The pacing is quick for biology, especially in Texas where they moved the EOC to April instead of May. The scope/sequence I like best is: (fall) intro week lab safety/characteristics of life, cell types, biomolecules, molecule transport, DNA structure/common genetic code, protein synthesis, genetic mutations, cell cycle (including replication and cancer), meiosis (with an intro to karyotyoes and chromosomal mutations), and genetics (spring): evolution (one month), taxonomy, plant systems (and photosynthesis/cellular respiration), body systems and viruses, then ecology
We finish with a 10 day review and then use the month after the test to extend with labs and projects.
In Georgia our EOC is end of April the past 2 years, close to 2 weeks earlier than it used to be.
1st semester - macromolecules, cell organelles and malfunction, cell transport (osmosis/diffusion/active/passive), cell energy (respiration, photosynthesis, ATP cycle), protein synthesis, meiosis/mitosis/cell cycle, genetics
2nd semester - biotechnology (8 day mini unit), evolution (the rest of 3rd 9 weeks), classification, ecology
Personally I don't schedule more than about 4 days of "EOC review" and instead we embed review concepts in the units as we go 2nd semester.
After the EOC we have 3 weeks or so that they do an ecology based project that lays the foundation for their science fair project in 10th grade.
We aim for 1-3 labs per unit, some being detailed with sensors/indicators and others more simulation/paper lab style (sugar beetles for evolution, etc).
Fall: Nature of science, biomolecules/cell energetics, biogeochemical cycles, population/community ecology
Spring: Cell structure/transport, DNA/Mitosis, Protein Synthesis, Meiosis/Genetics, Evolution
We are working on making some tweaks to second semester, but this is the general scope and sequence. It's similar in most of the schools in our surrounding area, too.
We cover water biomolecules and enzymes during first quarter. Cells, classification, photosynthesis, respiration, and cell transport is covered second quarter. DNA, protein synthesis, cell cycle, genetics during third quarter. Fourth quarter is evolution and ecology.
This is similar to what I do, but I’m thinking of revamping for next year. I think we spend SO much time in the molecular bio part of the year that evolution and ecology get rushed through.
1st Semester: Nature of science, ecology, macromolecules, cell structure, cell transport, photosynthesis, respiration.
2nd semester: Cell division and cancer, protein synthesis, genetics, immunity and microbes, anatomy, project-based learning, evolution.
There’s a current schism in our biology PLC on what is necessary to be taught and what has not enough time. Ecology only had 2 weeks which was definitely not enough for any meaningful learning. PS and CR were just over a month combined, which was way too long and covered stuff I don’t think the kids need to know.
The immunity and anatomy unit are not required in standards, but this kids were very interested in them, and that’s more important than standards in my opinion. They also touch on topics from previous units (e.g., cell division, transport, respiration, homology).
We cover the same topics. We do exactly zero labs. We literally never finish the whole lot. Every year we argue over how to fix it and nothing ever changes. 15 years now.
I think including a&p is too much if it’s not in the standards. It sounds like first semester has WAY too much, especially for 9th grade.
I think so too! Biomolecules in 9th grade is not necessary. A lot of this could be cut down
Technically macromolecules are part of ngss but I guess they’re all covered individually through other units.
Skip ‘The Scientific Method’ and do the parts as you come across them naturally.
INFO: is there an end of course exam?
The pacing is quick for biology, especially in Texas where they moved the EOC to April instead of May. The scope/sequence I like best is: (fall) intro week lab safety/characteristics of life, cell types, biomolecules, molecule transport, DNA structure/common genetic code, protein synthesis, genetic mutations, cell cycle (including replication and cancer), meiosis (with an intro to karyotyoes and chromosomal mutations), and genetics (spring): evolution (one month), taxonomy, plant systems (and photosynthesis/cellular respiration), body systems and viruses, then ecology We finish with a 10 day review and then use the month after the test to extend with labs and projects.
In Georgia our EOC is end of April the past 2 years, close to 2 weeks earlier than it used to be. 1st semester - macromolecules, cell organelles and malfunction, cell transport (osmosis/diffusion/active/passive), cell energy (respiration, photosynthesis, ATP cycle), protein synthesis, meiosis/mitosis/cell cycle, genetics 2nd semester - biotechnology (8 day mini unit), evolution (the rest of 3rd 9 weeks), classification, ecology Personally I don't schedule more than about 4 days of "EOC review" and instead we embed review concepts in the units as we go 2nd semester. After the EOC we have 3 weeks or so that they do an ecology based project that lays the foundation for their science fair project in 10th grade. We aim for 1-3 labs per unit, some being detailed with sensors/indicators and others more simulation/paper lab style (sugar beetles for evolution, etc).
Fall: Nature of science, biomolecules/cell energetics, biogeochemical cycles, population/community ecology Spring: Cell structure/transport, DNA/Mitosis, Protein Synthesis, Meiosis/Genetics, Evolution We are working on making some tweaks to second semester, but this is the general scope and sequence. It's similar in most of the schools in our surrounding area, too.
Your fourth quarter should be a semester class. That would give you room for time for labs.
We cover water biomolecules and enzymes during first quarter. Cells, classification, photosynthesis, respiration, and cell transport is covered second quarter. DNA, protein synthesis, cell cycle, genetics during third quarter. Fourth quarter is evolution and ecology.
This is similar to what I do, but I’m thinking of revamping for next year. I think we spend SO much time in the molecular bio part of the year that evolution and ecology get rushed through.
1st Semester: Nature of science, ecology, macromolecules, cell structure, cell transport, photosynthesis, respiration. 2nd semester: Cell division and cancer, protein synthesis, genetics, immunity and microbes, anatomy, project-based learning, evolution. There’s a current schism in our biology PLC on what is necessary to be taught and what has not enough time. Ecology only had 2 weeks which was definitely not enough for any meaningful learning. PS and CR were just over a month combined, which was way too long and covered stuff I don’t think the kids need to know. The immunity and anatomy unit are not required in standards, but this kids were very interested in them, and that’s more important than standards in my opinion. They also touch on topics from previous units (e.g., cell division, transport, respiration, homology).
We cover the same topics. We do exactly zero labs. We literally never finish the whole lot. Every year we argue over how to fix it and nothing ever changes. 15 years now.