Biology

This course includes laboratory work, study of specimens, projects, and a thorough understanding of scientific inquiry.  Course content encompasses interrelationships of living things, levels of biological organization, cellular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and evolution.  Students should be prepared to conduct projects and write a formal lab report. Instruction centers around inquiry based learning that is incorporated into class activities.  Learning activities include teacher-lead instruction, group work, student seatwork, project-based learning, and lab exercises with both student-choice and teacher-choice grouping.  Students can expect to start each day with a bell ringer assignment followed by learning activities and/or lecture.   At times students will work independently from the teacher in order to achieve student autonomy expected of upper school students.  Classes are structured to utilize every minute for learning and assessing understanding.  Real world application is a daily objective.  Higher-level thinking will be incorporated into each lesson as well as use of technology when applicable to increase student achievement.  Students are expected to participate in all activities and actively engage and ask questions during teacher-led lecture.  Students are also expected to review and study the content covered in class outside of school daily.