| |
|
| |
Revision for the Bac Blanc
practice exams in February 2011:
sections in blue
contain material which is new since the last exams
(list updated on January 24th,
2011)
For students in HL, add the following to the above
list:
- D.4 the Hardy-Weinberg principle HL
- D.5 Phylogeny and
systematics HL
Remember, when you study, always follow this order:
- start with the IB Programme Guide for Biology
to see what the assessment statements are (i.e. "Compare prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells.")
- use the guide to help you grasp the difference
between each command term (define, identify, describe, outline,
explain, evaluate... on pages 11 and 12)
- refer to any class notes you have
- see what the sections in the book have to say
- double check that you have memorized all the
scientific vocabulary terms (this is what the flash cards are for) -
you should know them in both
directions: word to definition and definition to word.
- it is worth practising with the questions at the end
of the chapter - you can check your answers at the back of the book
Have a look at my
compositions
groupées revision guide. It contains suggestions
for successful revision and test-taking skills.
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
HL reading for Friday 14 January 2011:
- Section 11.4 Reproduction
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Revision for the Bac Blanc
practice exams in November 2010:
sections in blue
contain material which is new since the last exams
(list updated on October 29th)
For students in HL, add the following to the above
list:
- D.4 the Hardy-Weinberg principle HL
- D.5 Phylogeny and
systematics HL
Remember, when you study, always follow this order:
- start with the IB Programme Guide for Biology
to see what the assessment statements are (i.e. "Compare prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells.")
- use the guide to help you grasp the difference
between each command term (define, identify, describe, outline,
explain, evaluate... on pages 11 and 12)
- refer to any class notes you have
- see what the sections in the book have to say
- double check that you have memorized all the
scientific vocabulary terms (this is what the flash cards are for) -
you should know them in both
directions: word to definition and definition to word.
- it is worth practising with the questions at the end
of the chapter - you can check your answers at the back of the book
Have a look at my
compositions
groupées revision guide. It contains suggestions
for successful revision and test-taking skills.
|
| |
|
| |
SL or HL lessons?
- Update: the students studying Biology at HL will
have lessons on Monday 27 September (see reading and links below Group 4
box) and on Thursday 30 September (although I know some of you will miss
the lesson due to your English field trip).
- Both SL + HL will meet on
October 1st so that
we can get started on the Group 4 Project. (see green box below)
|
| |
Group 4 Project Work:
On Friday the 1st October, we will set up the working
groups (you can choose how to split up into 4 groups of four or five
students each). We will also have a look at the
list of brainstorming
ideas. Note that your group does not have to choose one of the
ideas on the list - it is possible to use the list as inspiration for a new
idea. As you are thinking of ideas, keep in mind the following:
- the idea must be related to biology (something living
or something organic must be involved)
- the idea must be related to the theme (energy and
energy conservation)
- the idea must be testable within the time constrainst
we have and using laboratory equipment which is reasonable to obtain
- it must not be too simple and basic - ideas for
experiments which have obvious answers or which are trivial and
superficial are not appreciated - the work should be challenging and
interesting
- start with the end in mind: the idea should be
something interesting to show parents at the Science Fair in November.
|
| |
|
| |
Links to HL material from Chapter 7:
HL reading to do for Monday 27 September:
- Section 8.2 should be read and assimilated - learn the
vocabulary terms and the chemical processes. Check out the videos
below to help you understand what is going on.
|
| |
HL reading to do for Monday 20 September:
- Section 8.1 should be read and assimilated - learn the
vocabulary terms and the chemical processes. Check out the videos
below to help you understand what is going on.
Links used in class during HL lessons:
- Section 8.1:
Introduction to Cellular Respiration,
Oxidation and Reduction Review,
Oxidation and Reduction in Cellular Respiration,
Glycolysis 1,
Glycolysis 2,
Krebs
/ Citric Acid Cycle,
Krebs Cycle Interactive animation 1,
Krebs Cycle Interactive
animation 2,
Electron Transport Chain,
Electron Transport
Chain animation 1,
Electron Transport Chain animation 2,
Cellular respiration worksheet
- Section 8.2:
Introduction to
photosynthesis,
Introduction to photosynthesis by virtual cell project,
Lesson on
Photosynthesis,
Lesson on Light Dependent Reactions,
Lesson on Light Independent Reacations,
Animation of
photophosphorylation,
Cartoon "From Light to Life",
Ineractive Shockwave activity for photosynthesis,
Photosynthesis Light Reactions song 1 from sciencemusicvideos,
Photosynthesis Light
Reactions song 2 from sciencemusicvideos,
Calvin cycle video,
Virtual Compound Microscope (Shockwave plugin needed),
ATP synthesis worksheet
-
website explaining
cyclic and linear photophosphorylation
-
Wikipedia website describing triose phosphate or PGAL
SL or HL lessons?
- Both SL and HL students are required to attend the
Plenery Session to launch the Group 4 Project on Monday 20
September at 10:15 in the Conference Hall at 65 rue du Theatre.
- The following lessons will be HL only:
- Thursday 16 Sept, Friday 17 Sept, Monday 20 Sept,
Thursday 23rd Sept and Friday 24 Sept.
- After that, depending on our progress and when we
will do the Group 4 Project work, I will let you know when students
following SL courses should come in. Until then, use your time
wisely!
First reading assignment:
- complete section 6.6 about reproduction - learn the
vocabulary terms and be sure that you can do all the things which the
assessment statements say you should be able to do.
Back to School 2010
Welcome back! I hope your summer was fun.
This year in Biology our objectives are the following:
- complete the program in SL and HL
- continue getting practice for Papers 1, 2 and 3
- do the Group 4 project component of our IA (which
includes the fabeled Science Fair)
- complete all other IA work
Corrèze lab reports:
Remember deadline for me to receive them = midnight 31 August 2010.
|
| |
 |
| |
Stuff from Première:
|
 |
Revision for the Testing Week
practice exams in May 2010:
sections in blue
contain material which is new since the last exams
- For the first test, which will be a hybrid of Paper 1
and Paper 2-type questions:
- For the second test of the testing week, which will be
a hybrid of Paper 2 and Paper 3-type
questions,
the revision is all of the above PLUS all the sections of Option D:
- D.1 Origin of life on Earth
- D.2 Species and speciation
- D.3 Human evolution
For students in HL, add the following to the above
list:
- D.4 the Hardy-Weinberg principle
- D.5 Phylogeny and
systematics
Remember, when you study, always follow this order:
- start with the IB Programme Guide for Biology
to see what the assessment statements are (i.e. "Compare prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells.")
- use the guide to help you grasp the difference
between each command term (define, identify, describe, outline,
explain, evaluate... on pages 11 and 12)
- refer to any class notes you have
- see what the sections in the book have to say
- double check that you have memorized all the
scientific vocabulary terms (this is what the flash cards are for) -
you should know them in both
directions: word to definition and definition to word.
- it is worth practising with the questions at the end
of the chapter - you can check your answers at the back of the book
Have a look at my compositions
groupées revision guide. It contains suggestions
for successful revision and test-taking skills.
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Revision for the Bac Blanc
practice exams in February 2010:
- For Paper 1
and Paper 2:
- 2.1 Cell theory
- 2.2 Prokaryotic cells
- 2.3 Eukaryotic cells
- 2.4 Membranes
- 2.5 Cell division
- 3.1 Chemical elements and water
- 3.2 Carbohydrates Lipids and Proteins
- 3.3 DNA structure
- 3.4 DNA replication
- 3.5 Transcription and translation
- For students in HL, add the following to the above
list:
- 7.1 DNA structure HL
- 7.2 DNA replication HL
- 7.3 Transcription HL
- For Paper 3,
the following sections of Option D
- D.1 Origin of life on Earth
- D.2 Species and speciation
- the first half of D.3 Human evolution (D.3.1 to
D.3.6)
- For students in HL, add the following to the above
list:
- D.4 the Hardy-Weinberg principle
- in section D.5, you only need to know D.5.5
about cladistics
Remember, when you study, always follow this order:
- start with the IB Programme Guide for Biology
to see what the assessment statements are (i.e. "Compare prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells.")
- use the guide to help you grasp the difference
between each command term (define, identify, describe, outline,
explain, evaluate... on pages 11 and 12)
- refer to any class notes you have
- see what the sections in the book have to say
- double check that you have memorized all the
scientific vocabulary terms (this is what the flash cards are for) -
you should know them in both
directions: word to definition and definition to word.
- it is worth practising with the questions at the end
of the chapter - you can check your answers at the back of the book
Have a look at my compositions
groupées revision guide. It contains suggestions
for successful revision and test-taking skills.
|
| |
|
| |
To do for the end of the first week in February:
- Complete a lab report about the red cabbage
investigation and send it by email.
Click here to copy and paste at the end of your report the
criteria which will be used to grade you. Only include the DCP
and CE sections, not the D section. The red circles are
placed arbitrarily for the moment - just leave them in place.
- In order to not make the same mistakes as your last
lab, it is suggested that you look back at the comments and assessments
you got on the previous lab report for DCP and CE and make
sure you fix those problems.
- The
user manual for the
Vernier Lab Pro Colorimeter could be useful for helping you to
determine how it works and what degree of precision it has.
- The information in the box below should help you to be
sure you are following the criteria correctly:
|
| |
Helpful Advice for Lab reports
- In your report, you need to
present the following:
- Qualitative observations (things which cannot
be expressed in numbers such as colors, shapes, textures, etc.) This
can sometimes be done by including a drawing or photo of the results with
labels and comments.
- Quantitative observations (this is the raw
data, meaning the things we measured and got numbers for) - be sure to
include UNITS and the ± DEGREE OF
PRECISION
- Processed data - this means new numbers
generated from calculations such as taking an average, determining a
volume, a percent change, etc. Trends in processed data can often be
seen by making a graph.
- Important - please keep the following things in mind:
- any work you give in must be your own work.
The only thing which you do as a team is the laboratory investigation.
You may share raw data but each student then needs to make his or her own
tables, calculations, etc. If you use another group's data or if you
use a photo taken by your lab partner, for example, you must cite your
source. This is also true for any research you do - cite your
source.
- you need to do things the IB way, so be sure to have a
look at the IA criteria in the guide for DCP (Data Collection and
Processing) - page 23 (I think) of the IB Biology Programme Guide
which you got from Miss Burchill's link. It is strongly
recommended that you have those criteria printed out and in front of you
as you work because this is how you will be graded.
- There are helpful hints on the IB Biology Home Page
of Miss Burchill's web site:
click here to see that section. Many of the pages can be
downloaded onto your USB key in PDF format, which is a great idea (see the
top of each page for a link) I would strongly suggest you visit the
following pages:
- "Scientific Investigations"
- notably the section on Results and Processing and Analysis of
Results.
- "ICT in Biology"
- notably the section on Data Processing
- "Drawing Tables"
- please note where the units are, where the
± degree of precision is placed and how the decimal points are all
ligned up in columns. That's how we want you to do tables in the IB.
- "Error Analyisis in
Biology"
- "All About Graphs"
- If you do not have Microsoft Excel or Word at home,
you can download and install the free and legal version of Open Office:
for PC /
for Mac.
- A note to Mac users.
We have been having some trouble with the latest version of Mac Word when
the graphs are copied and pasted into Word from Excel. If you make a
graph, it is suggested that you ask Excel to export the graph as a
separate image rather than simply copying and pasting it into Word.
Once the graph is saved as an image, open Word and choose Insert >
Image to put it in your document. The other way of getting
around this problem is to ask Word to save your document in PDF format.
- For the Conclusion and Evaluation [CE], be sure
to include the following:
- state a conclusion (what you can learn from the
results)
- explain / justify your conclusion by giving some
examples from the data which support your conclusion
- Evaluate the lab using my
CE template as a guide to help you.
|
| |
|
| |
To do for Wednesday 6 January:
- Be sure you are up to date on the reading an learning.
By now, you should have completed sections 3.4 and 3.5 about
DNA replication, transcription and translation.
- If you have not already done so, check out
John Kyrk's site - go to the pages about DNA and the processes
explained in the sections 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 of the book.
|
| |
To do for Wednesday 9 December:
- Bring your lab coat for a new investigation.
- Refresh your memory on
how to use a microscope
(click on the link).
- If you have not used one before, here are some
instructions for how to use a
micrometer eyepiece on a microscope. It is recommended that you
print this out and bring it with you to class because you will need to
know how to do this.
- Be sure you have read and learned Sections 3.1, 3.2
and 3.3 about elements, water and molecules.
- Here is a review of what we did in class on Friday
concerning
molecular models of condensation and hydrolysis.
|
| |
During the Toussaint Vacation:
- Have a look a look at the revision list for the exams
(see below).
- Be sure you obtain a book if you do not have one yet.
We are going to be moving on to Chapter 3 soon...
- Read Section 2.5 about cell division so that we
can finish Chapter 2 for the exams.
|
| |
|
|
Revision for the Bac Blanc
practice exams in November 2009:
- All of Topic 2:
- 2.1 Cell theory
- 2.2 Prokaryotic cells
- 2.3 Eukaryotic cells
- 2.4 Membranes
- 2.5 Cell division (to be discussed after the
vacation)
- Remember, when you study, always follow this order:
- start with the IB Programme Guide for Biology
to see what the assessment statements are (i.e. "Compare prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells.")
- use the guide to help you grasp the difference
between each command term (define, identify, describe, outline,
explain, evaluate... on pages 11 and 12)
- refer to any class notes you have
- see what the sections in the book have to say
- double check that you have memorized all the
scientific vocabulary terms (this is what the flash cards are for) -
you should have around 100 by now and you should know them in both
directions: word to definition and definition to word.
- it is worth practising with the questions at the end
of the chapter - you can check your answers at the back of the book
Have a look at my compositions
groupées revision guide. It contains suggestions
for successful revision and test-taking skills.
|
|
|
|
|
|
To Do For Friday 23 October:
- Complete the lab report about the potato sticks and
send it by email. Be sure to heed all the advice I sent you in
various messages over the last week.
|
|
|
To Do For Wednesday 14 October:
- Read Section 2.4 in the book. As you read, remember to understand, to identify the
scientific vocabulary terms, define them and learn them. This will
require using Flash Cards and perhaps Google "define: _____" to
help you.
- If you have not already done so, take 20 or 30 minutes
to really go over the DCP part of the Diffusion and Dialysis investigation
to understand my comments and find out how you can improve. Look
below at the previous assignment to go back over the links I suggested on
the IB Biology Home Page
of Miss Burchill's web site.
- Bring your lab coats for a new investigation.
|
|
|
To Do For Friday 2 October:
- For the lab on Diffusion and Dialysis, you need
to write up ONLY the Results. You do not need to write an aim,
method or conclusion this time. This means that for both the
Diffusion part (the blue dye in agar) and for the Dialysis part (the
molecules leaking out of the model intestine or "sausage"), you need to
present the following:
- Qualitative observations (things which cannot
be expressed in numbers such as colors, shapes, textures, etc.) This
can sometimes be done by including a drawing or photo of the results with
labels and comments.
- Quantitative observations (this is the raw
data, meaning the things we measured and got numbers for) - be sure to
include UNITS and the ± DEGREE OF
PRECISION
- Processed data - this means new numbers
generated from calculations such as taking an average, determining a
volume, a percent change, etc. Trends in processed data can often be
seen by making a graph.
- Important - please keep the following things in mind:
- any work you give in must be your own work.
The only thing which you do as a team is the laboratory investigation.
You may share raw data but each student then needs to make his or her own
tables, calculations, etc. If you use another group's data or if you
use a photo taken by your lab partner, for example, you must cite your
source. This is also true for any research you do - cite your
source.
- you need to do things the IB way, so be sure to have a
look at the IA criteria in the guide for DCP (Data Collection and
Processing) - page 23 (I think) of the IB Biology Programme Guide
which you got from Miss Burchill's link. It is strongly
recommended that you have those criteria printed out and in front of you
as you work because this is how you will be graded.
- There are helpful hints on the IB Biology Home Page
of Miss Burchill's web site:
click here to see that section. Many of the pages can be
downloaded onto your USB key in PDF format, which is a great idea (see the
top of each page for a link) I would strongly suggest you visit the
following pages:
- "Scientific Investigations"
- notably the section on Results and Processing and Analysis of
Results.
- "ICT in Biology"
- notably the section on Data Processing
- "Drawing Tables"
- please note where the units are, where the
± degree of precision is placed and how the decimal points are all
ligned up in columns. That's how we want you to do tables in the IB.
- "Error Analyisis in
Biology"
- "All About Graphs"
- If you do not have Microsoft Excel or Word at home,
you can download and install the free and legal version of Open Office:
for PC /
for Mac.
- A note to Mac users.
We have been having some trouble with the latest version of Mac Word when
the graphs are copied and pasted into Word from Excel. If you make a
graph, it is suggested that you ask Excel to export the graph as a
separate image rather than simply copying and pasting it into Word.
Once the graph is saved as an image, open Word and choose Insert >
Image to put it in your document. The other way of getting
around this problem is to ask Word to save your document in PDF format.
|
|
|
To Do For Wednesday 23 September:
- Bring your lab coats to the lab on Wednesday
for a new experiment. You will also need them on Friday to see the
results of Wednesday's work.
|
|
|
To Do For Wednesday 16 September:
- Continue reading Chapter 2 to the end of Section
2.3. As you read, remember to understand, to identify the
scientific vocabulary terms, define them and learn them. This will
require using Flash Cards and perhaps Google "define: _____" to
help you.
- Bring your lab coats to the lab on Wednesday
for a look at our eggs.
- Bring your calculators, too. We will be
calculating the difference in size.
|
 |
To Get at the beginning of the year:
- You will be needing a
scientific calculator for biology over the next 2 years.
We usually use the TI-83 or TI-83 Plus. Double check with your math teacher for the model you need in math - it
should be the same.
- You will need the Pearson IB Biology book. If you want to wait to buy all your
books together; you do not need this the very first week but try to get it
by the end of September. Note that the book store is not open all
year but only at the beginning of September. Be sure to
get the right level - there are two versions of the book, one for SL and
one for HL
- You will need a lab coat starting on Wednesday's class.
- You will need a science binder or folder. It is
up to you to decide how you want to organize your papers. There will
be notes, lab reports, photocopies, homeworks and quizzes to keep
organized.
- Each student should have a USB thumb drive. Be sure your
name is on the outside somewhere. If ever I collect them, I need to
know whose is whose! Also, if you lose it, we know who to return it
to. If you are buying a new one, I do not recommend the U3 Smart
drives in class. Also, 2 or 4 Gb is enough - do not spend more than 25€ for
this.
- Copy onto your USB drive the IB Programme Guide for
Biology. You should also have the
Academic Honesty guide and the Extended Essay guide on the USB drive.
I recommend that you create a folder for each subject: Within the
Bio folder, have a subfolder for lab reports.
- Until you get the book, you can get sample copies of
chapter 1 and 2 as PDF files at the Pearson web site:
click here and go to the column which says "Free Samples - sample
chapters"
- You will need to buy a pack of
Flash Cards. These will help you to
learn the estimated 700 technical terms you will need to know by May 2011!
(...over 1000 for HL)
|
|
|
|
