Tenth Grade Biology
1a. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing understanding of how the scientific enterprise operates
.
P - Z - Reinforce
- Formulate questions and use appropriate concepts to guide scientific investigations and to solve real world problems
Ideas / Activities
- Current Events presentations and research (see C. Knight),
Plant experiment - students design and conduct own experiment and write a scientific paper
- Use ratios as a means of comparing very large/very small numbers
- build scale models
- Become a cell as a class to scale
- Build different kinds of cells to scale
- Compare viruses to bacteria to scale and compare to the number of cells that make up a human or other organism
- Geologic time Banner - systems of organisms
- Design and conduct a controlled scientific investigation
- Conduct an experiment with plants using controls, using planaria and hydra observe responses to various stimuli e.g. light, probes, sugar, salt, liver, gravity etc.
- Hydra Lab
- Investigate elodea plants with different concentrations to observe and understand osmosis, etc
.
- Use technologies as tools in conducting investigations
- Microscopes
- Computer
- calculator
- Use microscopes (digital, dissecting and compound) to view various cells, bacteria, hydra, planaria, insects, plants (stomata, vascular tissues, guard cells, etc.)
- use excel to graph predator - prey games from Project WILD (see Corrine Knight), plant experiment results, genetics within populations, etc.
- Construct and revise scientific explanations and models using logic and evidence
- Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and models for observed phenomena
- Select, communicate, and defend a scientific argument
- Students become a part of a court case based on an ecological scenario (see C. Knight)
- Compare and contrast how technology has shaped our lives both in the past and the present
- Current event presentations (see C. Knight)
- Act out a play - based on pre, during and post Darwin
- Select a science-related social problem and design a solution that reflects an understanding of basic science concepts and their application
- Utopia project - students must create a town that is environmentally sound and sustainable)
- Demonstrate an understanding that science knowledge has, over time, accumulated most rapidly after acceptance of major new theories
- Examine cell theories, Pasteur, Oparin and Miller, etc. and have students act out each perspective pre and post
- Explain how scientific knowledge is applied in the design and manufacture of products or technological processes
- water purification systems
- sewage treatment systems
- microwave ovens
- resistors
- Gram stain
- Visit and tour waste water treatment plant in Littleton
2a. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to use measuring instruments to gather accurate and/or precise information
D - F - Reinforce
- Measure with both analog and digital electronic devices
- Voltmeter
- Oscilloscope
- pH meters
- Use digital, compound, and dissecting microscopes, electronic and manual balances, pH meters and strips, digital camera, water test supplies with salmon unit (see C. Knight)
- Estimate the error in measurements they make and use procedures to minimize those errors
- Describe ways in which technology has improved measuring instruments and their accuracy
- Current events presentations
Gram stain
Student news - CNN
2b. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to use technology to observe nature.
C, D Reinforce
- Explore nature with technology
- Microscopes
- Telescopes
- computer probes
- spectroscopes
- Use spectroscopes when analyzing light with photosynthesis, various microscopes, computer probes with temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity
- Gather information that can only be obtained by using a technological tool
- pH
- Voltage
- Amperage
- blood pressure
gram stain
Visit hospital or have guest speaker and have students learn how to take blood pressure and various measurement tools
2c. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to analyze, synthesize, and communicate scientific information using technology.
E - I - Reinforce
- Store data in an appropriate technological device
Introduction to GPS
F. Manipulate data on a database
- Rearranging
- Sorting
- Selecting
- using a spread sheet
G. Analyze data graphically with technological assistance
H. Communicate data through an electronic medium
- Camera
- tape recorder
- computer modem
I. Quantitatively analyze experimental data
2d. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand how technology is used to synthesize new products.
G, H, I - Reinforce
- Plan and conduct a scientific research project using technology
- Construct scientific models using common materials or standard laboratory equipment
- Create a model by locating and utilizing appropriate software programs
2e. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand that science and technology can affect individuals, and that individuals in turn can affect science and technology.
D, E, F - Reinforce
- Describe immediate and long-term consequences of various alternative solutions for science- and/or technology-related issues
- natural catastrophes
- interactions of populations
- resources and environment
- health and disease
- Defend a personal decision made on a science- and/or technology-related issue
- Determine how technology affects their lives and predict how it might affect their future
2f. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand that progress in science and technology is controlled by societal attitudes and beliefs.
D, E - Reinforce
- Illustrate, through example, that the knowledge produced through science and technology changes the way members of society think
.
- Demonstrate, by giving examples, the relationships between the maintenance and progress of society and scientific and technological advancement
3a. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to recognize patterns and products of evolution, including genetic variation, specialization, adaptation, and natural selection.
H - R - Master
- Identify and give examples of representative life forms in the five kingdoms (see curriculum standard 3d) of living things
- Characteristics of Life lab - students go through box of 15 items and develop own list of characteristics of life
- Classification stations (classify boxes of various items - a tool box, a grocery box, etc.)
- dichotomous keys - students identify flowers and plants outside with keys
Peanut Lab
I. Identify and describe similarities and differences among organisms of different, but closely related taxa (groups)
- Conifers
- Rodents
- big cats
- Each group is assigned a different organism and explains to the other groups the differences and similarities of the other organisms - with as many live organisms for the students to look at in the classroom as possible (e.g. plant, insect, rodent, bacteria, etc.)
J. Relate different kinds of animals and plants to their habitats by observing their physical characteristics
- Each student is given a different organism - e.g. treehoppers are a very diverse group of insects that come in many different shapes and sizes for their environments. The student needs to create at least three models to present to class that represent three different habitats.
K. Interpret simple genetic crosses and predict/explain the patterns that emerge
- Students breed drosophila melangaster or nasonia wasps. The students first predict their crosses (e.g. red eye with white eye), count the flies and analyze results after breeding. Results expected or no? Students breed once more with their choice of a cross with prediction and analyze.
Drosophila crosses
- Beaker Babies Lab (see C. Knight)
- Explain how the characteristics of living things depends upon genes
- Students examine individual traits (tongue curling, widow's peak, etc).
- Extract DNA
- Students make DNA out of marshmallows, toothpicks and gumdrops and discuss how the DNA is in genes.
- Students act out how DNA influences how proteins are made when they act out the process of protein synthesis. Students become the different kinds of RNA, DNA, codons, anticodons, start codons, proteins, etc. (see C. Knight). Student then make and discuss various amino acids and
proteins and their roles
- Estimate the degree of kinship among organisms or species
- from the similarity of their DNA base-pair sequences
- anatomy
- physiology
- behavior
- Examine vestigial, analogous, homologous structures throughout evolution. Examine the vestigial structure (hip bones) on a snake
- evolution of man
- Develop appropriate food webs for the major biomes of the earth and accurately describe the major biogeochemical cycles which control the interactions between the biotic and physical worlds
- Construct a "timeline" that depicts how life forms change over time as they interact in and with the environment
- Describe how genetic material is passed from parent to offspring during asexual and sexual reproduction
- mitosis, meiosis
- Mitosis / meiosis lab kit (see C. Knight)
- Pipe cleaner lab (see C. Knight)
- Research a human genetic trait and trace its appearance/presence through a family history and predict the inheritance patterns and probabilities through the next generation
- Pedigrees
- Have students create a pedigree of their own family
- Explain how new genetic traits can arise and become established in a population
3b.Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand how environmental factors affect all living systems (i.e. individuals, community, biome, the biosphere) as well as species to species interactions.
F - J - Master
- Design a controlled investigation that demonstrates the interdependence of plants and animals found within a specific New Hampshire ecosystem
- Forest
- Seashore
- Lake
- River
- stream
- River project - see C. Knight Go to a local river, collect water quality data, macroinvertebrates, fish shock, complete a river assessment, and analyze the results to find the health of the river.
- Visit Welch and Dickey and examine forest succession.
- Raise and release salmon in local river through Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS).
- Predator - prey games - Project WILD (see C. Knight)
- Predict, with rationale, the effects of changing one or two factors in an ecosystem
- What would happen if mosquitoes were to suddenly disappear?
- Discuss purple loosestrife and attempts to control
- Discuss milfoil and attempts to control
- Guest speaker about biological conservation
- Gypsy moths - invasion species
- Project WILD activities - Oh Deer (introducing different weather conditions, lack of shelter, etc.), Deadly Links (food chain and introducing predators), Checks and balances
- Research and present a model that demonstrates how ecosystems are reasonably stable over hundreds or thousands of years, dependent on climate, limiting factors, carrying capacities, and biogeochemical cycles
- Project WILD - How Many Bears? (limiting factor and carrying capacity)
- Research Madagascar prior to human influence - unique species and stable ecosystem
- Make predictions about changes in the size or growth rate of a population using mathematical models, e.g from graphs and charts, students can determine relationships among the species within an ecosystem
- Project WILD - Checks and Balances - graph results of game over 50 years and discuss natural pattern
- Trace the history of an interaction between man and the environment that demonstrates how human activities can deliberately or inadvertently alter the equilibrium in an ecosystem
- Hunting
- Pollution
- loss of habitat
- dams
3c.Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand that organisms are linked to one another and to their physical setting by the transfer and transformation of matter and energy to maintain a dynamic equilibrium.
D - H - Master
- Design and perform an experiment to show that the number of living things any environment can support is limited by the available energy, water, oxygen, minerals, and ability of an ecosystem to recycle organic material
pH as a limiting factor in soil
E. Construct models that demonstrate which chemical elements make up the molecules of substances found in living organisms and how these elements pass through food webs
- Build 6CO2 molecules, 6H2O molecules. Rearrange molecules to make C6H12O6 and 6O2 molecules. Open the CO2 molecules, place 5 of CO2 molecules in a circle and the circle is complete with an oxygen and an oxygen is ticking off. The one carbon without an oxygen has an oxygen on it. Then put hydrogens on all the empty places
.
- Nitrogen cycle
F. Describe how essential materials enter cells and how waste and other materials leave the cell
Diffusion based on molecular weight
hypertonic / hypotonic lab (carrots in various solutions)
Elodea lab
G. Explain how cells use nutrients as a source of energy
- respiration
- extreme halopiles, chemophiles
- plants use CO2 and H2O - see 3c - E
H. Compare the transformation of matter and energy during photosynthesis and respiration
3d. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand fundamental structures, functions, and mechanisms of inheritance found in microorganisms, fungi, protists, plants, and animals
.
H - O - Master
- Use tools and models to demonstrate that all cells have specialized structures that carry out specialized functions
- microscopic evidence
- photographic evidence
- students build different kinds of cells
- class becomes different kind of cells with various scenarios - see C. Knight
- Relate cells to every day life
I. Describe the major functions of the living cell and discuss how different groups of cells perform interrelated functions in any organism
- Stations - students are given pictures of different kinds of cells that are not labeled and try to figure out the function of each
J. Explain, in general terms, the role DNA plays in controlling cell functions
- Discuss, using observation, experimentation, and modeling, the connections between the structure and function of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems
- Describe/explain homeostasis (the maintenance of internal stability within organisms)
- regulation and communication between parts of the body on a macrocellular scale
Human Body Systems Activity
- Describe the life cycles of representative organisms that cause human diseases
- Lyme disease
- West Nile
- Malaria
- Describe the use of technology in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease
- sanitation.
- Medicines
- organ transplants
- adequate food and water supplies
- visit hospital
- Investigate behavioral patterns found in different life forms
- Communication
- Orientation
- hormonal regulation
- learning
- conditioning
Animal learning
4b. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand that the Earth is a complex planet with five interacting systems, which consists of the solid Earth (lithosphere), air (atmosphere), water (hydrosphere), ice (cryosphere), and life (biosphere).
M, N - Master
- Identify common soil conservation methods
Ecology portfolio
- Relate common cycles such as the water cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the carbon cycle to each other
4c. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand that the Earth contains a variety of renewable and non-renewable resources
.
E - H - Master
- Investigate how human activities, such as reducing the amount of forest cover and increasing the amount and variety of chemicals released into the atmosphere have changed the Earth's land, ocean, and atmosphere
- Forest Watch - UNH - see C. Knight - collect white pine needles to analyze effects of ozone
- Ecology Portfolio
F. Cite evidence that our fresh water supply is essential for life and also for most industrial processes
- Ecology portfolio
- Have students measure how much water they use for one day and compare to average American, European, and African.
G. Describe possible consequences of reducing or eliminating some of the Earth's natural resources
H. Identify natural, as well as human-induced, factors which contribute to changes in the Earth's systems
5a. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to distinguish among materials by utilizing observable properties
.
D, E, F, G, H - Reinforce
- Obtain reliable and valid quantitative data through careful and skilled use of measuring instruments
- Balances
- graduated cylinders
- computer probes
- spectroscopes
- digital camera
- water quality probes
E. Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative properties based upon observations of a substance
- Plant experiment
- Imbibtion lab - see C. Knight - Spiraling Through Fast Plants - Kendall/Hunt
- Tracking variation lab - see C. Knight - Spiraling Through Fast Plants - Kendall/Hunt
- Germination lab - see C. Knight - Spiraling Through Fast Plants - Kendall/Hunt
- Dissections - plant, clam, crayfish, earthworm, frog, pig, grasshopper, starfish, etc.
F. Experiment to determine specific properties of substances that are useful in identification of the substance such as density, acidity, corrosiveness, strength, stretchability, melting point, or solubility
G. Use derived measurements of objects or substances to determine non-observable properties
H. Describe, compare, and classify elements, compounds, and mixtures
5b Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand that matter is composed of dynamic interactive units or particles and that all the properties and changes in matter can be explained in terms of the forces involved in the interactions of these units.
E, F, H - Reinforce
Explain that the arrangement, configuration and/or motion of atoms, molecules, and ions of a particular substance determine the structure and, thus, the properties of that substance
- Photosynthesis activity - see 3c E
F. Recognize that groups of elements have similar properties because of their atomic structure and have been organized in a Periodic Table
G. Demonstrate that it takes time for substances to change or interact and that these rates are affected by such factors as temperature, pressure, and change of state
6a. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to recognize parts of any object or system, and understand how the parts interrelate in the operation of that object or system
.
D - G - Master
- Demonstrate and describe how parts of a system influence each other, including feedback
Human Systems Activity
E. Demonstrate how systems include processes as well as parts
F. Show how one system can be part of another system, and how systems influence each other
G. Predict how certain changes in the system will/will not affect the operation of the system
6b. Curriculum Standard:
Students will demonstrate their understanding of the meaning of stability and change and will be able to identify and explain change in terms of cause and effect.
E - H - Reinforce
- Distinguish among cyclic, linear, and irregular changes and give examples of each
- Seasons
- Torpor - hibernation/estiviation
- Predator - prey populations
- mutations
- Distance/time
- Weather
F. Identify and describe varying rates of change and measure selected rates
Measure heart rate
G. Recognize one form of stability as opposing changes occurring at the same rate (dynamic equilibrium) and cite several examples of that type of stability
- Homeostasis
- saturated solutions
- vapor pressure of liquids
H. Quantify certain changes and use a mathematical expression to determine past or future states of the system
- gas laws
- Newton's laws of motion
- Standard deviation in tracking variation - Spiraling Through Life with Fast Plants
6c. Curriculum Standard:
Students will understand the meaning of models, their appropriate use and limitations, and how models can help them in understanding the natural world
.
E - I - Reinforce
- Distinguish among physical, mathematical, and conceptual models and give examples of each
F. Use different models to represent the same object or process
- Molecular models
- Population dynamics models
- Mathematical models
G. Use a computer and mathematical model to determine values of variables beyond the range of phenomena observed in the laboratory
- Use normal distribution to predict a population
H. Compare and explain differences in values obtained using a mathematical model and those obtained in the laboratory
I. Illustrate how models allow scientists to better understand the natural world
6d. Curriculum Standard:
Students will increasingly quantify their interactions with phenomena in the natural world, use these results to understand differences of scale in objects and systems, and determine how changes in scale affect various properties of those objects and systems.
E - J - Reinforce
- Calculate from direct measurements, many of the derived measurements of objects such as density, velocity, inner and surface areas, volumes, perimeters, and changes in heat content
- Magnification on microscope
Diffusion based on molecular weight
- Calculate averages and ranges of measurement values for certain properties or processes in a system
- Tracking variation lab - Spiraling Through Life with Fast Plants
- CDI - Cumulative Developmental Index in Raising Salmon in the classroom through VINS - see C.Knight
- Correlate the mathematical relationships among length, area, volume, surface area, mass, etc.
- Convert data collected from measurements into graphs and derive mathematical relationships from the data and graphs
- Tracking variation lab - Spiraling Through Life with Fast Plants
- Peanut Lab
- Determine the degree of error in any measurement given the accuracy of the instruments used
- Express relationships among measurements in the form of a ratio, proportion, or percentage when appropriate
- Beaker Babies Lab - see C. Knight
- Drosophila crosses
- Tracking variation lab - Spiraling Through Life with Fast Plants