Self-Paced High School Biology Course

What will be taught? The entire biology curriculum. The standards can be found here: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/media/4070/open

What topics will be covered? Ecological Relationships and Energy Transfer, Macromolecules, Cells (structure/function), Cell Transport, Cell Energy, Genetics (Mitosis, Meiosis, Protein Synthesis, Human Genetics), Evolution, and Classification.  All materials will be provided. I will share the digital notebooks on Sundays by @ 10PM EST. Students should expect feedback at least 2 times per week (Wednesday and Sunday). Please allow 24 hours to respond to any email outside of those two days. :) 

Teaching style?  Students will be given digital notebooks to complete during class and will need an active gmail account to access and complete them. Within these notebooks students will find a lot of variety: Note taking methods, video instruction embedded within the assignment, article dissections, discussions with me via the notebook, activities, and online labs. 
Here is a quick break down of all the units covered (scroll further for a more broken down version) 

Unit 1: Biomolecules (Carbs, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids, Enzymes) 
Unit 2: Cells, Cell Transport (Animals, Plants, Prokaryotes, and Eukaryotes - and how stuff gets in!)
Unit 3: Energetics (Photorespiration)
Unit 4: Mitosis vs Meiosis,  Cancer (cells dividing ....or over dividing) 
Unit 5: DNA, Protein Synthesis, and Mutations  (How DNA codes for RNA...and why that's important!)
Unit 6: Biotechnology (DNA technology and its many uses)
Unit 7: Simple and Complex Genetics (Blood types, sex linked traits, and building monsters!)
Unit 8: Evolution and Classification (how did we get here and what category do we fit in?) 
Unit 9: Ecological Relationships (symbiosis and energy transfer)  and Human Impact 
Unit 10: Final Exam Prep/Final Exam  

Students will be able to interact  with  their classmates interactive projects. Depending on the size of the class, students will likely be assigned a Biology Buddy. This buddy system will allow students to work together throughout the semester on projects and homework assignments. (students are allowed to decline the offer of a Biology Buddy) 

No experience is required as that is my purpose! It would be beneficial to have a science background (8th grade level sciences) to help with the level of vocabulary that will be introduced. Students should already have a basic understanding of science - but I will build on the rest. 

Note:  This class is rigorous and will cover a lot in 18 weeks.  Attentiveness and effort will be expected to succeed and master the vocabulary.  Please understand that the amount of effort your learner puts in to this class will determine how much they learn. 

Here is the official, long winded, breakdown. It tells you what your student will be learning, some major assignments (all units will have at least one project - some smaller than others), and how long we will spend. This is in order. Students are welcome to work ahead (up to one unit). 

Weeks 1-2 

Unit 1: Macromolecules 
Chemistry Review 
Carbs, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids, and Enzymes activities. Lab Demo that students can do at home will be shared. 
 Review/Exam

Weeks 3-4

Unit 3: Cells, Cell Transport 
Cell Projects 
Prokaryotes/Eukaryotes, Endosymbiosis
Plant/Animal Cells
Cell Specialization
Unicellular Adaptations/Protists
Cells Quiz
Cellular Membranes
Diffusion/Osmosis
Passive/Active Transport
Review/Exam

Week 5 

Unit 4: Energetics (Photorespiration)
Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration 
Compare photosynthesis/cellular respiration
ATP
Aerobic/Anaerobic - lab activity students can do at home! (or a demo that they will watch) 
Quiz

Week 6 
 
Unit 5: Mitosis vs Meiosis,  Cancer (cells dividing ....or over dividing) 
Cell Cycle (foldable - flip books) 
Mitosis(edible activity shared) 
Cancer Research Project 
 Asexual/Sexual Reproduction
Meiosis
Compare mitosis/meiosis
Review/Exam

Weeks 7-8 
Unit 6: DNA, Protein Synthesis, and Mutations 
DNA Replication 
RNA (foldable and charting)
Transcription
Translation - how to read Codon Charts
Mutations - Project 
Review/Exam

Week 9 
Unit 7: Biotechnology 
Project (topics below) 
Recombinant DNA
 GMOs
 DNA Fingerprinting
 Cloning/Stem Cells
Gene Therapy
Quiz on Biotechnology

Weeks 10, 11, and 12 
Unit 8: Simple and Complex Genetics 
Introduction to punnett squares 
Setting up a square 
Learn to solve a square 
Types of punnett squares and characteristics 
Sex-Linked Traits
Pedigrees (track YOUR family tree!)
 Multiple Alleles - blood type labs (online) 
 Karyotypes
Review/Exam

Weeks 13, 14, and 15 
Unit 9: Evolution and Classification (how did we get here and what category do we fit in?) 
Timelines/Miller-Urey  
Natural Selection
Evidence of Evolution
Speciation
Animal Behavior
Plant Adaptations
Classification/Taxonomy/Dichotomous Keys
Evolution Activity 
Cladograms
Create your own cladogram 
Review/Exam
 
Week 16 - 17
Unit 9: Ecological Relationships (symbiosis and energy transfer)  and Human Impact 
  *What is Ecology?
* Discuss living organism interactions: predator, prey, commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism 
*Gorongosa Project 
*Food webs and Food Chains 
* Effects on the environment 
*Human impacts on the environment Project 
*Review/Test 

Week 18
Review
Final Exam