproduction, Homeostasis,
Evolution, Interdependance are all discussed. These are the reoccurring
themes that will tie together our year's topics.
Homework: Directed Reading Worksheet pg 1 |
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| 7 |
Quiz: section 1.1 (go over answers in class).
Lecture: 'Watersheds' - watersheds are described, groundwater,
point-source pollution, etc.
Lab: The Caseless Caddis - Hydropsyche. Students will
make a sketch of the insect from a specimen under magnification.
Homework: Directed Reading Worksheet pg 3 |
Directed Reading: pg 1 |
Chapter 1, section 1 |
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11 |
Group Activity: Biology in your World. Students break off into
groups and discuss one of 7 research areas that are currently important
to biologists and the public: Cancer, AIDS, Global Food Supply,
Genetic Disease, etc. After this we discuss our ideas as a group.
Homework: As President of the US, you have $100 Billion to spend
on your "Biology Programs" budget. You have to give some
money to all 7 research areas. What amounts do you alot and why? |
Directed Reading pg 3 |
Chapter 1, section 2 |
| 13 |
Assignment: Concept Map. Students complete a skeleton concept
map of chapter 1. Go over in class.
Lab: Graduated Cylinder Skills. Students make readings from 12
graduated cylinders of various sizes. Student answers are put on
the board and compared to mine. |
$100 Billion Budget Plan |
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| 17 |
Lab: Aquatic Ecology cont. Today you'll look at three more aquatic
insects and describe how you could distinguish them from one another.
Homework: Pre-Test |
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Re-read chapter 1 |
| 19 |
Go over Pre-Test
Lab: "Statistics" - Designing experiments and collecting
data are child's play, drawing REAL conclusions from data requires
STATISTICS! Today we'll collect data (leg length vs jumping distance,
yes you have to jump today), we'll graph the data and then realize
that we cannot determine a bloody thing without a statistical test.
I'll describe 'r,' the correlation coefficient, just one of hundreds
of statistical tricks scientists use that make drawing conclusions
possible.
Homework: Study for the Test (students may use the card I gave
them to help prepare and use during the test - anxiety gone?) |
Pre-Test |
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| 21 |
Test: Chapter 1,
Begin chapter 15 'Populations'
Lecture: Chapter 15 Populations. The dynamics of populations are
described, as well as methods biologists use to estimate populations.
Lab: The Quadrat Method. The population estimation technique known
as the 'quadrat method' is used to estimate a population of about
500 macaroni pieces that have been spread on the floor. Students
use math to come up with their own estimates. |
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25 |
Directed Reading Worksheet pg 1 (How Populations Grow)
Lab: Population estimation techniques: Quadrat method, counting
populations of macaroni, then hawkweed plants.
Homework: "How Populations Grow" |
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Chapter 15:1 |
27 |
Presentation: How populations interact.
Assignment: "Deer and Wolf Graph." Students read about
two interacting populations. They graph the two population curves
on one graph. |
HW: Directed Reading Worksheet pg 1 (How Populations Grow)
CW: Deer and Wolf Graph
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Oct 1 |
Quiz: Chapter 15:1
Presentation: Chapter 16, Ecosystems, students
fill-in a skeleton outline of the chapter |
Concept Map pg 17 |
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3 |
Lab: Aquatic Invertebrates. Students make observations of 12 different
stream invertebrates. They will make a list of the insects in their
jar and pass it in. Students are also required to make a guide for
themselves in order to make insect identifications at a later date. |
HW: "What is an Ecosystem"
Lab: List of insects in their jar
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Chapter 16:1 |
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Finish the Lab |
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10 |
Lab: "Invertebrate Quiz." Students use their guides
(made last week) to identify 12 different invertebrates.
Classwork: "Ecosystem Lab." Students define terms, brainstorm
organisms, make a food web, and an ecological pyramid. |
Classwork: "Ecosystem Lab." |
Chapter 16:2 |
12 |
Lab: Finish the "Invertebrate Quiz"
Classwork: finish "Ecosystem Lab" |
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Chapter 16:3 |
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16 |
Presentation: Nutrient Cycles and Energy Pyramids. Today we'll finish the notes and begin reviewing the chapter.
Classwork: Chapter 16 "Pre-Test" |
Study for Chapter 16 Test |
Re-Read chapter 16 |
18 |
Assignment - "Ecosystem concept map" We'll build a concept map on the board to review the chapter (16). Students will have a paper copy to take home and study. We'll take quizzes on each section and review every part of chapter 16. |
Homework: "Pre-Test" |
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22 |
Test: Chapter 16
Presentation: Interactions within the community. We'll take a close look at what happens to prey items when the've been predated upon for millions of years. Parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism are also described with pictures. |
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26 |
Presentation: Finish our discussion of |
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30 |
Organize Knowledge: Students prepare a chart on the major classes of environments in the world - Biomes.
Discussion: We'll discuss the two principal climatic factors that dictate what biome appears in an area - precipitation and temperature
Biogeography: Students illustrate a map of the globe with 7 land biomes. |
"Symbiotic Organisms"
and
"How Competition Shapes Communities" |
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Nov1 |
Movie Day! Today we take a look at Invasive Species - species of plants and animals that find themselves in new ecosystems. These creatures usually wreak havoc in their new locations. |
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