Biology

Course Expectations for Biology:
This course covers plant and animal structure, classification, natural history, creation and evolution, cellular and molecular biology, and genetics. The laboratory work closely follows the textbook study. Plant and animal specimens are dissected with much of the study requiring detailed microscope work. A research project is required. Prerequisites and age requirement waivers given only with approval of tutor and administrator. All students need their own books. No photocopying lab manuals. A science project guide is also required for students to have titled "Science in Action" listed on the book list.

Minimum Expectations:

Parents will be responsible for making sure reading assignments are completed on time.
Parents will be requested to make sure their child has carefully outlined the chapter and must sign the student notebook for each chapter assigned.

Parents will be requested to review and sign each completed laboratory study.
Students must attend class regularly and participate in labs and discussion. Prior notice of all absences is required.

Quizzes and tests will be administered to check comprehension of all topics covered.
A lab fee will be charged to each student to cover the cost of equipment and supplies.
Each student must have their own three ring notebook with loose leaf paper, textbook, accompanying Field and Laboratory Manual.

Each student will be asked to bring items from home for some of the labs.
Students will be instructed in safety procedures and will be held responsible for knowing and using all equipment and supplies.

In order for this class to have full credit value, it is highly recommended that parents provide additional related learning experiences outside of this class.

Enrichment Suggestions:

Visits to science museums
Watch and discuss parent directed videos related to the living world
Additional reading of articles from science magazines, newspapers and books
Use of a timeline to relate and integrate discoveries and progress in science to other areas of study such as literature and history

ARCHES tutorial-based classes are designed to supplement course work being done in home schools, thereby following the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church in proclaiming parents as the primary educators of their children.

Recommended for students in 10th grade.

Prerequisite: Tenth grade and above; at least one year of basic life science, physical science; basic note taking

Books:
Biology: God's Living Creation 4th Edition
Published by: ABeka

Biology Field and Laboratory Manual 4th Edition
Published by: ABeka ISBN: 197858

Science in Action: Science Project Guide 6th Edition
Published by: ABeka ISBN: 175315

Fees (per semester):

$25.00 Administrative payable to: ARCHES
$109.00 Lab Supplies payable per year, payable in the fall to: ARCHES
**Please see notes pertaining to lab fees below**
$350.00 Tuition payable per semester to: TBD

**Explanation of Lab Fees for Biology:
The fee of $109 for labs covers the following over the course of 25 labs per year:

The use of microscopes which require cleaning and servicing yearly at a cost of $345.
Along with the Microscopes the students use: Lens paper, slides, coverslips, convex slides, dropper bottles, dH2O, pipettes, forceps and dissecting needles.
We have an Algae lab and an Elodea lab and those samples are purchased from an Biologic supply house each year so they are fresh, live cultures.
We have a flower dissection that requires fresh flowers.
The fruit dissection lab uses approximately 50 -60 fruits along with seeds from corn, radish and lima beans.
There is a root lab where we use a combination of prepared, purchased permanent slides along with freshly wet mounts from germinated seeds.
We have several anatomy labs that utilize a variety of prepared slides and skeleton models.
We dissect sheep's brains and utilize reflex hammers to study nerve reflexes.
We dissect sheep hearts and have a pre-purchased video on the human body.
We have a Food Chemistry lab that utilizes the following items: Benedict's Solution, Lugol's iodine, starch, Biuret Reagent, olive oil, ascorbic acid, .1% 2,6 dichlorophenol-indophenol, Beakers, 30 test tubes/student, a balance to measure out the dry chemicals, Glucose solution that has to be made up fresh in 1% and .1%, samples of foods including : shredded wheat, pre-sweetened cereal, egg whites, ground beef, whole grain bread, and chocolate. Also canned and fresh juices: apple, grape, grapefruit, tomato, Orange juice, pineapple juice and white grape.
Blood smears
Skin slides
Fetal Pig dissection and all the dissection tools: surgical scissors, forceps, dissecting needles, ruler, blunt probe, tweezers, dissecting pan, safety goggles, rubber gloves, string, dissecting pins, and scalpels.
Double injected frogs
Perch
Grasshoppers
Crayfish
Starfish
Earthworms
Pond Water lab including the following microscopic animals and protozoans: Daphnia, Cyclops, rotifers, Parmecium, stentors, vorticella, amoebas, and Euglenas.

Not all the supplies are purchased every year, but all the dissecting items are and it averages out to $109/student/semester. Please note that these lab fees are in-line with lab fees at other co-ops or Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

There is a complete list of equipment supplies in the back of the Biology Lab manual that parents can also refer to if needed.

Tutor: TBD