Biology 20 Curriculum

Biology 20 students are expected to carefully identify and quantify their invertebrate samples

The existing Biology 20 curriculum will be around for some time to come! RiverWatch is, and remains, an excellent resource for Biology 20.

Implementation Schedule

Biology 20 was revised in 1994 and now carries a 1998 publication date.

• Field-testing for a new Biology 20 curriculum is targeted for in the first semester of the 2003/2004 school years.



• Province-wide implementation is projected for September 2004 at the earliest.

A "Next Generation" Teaching Resource

RiverWatch is meant to pioneer a next generation teacher-friendly and Internet-based resource for Biology 20. Teachers are now supported…

• in the field with professional RiverWatch staff and all equipment



• in the classroom with an interactive web site

Curriculum Fit

A RiverWatch field trip serves to highlight several of the major concepts for the units…

• Energy and Matter Exchange in Ecosystems



• The Biosphere

RiverWatch is an especially good match for the "Skills" components where students are to demonstrate skills and thinking processes associated with the practice of science by:

Web site access for on-line data entry and analysis helps Biology 20 students interpret their river observations

• performing a field study and measuring, quantitatively, appropriate abiotic factors, such as temperature, light intensity, pH, hardness and oxygen content in an aquatic ecosystem (Biology 20/Unit3/Concept 1/Skills)



• performing a field study and gathering and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data on the diversity of plant, animal and decomposer species in the ecosystem chosen; and presenting the data in a form that describes, in general terms, the biotic structure of the ecosystem chosen (Biology 20/Unit3/Concept 1/Skills)



• analyzing data on the diversity of plants, animals and decomposers that make up the biotic component of a specific endangered ecosystem; and predicting the future outcome of that ecosystem (Biology 20/Unit 3/Concept 2/Skills)



• predicting disruptions in nitrogen and phosphorous cycles caused by human activities (Biology 20/Unit 1/ Concept 2/Skills)

Grade Differentiation

The RiverWatch Program for Biology 20 students is differentiated from a similar trip conducted with grade nine students in several ways. The high school program includes:

On-line charting will facilitate Biology 20 students in their preparation of a detailed field trip report

• the measurement of BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) back at school using collected water samples and the high school's own Dissolved Oxygen Kit
  
  
• higher levels of discussion regarding environmental issues and the details of the biogeochemical cycles
  
  
• in-depth field trip reports that are more detailed, insightful and analytical through the extensive use of data charting on the RiverWatch web site

Click here to view the actual Alberta Learning Senior High Science Curriculum for Biology 20. The content for Unit 1 "The Biosphere" is found on pages 11-17, and unit 3 "Ecosystems" is found on pages 25-31.