Biology with Lab

Class Time: Tuesdays, 9:00 – 10:00 

Labs:  Thursdays (specific dates TBD),  9:00 am - 10:00 am 

Grade level: 9th and up (advanced 8th grade by request only)

Prerequisite Courses: None

Prerequisite/Required Skills: Independent study habits, willingness to participate and follow instructions well.  Students will be expected to come to class fully prepared, having read the assigned reading with completed study questions in order to better participate during lecture and lab and in preparation for testing.

Instructor: Tracy Niess; assistant Cooper Niess

Contact Information: tracyniess@gmail.com

Course Description: This high school biology course covers the science and chemistry of life, ecology, cell structure and function, cellular energy, DNA and genetics, evolution, prokaryotes and viruses, protists and fungi, plant diversity and reproduction, plant structure and function, and the biology of various types of animals.  Apologia’s curriculum presents biology from a creationist point of view.  Typical class format is lecture; followup lab on 10 key modules.

Lab:  The laboratory component of this course provides 10 key hands-on experiments connecting textbook instruction to lecture materials.  During labs, students will utilize the scientific method, record data, read and create graphs.  The experiments include microscope labs, dissection labs, and field study observation labs.  All labs will be held on a separate day (Thursday) at my home in Leesburg.

Student Notebook: Although not mandatory, this notebook purchase is recommended to provide invaluable assistance in note taking, the elimination of copywork, the capability to review the important terminology, use of drawing aids as well as use of the provided lab form.  Without this notebook, your student will require a well organized, divided binder and increased writing/organization.  Good note taking is a learned skill; the use of the recommended student notebook and notes taken in class from the board will certainly assist them.  Apologia’s notebook suggests using their Cornell system design provided; I recommend whatever works best for the student.  

Tuition:  $400 Materials Fee:  $65

Estimated Homework Time:  Up to 5 hours per week. A suggested daily schedule is found in the student notebook with clear daily assignments that includes study days for test prep.  For those opting not to purchase the notebook, all assignments will be provided weekly by the teacher at the conclusion of class as well as electronically.  Advance reading of the weekly module is imperative to better prepare for and understand the college prep level lecture material which includes new vocabulary, terminology and lab procedures.  All modules take about two weeks to cover.  

Class Size:  6 - 15

Course Materials: 

Textbook:  Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Biology, 3rd Edition, ISBN-13: 9781946506450

Suggested Student Notebook: Exploring Creation with Biology, 3rd Edition, ISBN-13: 9781946506481

Note:  This curriculum provides multiple avenues for varied learning styles and/or struggling readers: https://www.apologia.com/shop/?swoof=1&pa_topic-series=biology

*We will be borrowing microscopes.  If you would be willing to lend us your microscope for use during the year, we’d be grateful; most lab modules use a microscope.  Please email Tracy Niess at tracyniess@gmail.com if you have one for our use.

Teacher Qualifications: Tracy Niess graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duquesne University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management and a minor in Marketing.  After a number of great years in the corporate world serving in a number of Sales/Marketing roles including her favorite as Director of Corporate Events and Communications for more than 10 years, through the Lord’s prompting and provision, Tracy chose to become a teacher.  Starting as a preschool teacher at her church, the love of teaching was ignited and she became certified preparing her for the full-time homeschool journey that began for her son who graduated in May 2023.  This journey included teaching everything from unit studies, writing, drama, and history at various co-ops to even creating her own science co-op.  Mrs. Niess found she loves teaching kids of all ages most any material, but through her love of God’s creation in the outdoors and her son’s career interests in the sciences, she found science and the outdoor field studies as some of her favorites.   More recently, Tracy taught high school Biology, Principles of Zoology and Ecology and led a high school team in the nation’s largest natural resource competition, Envirothon, where the students took 2nd and 3rd place.  Other environmental involvement includes being a certified Stream Monitor through Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and serving along with her son in their amphibian, herpetology, and salt watch programs.  Tracy and her husband have always participated/coached in all sports their children participated in and Tracy and her son Cooper have provided coaching assistance to a homeschool track/cross country team.  Mrs. Niess is an active member and Elder at Ashburn Presbyterian Church where she participates on the Worship Team and Choir, leads VBS and children’s choir, provides direction for and assists with Youth Group and other church wide events and serves as the Wedding Coordinator.  When she has extra time, you will find Mrs. Niess in her vegetable or flower gardens, loving and caring for her sheep and chickens on their farm, creating/designing anything from nature for display or gifts, playing board games with her family, reading a book or exercising/running on the trail behind their home.  She lives in Leesburg with her witty, hardworking husband, Bill, and her athletic, outdoor son, Cooper, and their sweet but lazy rescued dog, Louie.