Mr. Damon's terminale IB
Standard Level Biology

Graduating Class of 2012

This page is to inform you of your homework, exam revision and any other information you will need.  The assignments will be listed in reverse chronological order so that the most recent work will be on top of the list.   

Which IB Biology book do I need?

The book for this course is Biology Standard Level or Biology Higher Level depending on which level you are taking.  The book is available at the EABJM Bookshop (SL is 41€ and HL is 52€).  Or you can click here to order the SL from Amazon France.  Alternatively, click here for the HL book.  If you think you might switch levels during the year, it is safer to buy the HL book. 

New System

• Starting in September 2011, I am trying out the school's new online homework system on the "Vie Scolaire" page.  I will leave this site up as a page of resources but the weekly homework should be on the school's site. 

Corrèze Field Course Information and Data

Read these first - they explain which investigations can count towards DCP or CE and how to proceed:

• FIELD_COURSE_READ_THIS.doc
• How to write the Corrèze lab reports

Results

These sheets contain the results from each investigation.  It is important to note that at the bottom of most of the Excel sheets, there are tabs to see Group A, Group B, Group C, etc.

• Grasshoppers2011.xls (not for IA)
• Yarrow&Dandelion2011.xls (CE only)
• you will need this photo to calculate the size of the field for the Quadrat investigation
• Pitfalls_Abiotic2011.xls (DCP and CE)
• Pitfalls_ANIMALS2011.xls (DCP and CE)
• MineVegetation2011.xls (DCP and CE)
• River_Abiotic 2011.xls (CE only)
• River_Animals2011.xls (CE only)
• Project work - each group has their own data  (DCP and CE)

Revision for the Testing Week in May 2011:

(text in blue is new since last term)

• The following concepts from Topic 1:
  • 1.1.1 error bars on graphs
  • 1.1.2 mean and standard deviation calculations
  • 1.1.3 what does the standard deviation represent?
  • 1.1.4 how is the standard deviation used?
• All of Topic 2:
  • 2.1 Cell theory
  • 2.2 Prokaryotic cells
  • 2.3 Eukaryotic cells
  • 2.4 Membranes
  • 2.5 Cell division
• The following sections of Topic 3:
  • 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
  • 3.6 Enzymes
• The following sections of Topic 4:
  • 4.1 Chromosomes, genes, alleles and mutations
  • 4.2 Meiosis
  • 4.3 Theoretical genetics
• The following sections of Topic 5:
  • 5.4 Evolution
• All of Option D :
  • D.1 Origin of life on Earth
  • D.2 Species and speciation
  • D.3 Human Evolution

   

• Remember, when you study, always follow this order:
  1. start with the IB Programme Guide for Biology to see what the assessment statements are (i.e. "Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.")
  2. use the guide to help you grasp the difference between each command term (define, identify, describe, outline, explain, evaluate... on pages 11 and 12)
  3. refer to any class notes you have
  4. see what the sections in the book have to say
  5. double check that you have memorized all the scientific vocabulary terms (this is what the flash cards are for) - you should have hundreds by now and you should know them in both directions:  word to definition and definition to word. 
  6. 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 2011:

• All of Topic 2:
  • 2.1 Cell theory
  • 2.2 Prokaryotic cells
  • 2.3 Eukaryotic cells
  • 2.4 Membranes
  • 2.5 Mitosis
• The following sections of Topic 3:
  • 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
  • 3.6 Enzymes
• The following section of Topic 5:
• 5.4 Evolution
• Remember, when you study, always follow this order:
  1. start with the IB Programme Guide for Biology to see what the assessment statements are (i.e. "Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.")
  2. use the guide to help you grasp the difference between each command term (define, identify, describe, outline, explain, evaluate... on pages 11 and 12)
  3. refer to any class notes you have
  4. see what the sections in the book have to say
  5. double check that you have memorized all the scientific vocabulary terms (this is what the flash cards are for) - you should have almost 100 by now and you should know them in both directions:  word to definition and definition to word. 
  6. 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 during the vacation:

• Reading assignment:  Section 2.5 about mitosis.  You need to list the vocabulary words, define them and memorize them.  It is strongly suggested that you practice drawing the different phases of mitosis - it is the best way to know if you understand the complete process. 
• To help you visualize what is happening, check out the "Mitosis" section of this web site:  www.johnkyrk.com.  Note that he has an extra step in mitosis which we do not need to know for IB Biology. 

Revision for the Bac Blanc practice exams in November 2010:

• All of Topic 2:
  • 2.1 Cell theory
  • 2.2 Prokaryotic cells
  • 2.3 Eukaryotic cells
  • 2.4 Membranes
  • 2.5 Mitosis
• Remember, when you study, always follow this order:
  1. start with the IB Programme Guide for Biology to see what the assessment statements are (i.e. "Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.")
  2. use the guide to help you grasp the difference between each command term (define, identify, describe, outline, explain, evaluate... on pages 11 and 12)
  3. refer to any class notes you have
  4. see what the sections in the book have to say
  5. double check that you have memorized all the scientific vocabulary terms (this is what the flash cards are for) - you should have almost 100 by now and you should know them in both directions:  word to definition and definition to word. 
  6. 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 Monday 18 October:

• Read Section 2.4 about membranes.  I should not have to say this by now but of course, you need to list the vocabulary words, define them and memorize them. 

To do for Wednesday 6 October:

• Bring your lab coat when you come to the lab - we will be doing a new experiment measuring the sizes of cells.  No lab coat = no admission to class = marked absent = many hassles for you and me.  To prepare for this experiment, please familiarize yourself with the techniques used by looking at the following sites:
  •  To remember the names and functions of the parts of a microscope, check out my page on How to Use a Compound Microscope.
  • To practice how to use a microscope, check out the web site called the Virtual Compound Microscope (Shockwave plugin needed) from the University of Delaware.
  • To know how to use a micrometer eyepiece to measure a cell, check out my page on How to Use a Micrometer Eyepiece to Measure Cells. 
  • If you want a printable copy of the essential instructions on that page, here is a PDF version of How to Use a Micrometer Eyepiece to Measure Cells

To Do for Monday 4 October:

• Since carnets  will be signed, be sure to bring yours and check that you put the cell quiz grade (you'll get those back on the day) and the first egg lab grade in it - only grades out of 7 should appear in your carnet. 

Reading for Monday 27 September:

• In a distraction-free environment, read Section 2.3 in the book and learn the biological vocabulary.  Keep up with flash cards and revision.  Remember, biology is cumulative - you need to remember the stuff we have already done in order to understand the new material. 

Guidelines for writing a lab report:

• The IB Biology Programme Guide, which you should have on your USB key now, has a section about lab work and lab reports (see the 'Internal Assessment Criteria' section, notably sections on DCP and CE).
• some other valuable resources here on my site such as Writing lab reports for the IB

  ...and these which are on Miss Burchill's web site: 

  • Mr Billiet's checklist of how to write a lab report
  • How to set up and present tables of data
  • Error analysis
  • All about graphs
  • Elementary statistics

Don't have Word or Excel? Here's an alternative

Homework for September 20th & 22nd:

• Read Sections 2.1 and 2.2 in the book for the 20th.  "To Read" means to understand the sections, to make a list of the scientific vocabulary, to find definitions for all those words and to memorize them.  Remember, you should be memorizing about 20 words per week.
• The best way to memorize words is using Flash Cards.  Clicking on the words brings you to a page explaining how to make them and use them.  You should know the vocabulary in both "directions" (word > definition and also definition > word).
• Lab report:  Please writeup a lab report using Word (and Excel for graphs) and email it to me before midnight on Wednesday September 22nd.  Students interested in getting preliminary feedback on a rough draft (of any length - it does not need to be a full lab report), should send it by Saturday night).  Rough drafts are optional.

First Lab - naked eggs, single cells

• In our work with eggs which have the shell removed, we measured the mass and volume at the beginning of the experiment and we soaked them in either water or corn syrup (70% glucose, 30% water).  Next week, we will measure the volume again to see the difference.  Hold on to all your observations and measurements - we will need them for writing up the lab which will be due the 3rd week in September (date to be announced).  Here are some pictures because I know you're dying to show your parents...

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 (see red box above).  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 right from the beginning of the year. 
• 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 to take, lab reports, photocopies, homeworks and quizzes to keep organized. 
• Each student should have a USB key.  Be sure your name is on the outside somewhere.  That way, 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 on the right which says "Free Samples - sample material - Biology" 
• 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 2012!  (...over 1000 for HL)

© A.W. Damon 2011