Life Science is a laboratory-based science class designed for 9th or 10th grade high school students. Successful completion of the class earns the student 10 semester units, and meets the high school graduation requirement for a life science class.

BRIEF COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will cover concepts and theories relating to the scientific field of Life Science. Topics will include ecology, cells, heredity and evolution, classification, a brief survey of the six kingdoms of life, and the human body. The students will learn through reading, homework questions, models, Internet research, and application of scientific theories through projects and laboratory experiments.

COURSE OUTLINE:
Life Science is divided into six units of study, as described below:

Unit No.	Unit Name	Chapters Covered	Unit Length	Homework Due Dates	Test Dates
1	ECOLOGY	18-20	5 weeks	HW 1A: Sept. 12 HW 1B: Sept. 26	Sept. 26
2	CELLS	1-3	6 weeks	HW 2A: Oct. 17 HW 2B: Nov. 7	Nov. 7
3	HEREDITY & EVOLUTION	4-6	6 weeks	HW 3A: Nov. 28 HW 3B: Dec. 19	Dec. 19 = Midterm Exam
4	HUMAN BODY I	32-34*	4 weeks	HW 4A: Jan. 23 HW 4B: Feb. 6	February 6
5	HUMAN BODY II	35-37*	4 weeks	HW 5A: Feb. 20 HW 5B: March 6	March 6
6	EVOLUTION, GEOLOGIC TIME, CLASSIFICATION	14-17*	5 weeks	HW 6A: Mar. 27 HW 6B: April 17	April 17
7	SURVEY OF SIX KINGDOMS	21, 23, 24, 30*	5 weeks	HW 7A: May 8 HW 7B: May 22	May 22 = Final Exam

TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:

• Life Science; Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, © 1999 (Unit 1-3)
• *Biology, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2007 (Units 4-7)

*    Answer Keys to all section review and chapter review questions from textbook; MiniLab guidelines.
*    Laboratory materials, including microscopes, slides, dissecting microscopes, dissection kits, test tubes, beakers, science kits, fresh and preserved organisms, simple chemicals, household supplies and equipment.

LABORATORY ASSIGNMENTS:
*   Life Science will feature not less than 12 in-class laboratory explorations and experiments. Sample labs:
1.    Ecology: Studying a Land Environment
2.    Cells: Examining Plant & Animal Cells under Magnification
3.    Heredity and Evolution: Determining Genotype from Phenotype
4.    Human Body I: Chemoreceptor Locations.
5.    Human Body II: Measuring Respiration
6.    Diversity of Life: Dichotomous Key Animal Identification
7.    Survey of the Six Kingdoms: Squid Dissection

*    In addition, not less than 18 at-home lab explorations and experiments are required. Sample MiniLabs from textbook:
1.    Ecology: Freshwater Environments (MiniLab 19-2, p. 532)
2.    Cells: How does temperature affect the rate of diffusion of molecules? (MiniLab 3-2, p. 72)
3.    Heredity and Evolution: Comparing RNA and DNA (MiniLab 4-2, p. 108)
4.    Human Body I: How do muscle pairs work? (MiniLab 21-1, p. 587)
5.    Human Body II: What immunizations are given to babies and young children? (MiniLab 26-2, 718)
6.    Diversity of Life: How are fossils made? (MiniLab 6-2, p. 163).
7.    Survey of the Six Kingdoms: How can the use of carbon dioxide by plants be shown? (MiniLab 12-1, p. 318)

All courses at Valley Oaks Charter School are based on the California State Standards, as approved by the CA Department of Education.  Go to the following link to view the Biology/Life Science Standards:  http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/scbiology.asp

SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS COURSE:
- Parent
The parent is expected to prepare daily and weekly assignments, provide daily oversight by checking for completion and correctness of assignments, evaluate and stay current on the student’s progress, sign and date assignments in order for the student to receive credit, keep track of student progress in a notebook/folder, attend monthly parent workshops, keep in regular communication with the course instructor, and utilize the full spectrum of resources available from VOCS and other sources.
-  Student
The student is expected to read all assigned material, complete all assigned homework by the due date, ask for assistance when needed from parent and/or instructor, and work in this subject every day.  Also, complete all at-home lab assignments and in-class laboratories.
-  Instructor
The instructor will provide course orientations, monthly course overviews and training for the parents on the 2nd or 3rd Tuesday of each month, in-class oversight and guided study/instruction for students on all other Tuesdays each month, provide in-class laboratory exercises once every 3 weeks, administer in-class assessments/tests on a regular basis, maintain a current list of supplementary resources and materials, and be available to parents and students on a continuing basis.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND/OR STRATEGIES USED IN MASTERING CONCEPTS AND OBJECTIVES:
*    At Home:  Reading and homework questions in textbook, vocabulary study, Internet research, drawings, and mini-labs.
*    At School:  Lecture-based instruction for mastery of key concepts, in-class guided practice, small group work, laboratory experiments and exercises

ASSESSMENT/GRADING: 
*    At Home (30%):  Reading, homework, vocabulary study, on-line chapter quizzes, Internet research, drawings, and mini-labs.
*    At School (70%):  class participation, six laboratory experiments, four unit tests, a midterm exam and a final exam.

GRADING BREAKDOWN:
The grades in this class will be awarded as follows, based on joint assessment done by both parent and instructor.
             A                          B                            C                           D                        F

	87% – 89.9% = B+	77% – 79.9% = C+	67% – 69.9% = D+	0% – 59.9% = F
93%-100% = A	83% – 86.9% = B	73% – 76.9% = C	63% – 66.9% = D
90%–92.9%  = A-	80% – 82.9% = B-	70% – 72.9% = C-	60% – 62.9% = D-