Course Syllabus

Zoology 2025-2026

 

Ms. Wendy Weddle

Science, PE & Health Teacher

wweddle@mccsc.edu

Zoology

Course Description

Zoology is the branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals. Some of the topics discussed include the classification of animals, invertebrates, including sponges, flatworms, mollusks, insects, arthropods, and echinoderms and vertebrates, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Course Topics

Animal classification, anatomy, physiology, and evolutionary relationships. 

Grading

Agency 15%: Students will develop a growth mindset and take ownership over learning. 

Collaboration 10%:  Students will demonstrate the ability to be a productive member of diverse teams through strong interpersonal communication, a commitment to shared success, leadership, and initiative.

Oral Communication 10%: Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate knowledge and thinking through effective oral presentations.

Written Communication 10%: Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate knowledge and thinking through writing.

Knowledge and Thinking 55%: Students will demonstrate the ability to reason, problem solve, develop sound arguments or decisions, and create new ideas by applying the knowledge and skills of a  discipline.

 Overview and Policies:

Class time will be used primarily for collaborative projects and independent scaffolding work. There will be A LOT of coloring sheets for animal anatomy. I have plenty of colored pencils but you may choose to bring your own and a sharpener. Also there will be dissections at certain parts of this course. 



Late work will only be accepted if it is necessary to complete the final project. Late assignments that are a part of a project that has already ended will be accepted for one week after the project has ended. At that point, the Unit and project will be closed in Canvas, and work will no longer be accepted.  

 

Absences: Students with an excused absence will have extra time to make up the work. For example, one absence equals one extra day for assignment completion. 

 

Because agendas, resources, and assignments are in Canvas, students are expected to keep updated using these tools available, regardless of the reason for the absence.  It is the student’s responsibility to review their assigned points in Canvas for each submission.