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Course name
Biology with Lab (Prentice Hall), Part One with MacBeth Derham
Recorded course taught by MacBeth Derham for High School Biology
Summary

Join this high school biology course and fully prepare your student in the basics of biology, with topics in the biology and chemistry of life, cells, photosynthesis, genetics, DNA and the human genome, Darwin’s theories, and more.

Instructors: MacBeth Derham

Course Description: 

This biology course is a general overview of high school biology presented from a Catholic perspective. Students will be completing vocabulary sheets every class for a better understanding of the material. This course prepares students for ACT/SAT science. Students are expected to take notes during class and ask questions. Notes will help with class quizzes, as quizzes are open book. There will be 7 required labs that are explicitly aligned with the Biology Part One classes. Biology Part One Labs are to be performed with minimum equipment and will consist of common household supplies.

Special notes

This is Part One of a two-part course. Students are expected to sign up for Part Two.

Total classes

14

Duration

70 minutes

Prerequisites

None

Suggested grade level

9th to 12th grade

Suggested credit

One full semester Biology or Science

Outline

  • Class 1 The Science of Biology

  • Class 2 The Chemistry of Life

  • Class 3 Ecosystems and Communities

  • Class 4 Humans and the Biosphere

  • Class 5 Cell Structure and Function

  • Class 6 Photosynthesis

  • Class 7 Cellular Respiration

  • Class 8 Cell Growth and Division

  • Class 9 Genetics

  • Class 10 DNA and RNA

  • Class 11 The Human Genome

  • Class 12 Darwin’s Theory

  • Class 13 History of Life

  • Class 14 Classification

Lab sequence:

1. Osmosis Lab – In this investigation, we will use a hen’s fresh egg to determine what happens during osmosis and diffusion across membranes.

2. Fermentation – We will set up a fermentation in a closed system and capture the generated carbon dioxide to carbonate root beer.

3. Mitosis Flip Book – We are drawing our own moving cell division!

4. Punnett Square – Applying our knowledge of phenotypes and genotypes to complete a worksheet.

5. Genetic Match – Students will determine the presence of certain high-frequency traits in themselves and their family members.

6. DNA Extraction – We will be creating a mixture to extract DNA from a strawberry!

7. M&M Lab – Activity to simulate the process of radioactive decay and to illustrate the concept of half-life.

Materials

Homework

Expect to spend approximately two-plus hours each Class outside of the classroom on vocabulary study, reading, and quizzes. Vocabulary is assigned alongside the reading for better understanding of the material and to prepare the student for the live lecture. Most of the computer-graded quiz material is based on vocabulary and what is presented in class. The sequence of events for each class is as follows:

1. Read the assigned chapter(s)

2. Write the provided vocabulary words in your notebook

3. Watch the recording.

4. Take the weekly computer-graded quiz

Lab Homework: Students will perform labs at home after class when assigned; labs require ½-1 hour.

Course name
Biology with Lab (Prentice Hall), Part One with MacBeth Derham
Instructor
MacBeth Derham
Semester
Recorded
Category
Science ➤ Biology
Grade levels
High School
Start time
December 19th, 2023 at 12:00 AM ET
Course type
Recorded, free with subscription
Relative due dates
Relative due dates are disabled for this course.
Enhanced quiz security
Enhanced assignment security

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MacBeth Derham
macbethderham@gmail.com

About MacBeth Derham

MacBeth Derham studied biology at Mount Holyoke College and has taught natural history in the field for over 35 years. She currently teaches classes for her homeschool group, tutors math and science privately, and conducts a Marine Biology field school twice a year for local students.

From 2005-2020 she worked with The Front Lawn Players, a Shakespeare troupe made up of students ages 3-18, as both a speech coach and director. She spent the summer of 2017 in Oxford studying literature (including Shakespeare), philosophy, theology, and history. A more than reasonable amount of her time there was spent out of doors, in nature, walking the paths loved by Lewis, Tolkien, and friends. An amateur wildlife and travel photographer, many of her courses feature her own images of creature encounters from both home and abroad. Thanks to her children, she has a fine collection of animal skulls and skeletons.

Mrs. Derham speaks at homeschool conferences on the interdisciplinary need for nature study. She is a retired homeschooling mother of four very different grown children, grandmother of 4 west-coasters, and wife to Don.

  

Click here for more info about MacBeth Derham!

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