Honors Biology I
Mrs. Jenn Choumil - jvchoumil@fcps.edu Mr. Joe Dishun– jdishun@fcps.edu Mr. Wayne Smith – wasmith@fcps.edu

Course Objectives
Achieve a solid baseline of scientific knowledge in the biological sciences content strands to make determinations about how the world works
Apply science knowledge and processes to make informed decisions and to solve problems
Communicate scientific information effectively in several formats through a variety of resources
Design and conduct a scientific investigation to test a hypothesis
Make connections within science disciplines and with other disciplines

At the end of the course, the comprehensive knowledge of each student will be measured by taking the Virginia State Standards of Learning (SOL) Test in Biology.

Topics of Study
The unifying theme for the course is the characteristics that all living things share are:
1. Scientific Method and The Nature of Science (integrated throughout the year)
2. Ecology: Interactions with the Environment
3. Molecules of Life: The Chemistry of Living Things
4. The Cell: structure and function; use of the microscope
5. Homeostasis: the cell membrane and its role in the movement of materials into and out of the cell; cell communication
6. Cellular Energy : the capture and release of energy - Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
7. Heredity
a. Cell division
b. DNA/RNA; structure and function
c. Genetics
8. DNA Technology
9. Evolutionary Theory
10. Classification of Living Things
11. Organ systems of the Human Body, including the reproductive system (“Family Life”) (integrated throughout the year)

Text
Biology, Prentice Hall (Miller & Levine) 2006
It is the responsibility of each student to care for their text. A fee for lost, missing, or damaged books will be charged at the end of the school year (replacement cost is 59.97).

Materials
Each student will need the following materials for this course:
Spiral notebook: 3-5 subject, recommended size of 8.5” x 11”
#2 pencils and pens (blue or black ink),
Colored pencils, at least 24 colors. These are an important tool!
Glue sticks
Mini ruler
Flash drive (for use with all classes)

Grading
All assignments and assessments will be evaluated for mastery. Your grade will be determined following the FCPS Grading Scale and using the following weighted averages:
35% tests and/or major projects
35% labs
10% homework
10% quizzes
10% notebooks and/or other

This percentage will be assigned a letter grade based on the FCPS Grading Scale below:
A
93-100%
C
73-76%
A-
90-92%
C-
70-72%
B+
87-89%
D+
67-69%
B
83-86%
D
64-66%
B-
80-82%
F
Below 64%
C+
77-79%

Your overall final grade for the year will be determined as follows:
1st quarter
20%
2nd Quarter
20%
3rd Quarter
20%
4th Quarter
20%
Year End Assessment
10%
Independent Research Project
10%

Notebooks
It is expected that each student maintain a Biology Interactive Notebook for the duration of the course. Biology Interactive Notebooks are designed to reflect the progress of each student’s mastery of Biology and help to organize materials to prepare for the SOL Biology Test.

Your Interactive Notebook will be used daily in this class to help you learn and remember important Biology concepts. Interactive notebooks work because they use both the right and left hemispheres of your brain to interact with the information you are learning. The more you process information, the more you understand it and the longer you remember it. Notebooks will be collected for grading at the end of each unit.

Assignments
Assignments (homework, labs, major projects, etc.) and due dates will be posted in the room and on Blackboard. It is your