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Biology Mr. Medley2011-2012

Biology is the study of life in its many forms. In this introductory class for 9th

graders we will undertake this study in 5 units. The first is on populations and

ecosystems. In this unit we will look at large scale phenomena, including whataffects population sizes and what are the many interconnections among species in a

community. The second unit will focus on viruses and bacteria. In this unit we will

study cells, the spread of diseases and begin to consider the wide range of living

species on earth. The third and fourth units are on genetics and evolution

respectively. We will go from the small to the large here from how DNA codes for

characteristics and how genes are passed through generations to how life has

spread over the earth in its myriad forms. The final unit is on energy flow through

living systems. In this unit we will consider photosynthesis, respiration and how we

gain and store energy in our body, but also fossil fuels and our societys energy

habits.

Biology, like all science, is a way of thinking, and we will focus on what distinguishes

that way of thinking throughout the year. We will generate and use data to test

hypotheses. We will develop and test models. We will look for evidence constantly,

and we will struggle with just how strong of conclusions our data will support.

Supplies:

Students should bring a three ring binder and pencil to class every day. They may

largely leave their text book at home for studying and homework.

Work and Grades

Quizzes and Tests:

Every other week on Friday we will have a 10-15 minute quiz. This gives students

and me a chance to find out if theyre keeping up. They will get a chance to redo

this quiz the following week.

There will be major tests at the end of each of the five units and finals at the end of

each semester. It will also be possible to redo these.

Daily Work and Notebooks

Students will turn in their three ring binders every other week on Friday. In it they

will keep their handouts and the work they do in class. Each class will start with a

warm up for which students will get a stamp. These stamps count in the notebook

grade too.

Occasional extra projects will be assigned that do not go in the notebook like

posters, or multiweek labs. These will be graded separately.

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