Instructor: Kirby Bosse

Room: 2100

Email: kbosse@lcisd.org
Conference Period: 10:05-11:05

Year: 2016-2017
Phone: 832-223-4200

Class Website: http://www.lcisd.org/campuses/georgeranchhs/teachers/TeacherDetails?s=9&t=kbosse

Twitter: @GRHSBosse
Remind: Text @kbio2016
Edmodo code: m2hhjk

Course Description
This is an PreAP Biology class; the goal at the end of the year is for all students to pass and get
commended on the STAAR test, which is needed to graduate. It will take a tremendous amount of
dedication and studying on the students part to be successful.
PreAP Biology will increase students understanding of biological concepts, extend students knowledge
of science as a process, and enhance test-taking strategies. Students will use critical thinking and scientific
problem solving to make informed decisions in field and laboratory investigations. Study will include
structures and functions of cells and viruses; growth and development of organisms; cells, tissues, and
organs; nucleic acids and genetics; biological evolution; taxonomy; metabolism and energy transfers in
living organisms; living systems, homeostasis; ecosystems; and plants and the environment.
Success in PreAP Biology will require teamwork to complete labs as well as projects, and
more importantly, study teams and cooperative work will benefit everyone involved.
Learning is always enhanced when viewpoints are shared and discussions present
information in different ways.

Class Textbook:

*Please be sure that you have

access to an MLD if one is not
available to you they are available
for checkout in the library.

Materials Needed

What to Bring to Class Every Day

Preparedness is extremely important! Please bring the
following items, every day, to class!
Interactive notebook
Pen or pencil, hi-liter

Composition book
Pen, pencil, hi-liters
Suggested:
markers/colored
pencils, scissors, glue
stick

Lab Component
Labs are an integral part of the course and take up at least 40% of the time in class. All labs
are hands-on and the students will be required to complete a full lab write up on many of the labs.
All students must have a safety contract on file to participate in labs.

Interactive notebook
In this class you will be required to keep all assignments in your Interactive Notebook. They will be used in
this class daily to help you learn and remember important scientific concepts. The science notebook is a
written record of student learning and a unique means of organizing student work. Expectations are that
each student will communicate their understanding of the purpose of the unit as a whole and of individual
activities. The students will record (in their own words and drawings) procedures, investigations,
experimental design, data collection, conclusions, reflections, and questions for further investigation.
Periodic grades will be given on the notebook; students are expected to keep up with the daily
requirements.

Classroom Expectations

Be in your seat when the bell rings and be prepared to learn!

Refrain from talking while the teacher is talking.
Raise your hand and wait to be called upon.
All homework is due at the beginning of the class period. Dont come to class with work
to be finished or printed!
LEAVE FOOD AND DRINKS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM!
Do not work on other subjects during my class time, they will be permanently confiscated
Talking during test or quizzes = ZERO!
We do not Lie, Cheat, or Steal.
AND ABOVE ALL Treat others as you would like to be treated!

Discipline Procedures
1. Verbal warning
2. Conference with student and a phone call home.
3. Discipline referral
*Major disruptions will result in removal from the classroom and an automatic discipline referral.

Absences & Make-Up Work

1. YOU are responsible for all work missed during an absence.
2. Failure to make up missed work will result in a ZERO.
3. An absence on the day of a pre-announced test, quiz or project due-date does not excuse you from completing
the assignment immediately upon your return. I will not have time to allow you to make up the test during class
time. You must make time before or after school to make up the test/quiz.
4. A grace period equal to the number of days missed, plus one, is allowed for daily make-up work.
5. If you are absent on the day of a major grade assignment in which the due date was known in advance, you
must turn it in early or on the due date to prevent any late penalties. Fieldtrips, doctor appointments, being sick,

early release for sporting events, etc. are not acceptable reasons to turn in major assignments late. Plan ahead to
avoid any problems!
6. Tests are to be completed within one week of the original test date to avoid earning a zero. Make-up tests can
be taken before or after school.

Student Evaluation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

We will begin class with warm-ups. Please come in and begin working.
There will occasionally be a formal lab report for a lab that has been done in class.
Reading the chapters will be necessary to understanding the concepts we are studying.
All work should have a heading in the upper right hand corner (Name, Period, and Date).
Work without a name will be discarded after 1 week.
Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in a zero on the assignment along with a discipline referral.

Test days for science are Monday and Wednesday. Tests will always be pre-announced and
students should be prepared for these days.

Late Work Policy

1 day late = -20 points
2 days late = -50 points
3+ days late = grade 0

Weighted Grades
Major (70%): Tests, Projects,
Major Labs, Article Analysis,
Quizzes (4 quizzes = 1 major grade)
Minor (30%): Classwork,
homework, & minor labs

Article Analysis
According the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) The student will communicate and apply
scientific information extracted from various sources such as current events, news reports, published
journal articles, and marketing materials; the student will evaluate the impact of scientific research on
society and the environment.
Each Article Analysis will be recorded as a Major Grade (70%) of the overall student average. Articles
must be from the following sources: scientific periodicals (Scientific American, Discover Science, Science
News, Biotechnology and You, Kids Discover, etc.) or from the newspaper, Time, Newsweek, or special
Internet sites such as the National Institute of Health. The topic of the Article Analysis must relate to a
topic we have covered in that six weeks. Due dates for the Article Analysis will be given three four
weeks in advance (always on class calendar) and will always be placed at the end of the six weeks. (see
Article Analysis handout for more information)
It is important the student understand how to read the article and then communicate their thoughts
and feelings in their own words. Therefore, as all students will have a GRHS academic integrity contract
on file, if it is determined that the student plagiarized they will receive a grade of zero.

Tutoring
I encourage students to come for tutoring! I will be available Tuesday mornings from
3:45-4:15pm and Wednesday afternoons from 3:45-4:15pm. My goal is your success!

Syllabus

PROCESS SKILLS to be used throughout the year:

Observing
Graphing
Predicting
Collecting/Recording Data
Measuring
Interpreting/Analyzing Data
Controlling Variables
Scientific Method, Hypotheses vs. Theory
Analyzing, Inferring, and Evaluating
Lab Safety

SEMESTER 1
1st Six Weeks (8/22 9/30)
Ecology
Interactions among organisms
Flow of Matter & Energy through trophic levels
Carbon and nitrogen cycles
Succession
Ecosystems and changes
Conservation of Resources

SEMESTER 2
4th Six Weeks (1/2 2/17)
DNA and Cell Cycle
Replication & Mitosis
Diseases (Cancer, etc)
Protein Synthesis & Mutations
Cell differentiation
Transcription and translation
Mutations (diseases, cancer, etc.)

2nd Six Weeks (10/3 11/4)

Biological Systems
Levels of organization
Interactions of Body Systems
Specialized cells
Interactions of systems
Biomolecules
Role of Enzymes
Organic molecules
Nucleic Acids
Components, structure
Genetic code
Specialized cells
Of plants & of animals
Cell growth & division
Replication & Mitosis
Diseases (Cancer, etc)

3rd Six Weeks (11/7 12/16)

Multicellular organisms
Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells
Specialized cells
Of plants & of animals
Cellular Processes
Transport and synthesis
Feedback mechanisms/Homeostasis

5th Six Weeks (2/20 4/14)

Genetics & DNA Technology
Meiosis
Genetic variations /Human Genetics
Gene expression
DNA analysis techniques
*GATTACA (PG-13) 1997 will be shown

Evolution
Evidence
Fossil record
Natural Selection
Different reproductive successes
Adaptation & development of a species
Biological evolution & populations
Effects of evolutionary mechanisms
Species diversity & survival

6th Six Weeks (4/17 6/2)

Taxonomy
Bacteria
Protista
Fungi
Plants
Viruses & Microorganisms
Structure
Viral reproduction
Role of viruses in causing disease

*Some labs will require the usage of food

items; and some labs will be able to be
consumed at the conclusion of the lab on the
discretion of each individual student.

*Outbreak (R) 1997 will be shown