Accelerated Biology s1

Accelerated Biology -Pre-Course Assignment-

This is an introductory course that is taught at an advanced level. This course should prepare students for the critical thinking and problem solving skills required in higher-level high school and college courses. We will study everything from the molecular infrastructure of life to the complex interactions of living organisms.

Please be sure to bring your completed assignment on the first day of class. Depending on your schedule, this would either be the first day of school OR the first day of the second semester.

All work should be typed or neatly written. Failure to turn in the assignment will result in a zero. This assignment is worth the equivalent of one test grade. You will incur a 20% reduction in points on this assignment for each day that the assignment is late.

If you’d like, you can access this document on the teacher pages of any of the teachers listed below, allowing you to type your answers directly into the document instead of having to write. These can be accessed on the GASD website.

Mrs. Biggins:

http://gettysburg.schoolwires.net/domain/118

Mr. Harvey

http://gettysburg.schoolwires.net/Domain/362

If you have questions over the summer, you can e-mail either…

Mrs. Biggins – [email protected]

Mr. Harvey – [email protected]

We will check our e-mail at least once a week and respond to your questions. Part I: Vocabulary

This list represents the vocabulary that you will encounter in the first unit of Accelerated Biology. So that each student has the same definition for each word, you may find the definitions that you are expected to know, at: http://quizlet.com/_3pii5

Prior to starting Accelerated Biology, you must commit these definitions to memory. You will have a vocabulary quiz using these words within the first few days of the course. The website listed above provides you not only with the definitions, but also with some games that will help you learn the words.

Part II: Review of Scientific Method- Answer the following questions.

1. How many variables do you test within one experiment?

2. Why is a control variable necessary?

3. How do quantitative and qualitative data differ?

4. Why do scientists use quantitative data most often?

5. How does a law differ from a theory?

Scientific Method: Read the scenario below and answer the questions that follow.

Mr. Blanchard wants to know the effect of different colors of light on the growth of plants. He believes that plants can grow best in white light. He buys five ferns of the same species, which are all approximately the same age and height. He places one in white light, one in blue light, one in green light, one in red light and one in the closet. All of the ferns are planted in Miracle- Grow and given 20 mL of water once a day for two weeks. Mr. Blanchard makes observations for two weeks.

Based on the data above – answer the following questions. Hypothesis: If ______, then ______

Independent Variable: ______

Dependent Variable: ______

Control Group: ______

Experimental Group: ______

Control Variables: ______

What type of measurements can Mr. Blanchard make on the plants to determine how they did in different types of light? ______

Scientific Method Scenarios: Hypotheses are generally written as an if/then statement. Use an if/then statement to write a hypothesis. Identify the independent and dependent variables for each scenario below.

1. Will loud music affect the height of corn plants? a. Hypothesis: ______b. Independent Variable: ______c. Dependent Variable: ______

2. Will water affect mold growth? a. Hypothesis: ______b. Independent Variable: ______c. Dependent Variable: ______3. Will growing tomato plants in water affect mass size? a. Hypothesis: ______b. Independent Variable: ______c. Dependent Variable: ______

4. Will salt affect the breathing rate of a goldfish? a. Hypothesis: ______b. Independent Variable: ______c. Dependent Variable: ______

5. Will the use of bug spray attract fewer mosquitoes? a. Hypothesis: ______b. Independent Variable: ______c. Dependent Variable: ______

Part III: Metric System Review

In a science classroom we use the metric system. The metric system is based on the number 10.

What is the base unit for volume?

What is the base unit for mass?

What is the base unit for length?

What is the base unit for temperature?

Convert the following metric problems:

A. 83 g = ____kg F. 12L = ____mL

B. 250 cm = _____m G. 98 degrees F = ______C

C. 7000mL = _____L H. 14.3 m = _____km

D. 50 mg = _____g I . 57g = ______mg

E. 32mm = ____cm

Part IV: Science & Society

Science is not taught in isolation. Science is all around us – sometimes we don’t even realize it. We would like you to read two articles from our Biology Research Libguide - http://gettysburghs.libguides.com/biologyresearch -- you can find links to the articles on the left- hand side of the homepage of the libquide. This is an RSS feed of various science articles. If you click on the button that says “website”, you will have more articles from which to choose. Choose two articles that interest you and complete the attached Article Analysis form. You should use APA format to properly cite the article. This libquide also contains links to citation machines to help you do the citations. We will also use this libguide during the Biology Course to prepare the Independent Research Project. Consider exploring this site to learn more about scientific research. Science Article Analysis #1

Title of the Article

Main / Big Idea or Point (What is the article about?) Author

APA Citation

e l c i t r a

s l i a t e D

Outcome, Ending, or Future Projections Personal Opinion….what’s good or bad? Why? Science Article Analysis #2

Title of the Article

Main / Big Idea or Point (What is the article about?) Author

APA Citation

e l c i t r a

s l i a t e D

Outcome, Ending, or Future Projections Personal Opinion….what’s good or bad? Why? CATEGORY 10 7 4 1 Five questions Four questions have Two or three One question has the have correct the correct answers. questions have the correct answer. Less Review of Sci. answers. Six Less than five correct answers. Less than 20 answers are Method scenarios have answers are than 10 answers are incorrect within the correct answers. incorrect within the incorrect within the scenarios scenarios scenarios Four questions are Three questions are Two questions are One question is answered answered correctly. answered correctly. answered correctly. Metric System correctly. Nine Seven or eight Four to six One to three Review conversions are conversions are conversions are conversions are correct correct correct correct

Student describes Student describes Student summarizes Student has great clearly what the what the article is most of the article difficulty article is about and about and is able to accurately, but has summarizing the is able to extract extract the some slight article and/or has Article Analysis the supporting supporting details misunderstanding. failed to fully #1 details and offer a and offer a The article is not complete the summary. The summary The article correctly cited. analysis and citation. article is cited in is cited in APA APA format. format. Student describes Student describes Student summarizes Student has great clearly what the what the article is most of the article difficulty article is about and about and is able to accurately, but has summarizing the is able to extract extract the some slight article and/or has Article Analysis the supporting supporting details misunderstanding. failed to fully #2 details and offer a and offer a The article is not complete the summary. The summary. The correctly cited. analysis and citation. article is cited in article is cited in APA format. APA format. Name: ______Score ______/40

***There will be a 20% reduction for each day your assignment is late.