Life Science: Units of Study
Kelleen Farrell, Instructor
E-Mail: kfarrell@sonic.net
Website: kidzlearn.org
Phone: 209-257-5527 (w)
Unit 1 : Scientific Method and Classification
Objectives:
students will be able to:
- define the scientific method
- identify the steps in the scientific method
- use the scientific method to perform a series of experiments
- describe classification systems
- create classifications
Lessons: This is a 5 week investigation of the scientific method and classification systems used by biologists. Students will conduct experiments and observations to explore the five steps including a 4 week investigation of bean and corn plants. Students will conduct a series of experiments on their plants.
Assessment: Daily journal discussions, weekly quizzes, as well as a concluding lab report. based on the bean and corn plant experiments.
Unit 2: Botany
students will be able to:
- characterize plants according to the vascular systems
- identify the major parts of angiosperms and gymnosperms
- draw and label the plant life cycle
Lessons: Additionally, they will be exposed to plant physiology and plant terminology. They will also be required to draw the stages of growth of their plants and label parts of the seeds and of the growing plants.
Assessment: Daily observations of student work. Daily science journal discussions and random science journal checks, weekly quizzes and a concluding unit test.
Unit 3: Animals
students will be able to:
- understand how traits are used to determine classification schemes
- understand the relationships between organisms using categories
- name each of the five kingdoms
- name each of the animal phylum
- identify a representative species from each of the phyla
- describe the traits common to each member of a phylum
Lessons: Investigation of animal relationships and development of classifications systems
Assessment: Daily observations of student work. Daily science journal discussions and random science journal checks, weekly quizzes and a concluding unit project.
Unit 4: Prostista
students will be able to:
- identify several members of the protista kingdom
- identify the differences between members of the protista kingdom
- draw and label protista following examination under a microscope
- describe the differences between protistas and animals
Lessons: Students will be required to create wet slides from hay infusion cultures they make. They will then draw the protists that they see in their slides. They will also label the parts of the cell. This is an introduction to cell theory as well.
Assessment: Journal check, labs, quizzes, and a concluding lab report.
Unit 5: Bacteria, Viruses, and Human Health
students will be able to:
- understand the difference between bacteria, protists, and viruses.
- understand how bacteria and viruses affect human health
- describe transmission of disease
- explain the importance of hygeience to he prevention of disease
Lessons: Class discussions based on textbook readings, micrscope examination of prepared slides.
Assessment: Journal check, quizzes, labs, unit test.
Unit 6: Cells
students will be able to:
- understand how life is organized
- identify organelles within cells and their functions
- compare eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
- compare plant and animal cells
- identify the needs of cells
- explain the exchange of energy within cells
- describe the process of respiration
- describe the phases of mitosis
Lessons: Investigation of plant and animal cells using labs, readings, and demonstrations.
Assessment: Journal check, cell catalog.
Unit 7: Ecology
students will be able to:
- understand the needs of ecosystems in terms of diversity, relationships and sustainability
- identify components, relationships and energy sources within human communities and compare and contrast that to those within ecosystems
- identify the ways in which human communities affect the environment
Lessons: Investigation of ecology using labs, demonstrations, readings, and continuing our greenhouse.
Assessment: Weekly science journal checks and random science notebook checks. A variety of assessment vehicles will be used, such as lab reports, crossword puzzles to test vocabulary proficiency and tests and weekly quizzes.
Unit 8: Heredity and Evolution
students will be able to:
- understand how traits are passed from generation to generation
- understand the importance of a large gene pool
- understand the role of the DNA molecule in the inheritance of traits
- identify a phenotype and a genotype
- compare phenotypes to genotypes
- understand a family pedigree
- describe the parts of the DNA molecule
- describe the process of meiosis
- describe the process of protein synthesis
- understand the role of protein synthesis in the inheritance of traits
Lessons: Investigation of genetics and DNA using labs, models, and readings (Chapters 6 ,7, and 8 and in our text).
Assessment: Random science journal and science notebook checks. A variety of assessment vehicles will be used, such as lab reports, tests, weekly quizzes and models. Final project will be the creation of a DNA model.