Living Environment 9 th Grade

1. Living Environment 9th Grade Ms. Baron

2. What is Living Environment? • Living Environment provides a broad understanding of the fundamental principles of biology. It focuses on specific areas of biochemistry, human physiology, reproduction and development, modern genetics, modern evolution, and ecology.  Laboratory exercises reinforce the basic principles in each of the course topics.  Following this course, students will be prepared to take the Living Environment Regents examination.

3. Topics Covered in Living Environment • Introduction to Biology • Ecology (includes biomes, biodiversity, and ecosystems) • Chemistry in Biology (includes the molecular components that make up our body) • Cells (including cell organelles, cellular energy, mitosis and meiosis) • Genetics (inheritance of traits, DNA replication) • Evolution • The Human Body

4. Homework • Homework will be given 1-3 times a week • Once SAP begins, homework can only be given on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays • Homework will be collected the day after it is assigned (unless a later due date is given)

5. Projects • Throughout the year, projects will be assigned based on material taught in class. • Projects will need to be completed at home or during homework period and will count as a test grade. • For each day a project is late, students lose 5 points off their final grade • Ex: if a project is 3 days late the highest the student can get is an 85 • If a project is more than 4 days late, a phone call will be made home

6. Living Environment Lab • There is a lab requirement to Living Environment class. 9th grade students have lab on the following days: • HR 12: Period 9, Tuesdays and Fridays Periods 8 and 9, Blue Wednesdays • HR 13: Period 5, Tuesdays and Fridays Periods 4 and 5, Blue Wednesdays • HR 14: Period 5, Mondays and Wednesdays Periods 4 and 5, Red Wednesdays

7. Tests/Quizzes • Science test day: Wednesday • This means that a science test can only be given on Wednesdays. Each subject has a different test day. • Format of Tests/Quizzes • Quizzes: multiple choice Regents questions ONLY, sometimes teacher made questions (short answer or multiple choice) • Tests: multiple choice AND short answer Regents questions

8. Extra Credit Policy • If a student is unhappy with a test or quiz grade, they can do test corrections to gain up to 5 points back.

9. Grade Breakdown • 70% tests/quizzes/projects • 10% Homework • 10% Classwork/Labs • 10% Participation

10. Living Environment Regents • The Living Environment Regents is broken into 4 sections: • Part A: 30 Multiple Choice Questions • Part B-1: Approximately 12 Multiple Choice Questions • Part B-2: Approximately 11 Questions containing a mix of multiple choice, short answer, and a graph • Part C: Approximately 16 Short Answer Questions • Part D: Approximately 12 Questions containing a mix of short answer and multiple choice • Part D Questions contain information on the 4 required Regents labs

11. Resources for the Regents • Barron’s Living Environment Books – Red and Blue Both books can be purchased at Barnes and Noble or Amazon The red one contains old exams and explanations for each question The blue one contains a breakdown of each topic covered on the Regents

12. Resources for the Regents • http://reviewbiology.com • This website contains games, questions grouped by topic, important vocabulary, and test taking strategies • https://www.syvum.com/exam/regents/living_environment/ • Interactive versions of the tests: grades it for you as you take it! • http://www.biovideotutor.com/ • Contains videos containing tips and tricks to pass the Regents • Costs $79, but they guarantee if you finish the course and watch all the videos and still fail they will refund your money.

13. Important Dates • Science Quiz: Wednesday, September 26, 2018 (on characteristics of living things and the scientific method)

14. Any Questions?