Vance County Early College High School Pacing Guide Course: Introduction to Biology (Semester I) Week(s ) Dates Unit Unit Title Essential Questions / Topic Questions 1 1 Introduction to Biology 1. How is life defined? What are the five characteristics of living things? 2. What is homeostasis and how is it critical to life? 3. How are living things organized on Earth? 4. How are living things classified? What are the major groupings? 5. How do scientific names of organisms reflect the classification system? North Carolina Essential Standards (Biology) Analyze how classification systems are developed based on speciation (Bio.3.5) Activities Characteristics of Life Group Brainstorming Activity Hierarchy of Life Group Ordering Activity Object Picture Group Classification Activity 2-3 2 Scientific Methodology, Measurement, Equipment, and Safety 1. What are the steps in the scientific method? 2. What are the definitions and the relevance of the following terms: independent variable, dependent variable, experimental group, and control group? 3. What are the base metric system units for the following: distance, mass, and volume? 4. How do you convert numerical values within the metric system? Scientific Method Problem Scientific Method Group Powerpoint Project Metric to Metric Conversion Bionetwork Online Lab Safety Certification Activity Biology Lab Equipment Quiz
5. What pieces of equipment are generally used in biology and biotechnology labs? 6. How are laboratory activities conducted in a safe manner? Gowning Up Lab 4-5 3 The Chemistry of Life 1. How do you define the following: chemistry, matter, substance, mixture, and element? 2. Which elements are essential to life? 3. What are radioisotope and how are they useful in biology and medicine? 4. How are the following important to a good understanding of the chemistry of life: polar compounds, nonpolar compounds, hydrogen bonding, water, solutions, acids, bases, and buffers? Build models of organic molecules Group Radioisotope Powerpoint Micropipetting Lab 6-7 4 The Molecules of Cells 1. What are organic compounds? 2. What are the four classes of biological molecules (macromolecules)? 3. What is DNA and why is it so important for life? 4. What are carbohydrates, how do they work, and why are they so important to life? 5. What are proteins, how do they work, and why are they so important to life? 6. What are lipids, and why are they so important to life? Understand how biological molecules are essential to the survival of living organisms (Bio.4.1) The Secret of Life video and questions Extraction of DNA from Strawberries Lab Macromolecule Foldable Human Protein Group Powerpoint BCA Protein Assay Lab
8-9 5 A Tour of the Cell 1. What is Cell Theory? 2. Why are cells so small? 3. What are the four major functions that take place in cells? 4. What are the major structures in cells and what are their functions? 5. What four things do all cells contain? 6. What are the similarities and difference between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells? 10-11 6 The Working Cell 1. What are the definitions and the relevance of the following terms: energy, potential energy, kinetic energy, work,and efficiency? 2. What is metabolism, and how are the terms anabolism and catabolism related to it? 3. What are enzymes, how do they work, and why are they so important to life? 4. How does the plasma membrane work and what makes it selectively permeable? 5. What is the Fluid Mosaic Model? 6. What differentiates isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic solutions from each other? How does osmosis play a part in all of this? Understand how biological molecules are essential to the survival of living organisms (Bio.4.1) Cell Surface Area to Volume Ratio Lab Describe What You See Cell (Plasma) Membrane Activity Gallery Walk of Cell Structures Functional Groups Four Corners Activity Enzyme and Analysis of Graphical Data Enzyme Lab Metabolism Dialysis Tubing Lab
12-13 7 Cellular Respiration 1. What is the difference between respiration and breathing? 2. What is cellular respiration (definition)? What are the three stages? Where do they take place? 3. What is ATP and how is it produced in cellular respiration? 4. What is the chemical equation for cellular respiration? 5. What is fermentation and what are the two types? 14-15 8 Photosynthesis 1. What is chlorophyll? What is a chloroplast? 2. What is photosynthesis (definition)? What are the three stages? Where do they take place? 3. What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis? 4. Which organisms conduct photosynthesis? 5. How are photosynthetic organisms important in food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids? 16-17 9 Cell Division 1. What are the different phases in the cell cycle? 2. What is the difference between reproduction and cell division in multicellular organisms? Analyze the relationships between biochemical processes and energy use in the cell (Bio.4.2) Analyze the interdependence of living organisms within their environments (Bio.2.1) Understand how the environment, and /or the Cellular Respiration Gallery Walk of Cellular Respiration Timeline of Photosynthesis on Earth reading assignment and questions Photosynthesis (Cotton Plant Graph) Gallery Walk of Photosynthesis Mitosis and Meiosis Diagramming Microscopic Examination of Cells Undergoing Mitosis
3. What is the haploid number? What is the diploid number? 4. What are mitosis and meiosis (definitions)? 5. What is the role of meiosis in sexual reproduction and genetic variation? interaction of alleles, influences the expression of genetic traits (Bio.3.2) 18 All Semester 1 Review See above See above End of Semester Test