Course Description

This course is designed for students to master a basic understanding of the causes of diversity of living organisms, the interplay of an organism to its environment and how that has changed over time. Students will be provided with a synopsis of and a scoring guide for each of the performance projects they are to complete. The couse is self-paced and students will be required to reach a level of mastery in each of the objectives before moving to the next area of study. Homework will be dependent on the student's level of mastery. Students will be able to individualize their learning and apply their learning to everyday events.

Rationale

This course provides a review and extension of concepts delineated by the Missouri science frameworks. It is part of a 4-semester course for 9th and 10th grade students with the objective to increase the student's level of achievement as measured by the MAP science tests.

Course Goals

  • <--->

COMPETENCIES AND STATE ALIGNMENT
Competency
Activities
Assessment
1. Discuss how the variations of organisms within a species and diversity among species increases the likelihood that at least some organisms will survive the face of large changes in the environment.
  • Vocabulary Handout 1
  • Reading Roadmap 1
  • Adaptations worksheet
  • Reading Roadmap 2
  • Clam Activity
  • Checkpoint Quiz 1
  • Checkpoint Quiz 2
  • Post-Test
  • Analysis Questions
2. Analyze the evidence for the nature and rate of evolution that can be found in anatomical and molecular characteristics of organisms and in the fossil record.
  • Vocabulary Houndout 1
  • Rock Strata Activity
  • Analysis Questions
  • Post-Test
3. Conduct and analyze the results of a lab that provides information that the process of natural selection provides that some heritable variations arise from mutation and recombination gives individuals within a species some advantage over others for survival.
  • Reading Roadmap
  • Lab: Natural Selection
  • Analysis Paragraph
  • Post-Test
4. Explain how evolution does not proceed at the same rate in all organisms; nor does it progress in some set direction.
  • Reading Roadmap 1.2
  • Rock Strata Activity
  • Analysis Questions
  • Post-Test
5. Classify organisms into hierarchial groups and subgroups, based on their structural similarities and reflect about the possible evolutionary relationships.
  • Vocabulary Handout 1
  • Classification Packet
  • Checkpoint Quiz
  • Post-Test
6. Determine the degree of kinship among organisms based on similarities in DNA and protein structure.
  • Amino Acid Activity
  • Checkpoint Quiz
  • Post-Test
7. Predict the pattern of inheritance for traits using the principals of Mendelian genetics.
  • Vocabulary Handout 1
  • Reading Roadmap 1 & 2
  • Punnett Square Activity
  • Lab: Predicting Genetics
  • Pedigree Activity
  • Checkpoint quizzes 1 & 2
  • Post-Test
8. Analyze how social and economic forces, such as patent laws, the federal budget regulations, media attention and economic competition can influence the direction of progress for science and technology.
  • Genetic disorder research
  • Analysis questions on genetic research
  • Post-Test
9. Evaluate how DNA indirectly controls what cells do and when they do it by encoding information directing the cell's synthesis of protein molecules.
  • Vocabulary Handout 1
  • DNA Internet Activity
  • Activity: "What will the Baby Look Like?"
  • Analysis questions over the lab
  • Checkpoint Quiz 2
  • Post-Test
10. Finish the constrution of DNA segments and explain how the hereditary information is contained within the various combinations of the four subunits that encode the DNA molecule.
  • Vocabulary Handout 1
  • DNA Internet Activity
  • Lab: Candy DNA Replication
  • Analysis qustions over lab
  • Checkpoint Quiz 1
  • Post-Test
11. Do error analysis of DNA subunits, and explain how these coding errors (mutations) can occur randomly during replication and can also be caused by heat and radiation.
  • Vocabulary Handout 1
  • Mutations Activity
  • Checkpoint Quiz 2
12. Construct and explain characteristics of an organism productd through either asexual or sexual reproduction when given the parent DNA.
  • Vocabulary Handout 1
  • Mitosis & Meiosis
  • Literacy Reading
  • "Meibops" Activity
  • Analysis questions from "Meibop" activity
  • Checkpoint Quiz 3
  • Post-Test
13. Create a model of a cell representing the organelles responsible for its survival and explain how these structures provide for chemical synthesis, energy conversion and material transport
  • Cell Analogy Model
  • Nutrition Article
  • Labs: Use of microscope
  • Lab Practical
  • Cell Analogy Explanation Paper
  • Analysis Questions
  • Post-Test
14. Analyze how optimum conditions are maintained in an organism as a result of the special functions performed at the cellular level.
  • Cell "City Tour" Activity
  • Analysis Questions
  • Post-Test

Back to the Science Web Site