The Biology Enrichment Course is a 2.5-credit class designed for 11th and 12th grade students seeking additional support to prepare for the Biology MCAS exam. The curriculum emphasizes the review of essential biology standards and the development of skills necessary to succeed on the Biology MCAS. The class uses a mastery-learning, standards and project-based approach that caters to individual student needs.

Unit

Time-
frame

Big Ideas
(Statements or Essential Questions)

Major Learning Experiences from Unit 

Unit 1 Digestion

9 Days
(~3 weeks) 

  • What are the components of macromolecules?

  • How do enzymes help digest food?

  • How are proteins created?

  • What are the structures and functions of the digestive system?

  • How do molecules move from the digestive system into the blood?

  • What are the different types of feeding relationships in an ecosystem?

  • Why does energy decrease as it moves through trophic levels?

Unit 2

Respiration

9 Days
(~3 weeks) 

  • What are the structures and functions of the digestive system?

  • How do gasses move from the respiratory system into the blood?

  • How does cellular respiration use oxygen and food to produce energy?

  • How does photosynthesis produce oxygen and food?

  • What is the relationship between cellular respiration and photosynthesis in an ecosystem?

  • What are the evolutionary adaptations of the respiratory system?

  • What are some examples of lung infections and what are the differences between viral and bacterial infections?

Unit 3

Circulation

9 Days
(~3 weeks) 

  • How do the components of the circulatory system work in collaboration with the digestive and respiratory system to transport gasses, nutrients and blood throughout the body?

  • How do nutrients and gasses move throughout the body and into cells?

  • How do white and red blood cells regenerate through the process of mitosis?

  • How can comparing anatomical systems and DNA/protein sequences across different organisms provide evidence for evolution?

  • How have different types of circulatory systems evolved in various organisms to meet their specific physiological needs?

  • How does speciation occur? 

Unit 4

Repro-
duction

9 Days
(~3 weeks)

  • How does meiosis contribute to the life cycle of organisms, and what is its role in sexual reproduction?

  • What factors contribute to genetic variation, and why is genetic diversity important for populations?

  • How can Punnett squares be used to predict the inheritance of traits in offspring?

  • How do genetics and the environment interact to influence the traits and characteristics of organisms?

Unit 5
Review

4-6 Days
(~2 weeks) 

  • Review all standards, including special emphasis on topics covered in biology class, but not enrichment class:

    • LS2-1: Populations

    • LS2-5: Carbon Cycle

    • LS2-6: Ecosystem Changes

    • LS2-7: Human Impact

  • MCAS Practice Exams