Biology Ms.

Daley
Arlington High School, 2014-2015 Room 424
Course Expectations and Overview
Contact Information
Email (the best way to reach me): gdaley@arlington.k12.ma.us
Website: www.msdaley.weebly.com
Twitter: @msdaleyscience

Welcome to Biology!
I am looking forward to getting to know each and everyone of you this year and working together to explore the field of
Biology. I hope youll find the study of life as fascinating as I do.
You can expect this class to be challenging, interesting and rewarding. To be successful in this class you will need to:
Arrive to class on time, prepared to learn, with notes, assignments and writing utensil.
Do your homework thoughtfully, regularly (and on time!), take good notes, ask a lot of questions, study!
Come in for extra help when you need it.
Be polite, courteous, and respectful of the people, equipment and furnishings in the classroom.
Have written work neatly done.
Keep all iPods, cell phones, and other electronics turned off and in their backpacks during the school day.
My office hours are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-3:15 and you do not need an appointment to see me during
this time. I will also be available to help you before or after school on other days, but please make an appointment with
me in person or via email. It is VERY important that you are an active participant in your Biology education. Aside from
asking questions and doing your assignments thoughtfully, this means that you must check in with yourself and let me
know if you need help or extra practice with a concept. It is very important to me that you learn to advocate for
yourselves, because I can not help you if I do not know you are struggling. Do not wait for a bad test grade to come in for
help!
Lab Rules
! Be Safety Conscious! This means.
1. Be prepared for lab.
2. Follow safety guidelines at all times.
3. No horsing around. Be cautious!
4. Dress properly & keep your work space free of clutter.
5. Clean up properly after lab.
6. Wear goggles at all times.
Consequences will be applied according to the AHS studen handbook, beginning with verbal warnings followed by after-
school detention. Detentions will take place Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons from 2:30 3:30. Students
assigned detention will be expected to serve either the same day as the offense, or on the next available detention
day.When in doubt, ASK!
Communication
It is crucial that we maintain frequent and open communication with one another. You are responsible for checking your
Spyponder email account regularly and frequently for updates, assignments, and announcements from me. You also are
responsible for checking my website regularly for information and assignments. Occasionally, I will need to email or post
an assignment for you. If it is emailed or posted before 3:30 pm, I will expect you to complete it by the next day. I didnt
know is never an acceptable excuse. Be sure you are also communicating with me about any problems or questions you
have so that I can best help you.
Assignments
Homework The majority of homework assignments in this course will involve textbook readings. Students will be
expected to read carefully and take thoughtful notes. Reading assignments will sometimes be challenging, and students
will be expected to reread, come for extra help, and watch supplemental video lectures to ensure mastery of the material.
In other words, skimming the text one time will be inadequate; you will find yourself falling behind in classwork and on
tests with this strategy. Late homework assignments will receive a maximum of 50% credit.
Classwork Students will work in small groups to complete in-class activities. These will involve research, discussion,
experimentation, and scientific reading and writing. Groups will remain together for the duration of the unit, and group
members will be assessed on their participation.
Lab Reports We will conduct one in-depth experiment and write a detailed laboratory report in every unit. A detailed
laboratory format/expectation sheet will be provided. Some reports will be written individually, others will be written in
collaboration with your term group.
Tests and Quizzes Two to three major exams are given each term. Quizzes based on readings and homework assignments
will be given throughout the year.
Honor Pledge
All assignments are to be done on your own. All work submitted must be representative of your understanding of
the material and must be stated in your own words. Plagarism is taking credit for any ideas, or using words that are not
your own. Plagarized assignments will receive no credit.
Grades will be calculated as the percentage of the number of points earned out of the total number of points for the
quarter. Usually, tests and large quizzes are worth 50-100 points, small quizzes worth about 25 points, homework worth
up to 10 points, and Labs worth 10-25 points, Formal lab reports worth 50 points. This is an approximation and is subject
to change.
Group work The work done with your unit group will be graded in two ways. All assignments done with your group will
count as individual grades. In addition, group members will receive an overall groupwork grade at the end of each unit.
This grade will be based on the work you produce, as well as the way your peers assess your contribution to the group.
Required Class Materials
You will need a 3-ring binder (at least 1 inch) to keep notes and handouts. I recommend that you keep your papers in
chronological order and separate them by unit with dividers. If you would like to take a unit out and file it at home after
the test, that is fine, just make sure you keep the units organized to study for mid-year and final exams. Try to find an
organizational system that works for you. If you need help organizing, please ask me. You will also need a spiral-bound
notebook or loose-leaf paper for notes.
You will also need a Scientific Calculator for this class. Graphing calculators are acceptable but more than you need.
There are many scientific calculators without graphing functions that will be more than sufficient if you dont already own
a graphing calculator. All you need is a calculator that can do scientific notation. I do not have spare scientific calculators.
You are responsible for having one when it is needed.
Attendance Policies
Unexcused absences will result in a zero for any activities for that day (labs, quizzes, tests, homework). Your quarter
grade may also be affected negatively from one or more cuts.
Excused absences (including a note from home) require that a student make up the work missed within a reasonable time
after returning to school (usually one or two days). Students should call a classmate or look online to see what homework
was assigned. Lab work that is not made up within a weeks time will receive no credit except in special circumstances.
Expect to make an appointment to make up labs after school. If you are absent on a test or quiz day expect to take it the
day you return to school or the day after at the latest. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed and make up
that work. You may NOT make up late work after the test or quiz on that material, except in special circumstances.
Tardiness: Any work that was due and checked/collected prior to a students arrival in class will be considered late. A
student who is more than twenty-five minutes late to one class will incur the unexcused absence grade penalty but can
receive credit for the days work. Students who are late more than three times in one quarter will be required to make up
all their past late time and any future late time for the remainder of the quarter either before or after school.
IEP and 504 Accommodations
Any student with IEP or 504 accommodations is welcome to speak with me in private at any time about particular needs
or any concerns. I greatly appreciate a students initiative in reminding me about and making arrangements for
accommodations such as extended test time, etc.
Heres to a great year!
Ms. Daley
Biology
Biology is the study of living things. This course will cover the structure and function of organisms on all biological levels
(from the cellular level to the biosphere). Students learn by investigating the living world through scientific inquiry and
laboratory explorations. Emphasis is placed on current research and the importance of biology in todays world.
Major Units of Study
(Dates and labs are subject to change)
!" Biochemistry
!" Essential question: Why do I eat?
#" Chapters: 1, end of 2
$" Applications: Digestive system
%" Laboratory: Nutrient testing
&" Evolution connection: Chemical evolution (inorganic to organic molecules)
!!" Cell Structure, Viruses, Microscopy
!" Essential question: Why are cells small?
#" Chapters: 3, 6
$" Applications: Respiratory system
%" Laboratory: Diffusion and osmosis in cell models
&" Evolution connection: Biological evolution (organic molecules to cells)
!!!" Cell Energy
!" Essential question: What if we had no plants?
#" Chapters: 2, 4, 5
$" Applications: ATP and enzymes
%" Laboratory: Enzyme (Catalase) reaction rates
&" Evolution connection: Heterotroph hypothesis, origin of photosynthesis
!#" Cell Cycle, Protein Synthesis, Chromosomes
!" Essential question: Where do babies come from?
#" Chapters: 8, 9
$" Applications: Cancer
%" Laboratory: Cellular regeneration in planaria
&" Evolution connection: Multicellular organisms
#" Genetics and Reproduction
!" Essential question: Why do I look the way I do?
#" Chapters: 12-15
$" Applications: Reproductve system
%" Laboratory: Gel electrophoresis
&" Evolution connection: Macroevolution, coevolution of plants and animals
#!" Ecology
!" Essential question: How do humans impact the Earth?
#" Chapters: 24, 25
$" Applications: Pollution
%" Laboratory: Population dynamics in yeast
BIOLOGY Laboratory Safety Rules
KEEP THESE RULES IN YOUR NOTEBOOK
Safety is your first priority! Your safety and the safety of others around you is your responsibility. You are
expected to follow the laboratory protocol as well as all written or verbal instructions provided by the teacher.
Horseplay, practical jokes, and distracting conversation or behavior will NOT be tolerated at ANY time.
While performing a Lab Activity I will.
1. ALWAYS know the location of safety and first aid equipment including: fire extinguisher, eyewash, safety
shower and first aid kit.
2. ALWAYS wear aprons and goggles when instructed to do so by the teacher or lab procedure.
3. ALWAYS conduct myself in a responsible manner at all times in the laboratory.
4. ALWAYS report any accident, incident, or unsafe situation to the teacher.
5. ALWAYS read labels and instructions carefully.
6. ALWAYS follow all instructions given by the teacher, and only make changes as instructed by the teacher.
7. ALWAYS clean and return equipment at the end of the lab. Wash hands thoroughly.
8. ALWAYS wear appropriate clothing for the lab. Avoid sandals or exposed toes/feet.
While performing a Lab Activity, I will .
1. NEVER place myself or others in danger by acting inappropriately.
2. NEVER touch, taste, or smell any substance without teacher permission
3. NEVER eat, drink, or chew gum in the lab.
4. NEVER conduct unauthorized activities. Stick with the script!
5. NEVER handle broken glass with my bare hands. Broken glass is to be disposed of as instructed by
your teacher. Always check glassware for cracks before starting a procedure
Biology/Anatomy/Other Life Sciences
1. Wash all dissecting equipment carefully.
2. Pay attention to the location of microscope cords so they are not pulled off the table. Carefully wrap all
cords when equipment is not in use.
3. Avoid electrical shock by
a. Pulling the plug and not the wire when disconnecting power cords.
b. Keeping work areas, hands and feet dry when working with electrical apparatus.
c. Not placing unauthorized objects in outlets
4. Do not take any parts or organisms out of the laboratory.
Care should always be considered when dealing with sharp objects. Scissors, probes, tweezers, razor blades,
and scalpels should be handled with care.
Biology with Ms. Daley
How to do Objectives
What are objectives?
For each unit, you will be given a list of learning objectives. This is the material that you should know by the
time we finish the unit. Objectives are based on State Frameworks, material in your book, and my decisions
about what you need to know.
What do I do with them?
Write the full objective in your notebook (unless you are doing them in your packet, where they are already
typed). You should give each objective an entire page in your notebook, so we can add to your notes during
class.
Read your textbook or watch your video lecture carefully. Think about what you have read/heard. Decide what
information to write down in your notebook to summarize what you have read in a way that satisfies the
objective.
Why should I do this?

Tests and final exams will be based on these objectives.

Doing objectives helps you make decisions about what is important and allows you to focus directly on
the material.

You are essentially creating a study guide. If done carefully, these objectives will be a great help to you.
(If you view them as annoyances, or do only enough work to get credit for the assignment, you will be
doing yourself a disservice.)
How much should I write?
When wondering whether or not your objectives and notes are complete, consider the following: if you were
given an open notes test or quiz, would you be happy with what you have written?
Be sure to:
A. List any vocabulary terms related to the objective. Make sure that all terms are explained or defined.
Highlight vocabulary terms.
B. Do what the objective states/asks (in the right column, if a two column system is used). Pay attention to
the verb at the beginning of the objective. Explain, list, and define are different things.
Arlington Biology
Formal Lab Report Format Instructions
This format is to be used for formal laboratory reports. All reports must be typed in 12-point font. Include your
name, names of partners, date, class, and section. Most laboratory reports are done individually; data are shared
among groups, interpretations are not. Correct grammar and spelling are expected. The reports should be
organized according to the sections described below.
I. Title (2)

Should be descriptive, specific, and concise.

For example, The Effect of Road Salt on Rate of Lentil Seed Germination and Growth rather than
Seed Experiment.
II. Introduction (10)

State the problem/question you are investigating.

Provide important background information, previous research, or formulas the reader needs to
interpret your results and conclusion. Include background on the study subject and the method as well
as the area of biology.

Address the following:

Rationale: Why was the study performed?

What knowledge already exists about this subject?

Briefly discuss your lab method.

Use your own words. Remember to cite your sources.

III. Hypothesis: Write a prediction based on the problem stated. (2)
IV. Materials (Including Equipment, Reagents, and Specimens) (2)

Bullet list of materials.

Do not list basic school supplies.

Include photos or a sketch of your set-up, if appropriate.

V. Procedure (3)

Number your steps.

Use complete sentences and write in past tense, passive voice. (Describe what was done.)

Describe your experimental procedure in sufficient detail that someone else could exactly duplicate your
experiment.

Use your own words, based on notes you took during the lab as well as the handout.
VI. Data and Results (10)

Organize data into easy-to-read tables. Each table should have a descriptive title as well as a short
description of the data.

Give all appropriate observations made, quantitative and qualitative.

Use correct metric units for all measurements.

Do not interpret, synthesize, or draw any conclusions. Simply report what you observed and measured.

Include appropriate types of graphs for data collected.

Each graph should have a descriptive title, axes clearly labeled with variables and units, data represented
accurately and a short description of what the data represent.

Photos may be included.

VII. Conclusion (20)

Think like a scientist!

Restate the purpose, hypothesis and experimental approach.

Briefly summarize data and observations.

Formulate explanations based on your data, clearly and concisely. No overstatements,

misrepresentations, sales jobs are acceptable. You MUST reference all figures from data section in your
explanation.

Show work and label all computations and statistical analyses.

Make inferences about what your data mean. Speculate about what data imply. Be clear that it is
speculation, a possible explanation of results. (Do not use prove to describe what you have done,
nothing can be proven with a single experiment. The words support or refute are preferable.)

Make connections to topics in your Background information to help explain your interpretations.

Use specific data points to justify your conclusions.

If the lab packet contained analysis questions, give a discussion of answers in your conclusion.

Discuss possible sources of error: IDENTIFY specific sources of error and discuss HOW they may have
affected your results. Were there any uncontrolled variables?

Discuss possible improvements to the experimental procedure if the experiment did not work, or
possible directions for future research if the data supported the hypothesis. It is critical to state what you
think the next experimental question should be.
VIII. Works Cited (2)

Reference at least two different sources.

You may cite your lab manual.

Cite these sources in APA format.