Biology SE
BG, IN, EA, or AD score on CELDT
Grades: 9-12
Prerequisites: The English Learner must be concurrently enrolled in Intermediate ELD or an English SE course and have completed the equivalent of Physical Science. This course is not appropriate for students in Beginning ELD.
This course is designed to provide an overview of cellular biology for English Learners with special emphasis on teaching English vocabulary for scientific concepts that may already be familiar to the student. A large part of the class is activity and lab-based. Students are required to demonstrate their level of comprehension and application of concepts via various modalities: written and oral presentations, lab reports, and projects.
Content Objectives:
- Students will think critically about issues related to and outside of the realm of biology.
- Students will have a basic understanding of the cell and apply their knowledge to analyzing how cancer progresses.
- Students will create a model of DNA to show the simplicity of the structure and the importance of the sequencing of bases.
- Students will apply knowledge of mitosis and meiosis when looking at sea urchin eggs under normal and toxic conditions.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of genetics with a research paper on the topic.
- Students will classify different animals seen at the Ocean Discovery Center, Cruising Classroom and at the Santa Monica Pier.
Performance Skills/ELD Literacy Standards:
By the end of the semester, the English Learner will be able to perform the following skills:
- Write clearly for specific purposes, such as lab reports and observations.
- Express thoughts clearly and logically in lab write-ups.
- Keep a notebook of classroom activities and lectures as a reference for tests.
- Take a written test using both short answer and oral questions.
- Improve both observation as well as organization and interpretation of data.
Biology - Slesnick, Balzer,McCormack, Newton, Rasmussen (Scott Foresman and Company)
Promotion Requirements:
A grade of "D" is passing and will allow the student to enroll in Physiology or any other science elective course. However, a student must earn a grade of "C" or better to take Chemistry and use this course to apply for colleges. A student may be mainstreamed following this course upon recommendation of the teacher.