Rockingham County Public Schools

Biology Benchmarks

A Guide for Parent Involvement

 

1st Nine Weeks

Orientation / Scientific Method; BIO.1

 

á       Design and conduct investigations

á       Observations of living organisms in the lab and field

á       Use scientific method

á       Appropriate technology is used for conducting investigations

á       Research using scientific literature

á       Differentiation between scientific hypothesis and theory

á       Scientific viewpoint is constructed and defended

á       Chemicals and equipment are used safely

 

Biochemistry; BIO.3

 

á       Investigate and understand biochemical principles essential to life

á       Relate biochemical principles to all major taxonomic groups

á       Relate biochemical principle to the working of ecosystems

á       Water chemistry

á       Energy flow through respiration and photosynthesis

 

Cells / Cell Processes; BIO.2, BIO. 4, BIO.5

 

á       Investigate the characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms

á       Investigate cell theory

á       Investigate cell structure

á       Investigate cell function

á       Investigate cell division

á       Germ theory

 

2nd Nine Weeks

Classification of Life; BIO.7

 

á       Investigate and understand the basis of modern classification systems

á       Similarities and differences of the major kingdoms

á       Developmental stages in organisms

á       Representative organisms of the major kingdoms

á       Diversity

 

Microbiology; BIO.5

 

á       Investigate and understand life functions of

á       Archaebacteria

á       Eubacteria

á       Protists

á       Fungi

á       Plants

á       Animals including humans

 

Macrobiology; BIO.5

 

á       Investigate and understand life functions of plants and animals comparing

á       Structure

á       Metabolic activities

á       Responses to environment

á       Maintenance of homeostasis

á       Anatomy

á       Organism interaction within the ecosystem

 

 

 

3rd Nine Weeks

Macrobiology; BIO.5

 

á       Investigate and understand life functions of plants and animals comparing

á       Structure

á       Metabolic activities

á       Responses to environment

á       Maintenance of homeostasis

á       Anatomy

á       Organism interaction within the ecosystem

 

Meiosis / Reproductive Development; BIO.5, BIO.6

 

á       Investigate and understand basic concepts involve with

á       Formation of gametes

á       Mendelian laws of heredity

á       Genetic variation

á       DNA, RNA, protein construction

á       Embryological development of various organisms

 

Genetics / Evolution; BIO.8

 

á       Examine evidence of evolution

á       Fossil record

á       Understand Charles Darwin and his theory of Natural Selection

á       Environmental pressures

á       Adaptation

á       Speciation

 

4th Nine Weeks

Anatomy and Nutrition; BIO.5

 

á       All major body systems

á       Compare and contrast body systems

á       Affect of nutrition on body systems

 

Ecology; BIO.8, BIO.9

 

á       Investigate and understand dynamic equilibrium

á       Within populations

á       Within communities

á       Within ecosystems

á       Nutrient cycling in ecosystems

á       Natural and human influences on ecosystems

á       Analysis of flora, fauna, and microorganisms of Virginia ecosystems

 

Biology SOL test

 

 

**  The numbers throughout the Benchmarks refer to the Virginia Science Standards of Learning objectives.  For example, ÒBIO.4Ó refers to Biology SOL objective number Ò4Ó.