August 9, 2026

Dear Biology students and parents,

Welcome to high school biology class. There are 22 of you in class this year, which is exciting! I’ve ordered more microscopes, more dissection specimens, more scalpels, more of everything – so we’ll have plenty of lab equipment for each of you to fully participate in lab time.

Our textbook, Exploring Creation with Biology, has 16 chapters, called “modules.”  In general, it will take us two weeks to cover one chapter; however, our year is only 28 weeks long.  So, I’ll adjust our pace to cover a particular chapter in one week and you’ll take an exam “at home”, or I’ll combine two chapters and give you an “open book” exam in class.  We’ll work it out to study the whole book.

This Syllabus for Biology 202627 is our schedule for this year.  Although it’s not carved in stone, it will give you an idea of what’s due and when.

Most high school students know how to study and will be able to pass biology class with an “A” or a “B”.  To learn biology well, these students will —

1. Read the assigned chapter when (or before) we begin it in class.
2. Read it again for review before the exam.
3. Take notes, or underline, or use stickies to call attention to the main points of a chapter.
4. Complete their vocabulary cards right away and learn definitions of chapter biology words throughout the two weeks.
   1. Purchase a stack (a large stack) of 3 x 5 cards. On one side, write the vocabulary word; on the other side write the definition in your own words.
   2. You must write the word and definition in your own handwriting. Do not use a “flash card generator”.
   3. Vocabulary cards are due on exam day for a grade.
5. Take good notes, make detailed drawings of specimens during lab time.
   1. Labs can be microscopic observation, field observations (outside), dissections, and class problem-solving scenarios.
   2. Lab reports follow a precise format, which I will teach you.
   3. Lab reports are due the week after you’ve completed a lab.
   4. If you’re absent, you can’t make up a lab, but it also won’t count against you.
6. Study ahead of time for an exam.
   1. Exams are mostly objective – vocabulary matching, true/false, multiple choice.
   2. You can also expect to label a specimen drawing, such as the frog.
7. Turn in answers to “Study Guide” questions on time.
8. Speaking of “on time”, I only allow a one week “grace period” for late assignments. After that, I will not accept them, and you’ll receive a “0” in the grade report.

Our biology class is a foundational course for any further study in life sciences.  Because of its lab component, your parents may include it on your high school transcript as a “lab science credit.” Do well, and you could even take and pass the CLEP biology exam, receiving college biology credits without taking another beginning course! Plus, you’ll be able to impress your relatives during your next family picnic when you discuss exponential growth curves and the role of amoebocytes in the anatomy of a sponge!

Biology knowledge is priceless. Enjoy it.  I do.

I’m excited to see you on September 9, at 9 a.m.!

Mrs. B