Saskatchewan · Grade 11
Biology 20
Saskatchewan’s Grade 11 science course, from Introduction to Biology to Agricultural Botany of Saskatchewan.
- Units
- 4
- Lessons
- 16
- Skills
- 26
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Saskatchewan Ministry of Education
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, numbered by unit.
Unit 1 · 3 skills
Introduction to Biology
The Nature of the Study of Biology
The nature of biological study
I can describe what biology studies and define the term biology.
Skill 1.1
Using the Microscope
Examining cells with a microscope
I can use a microscope to view and sketch cells and estimate their size.
Skill 1.2
Theory, Cell Theory, and Natural Selection
The importance of theory in biology
I can explain what a scientific theory is and how cell theory and natural selection illustrate it.
Skill 1.3
The official wording · 3 outcomes
- 1.1
- Understand the nature of the study of biology.
- 1.2
- Use a microscope to examine cells.
- 1.3
- Explain the importance of theory in biology.
Key ideas
Biology is the study of living things and the conditions that support life.
Proper handling, focusing, and care of a compound light microscope.
Cell theory: all living things are made of cells, tied to advances in microscope technology.
Biologists investigate testable questions about structure, function, and interactions of organisms.
Wet-mount preparation and estimating size from the field of view diameter.
Watch out for
- Thinking biology is only memorizing organism names rather than asking testable questions.
- Starting on high power instead of low power to locate the specimen.
- Treating 'theory' as a mere guess rather than a well-supported explanation.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 10 skills
Ecological Organization
Soil, Climate, and Nutrient Cycles
Soil components and plant growth
I can describe soil components and explain how soil characteristics affect plant growth.
Skill 2.1
Climate and plant growth
I can explain how climate variation influences where and how plants grow.
Skill 2.2
Soil microorganisms and nutrient cycles
I can describe the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles and the role of soil microorganisms.
Skill 2.3
Analyzing Communities and Ecosystems
Niche, habitat, and community components
I can distinguish niche from habitat and identify biotic and abiotic components of a community.
Skill 2.4
The human community and food webs
I can build a food web involving the human community and compare it with a natural community.
Skill 2.5
Relationships and succession
I can describe symbiotic and competitive relationships and explain ecological succession.
Skill 2.6
Life in Past Ecosystems
Evidence of life in the past
I can describe evidence of past life and discuss extinction theories.
Skill 2.7
Counting and Analyzing Populations
Estimating populations by sampling
I can estimate a population using a sampling method.
Skill 2.8
Analyzing population change
I can explain what makes a population grow, shrink, or stay stable.
Skill 2.9
Ecological Sequencing and Biomes
Levels of ecological organization and biomes
I can order the levels of ecological organization and read a climatogram.
Skill 2.10
The official wording · 10 outcomes
- 2.1
- Explain how the interactions among the soil, climate, and living organisms produce the ecosystems which can be observed.
- 2.2
- the interactions among the soil, climate, and living organisms
- 2.3
- produce the ecosystems which can be observed.
- 2.4
- Analyze a variety of ecosystems.
- 2.5
- Analyze a variety of ecosystems.
- 2.6
- Analyze a variety of ecosystems.
- 2.7
- Describe life in past ecosystems.
- 2.8
- Explain how populations are counted.
- 2.9
- Analyze population changes.
- 2.10
- Recognize ecological sequencing.
Key ideas
Soil is mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air; texture ranges from sand to clay.
Habitat is where an organism lives; niche is its role and use of resources.
Fossils, sedimentary layers, and relative dating provide evidence of past ecosystems.
A population is one species in a defined area at a given time.
Nested levels: population < community < ecosystem < biome < biosphere.
Watch out for
- Thinking soil is only 'dirt' with no living or air component.
- Using 'niche' and 'habitat' interchangeably.
- Thinking fossils form easily from any dead organism.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 7 skills
The Diversity of Life
Principles of Classification
Classification and binomial nomenclature
I can classify an organism using the taxonomic hierarchy and a dichotomous key.
Skill 3.1
Monera, Protists, and Fungi
Viruses and bacteria
I can describe viruses and bacteria and distinguish prokaryotes from eukaryotes.
Skill 3.2
The protist kingdom
I can describe how protists are classified and observe them.
Skill 3.3
The fungi
I can describe the general characteristics of fungi.
Skill 3.4
The Diversity of Plants
Nonvascular and vascular plants
I can compare nonvascular and vascular plants and identify Saskatchewan crops.
Skill 3.5
The Diversity of Animals
The major animal phyla
I can describe the characteristics of the major animal phyla.
Skill 3.6
Innate, learned, and social behaviour
I can contrast innate and learned behaviour and describe social behaviour.
Skill 3.7
The official wording · 7 outcomes
- 3.1
- Describe the principles of classification.
- 3.2
- Recognize the role of monera, protists, and fungi in the ecosystem.
- 3.3
- the role of monera, protists, and fungi in the ecosystem.
- 3.4
- monera, protists, and fungi in the ecosystem.
- 3.5
- Describe the diversity of plants.
- 3.6
- Recognize the diversity of animals.
- 3.7
- Recognize the diversity of animals.
Key ideas
The seven ranks: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
Viruses are non-cellular particles that reproduce only inside host cells.
Nonvascular plants (mosses) lack xylem/phloem; vascular plants have conducting tissue.
Body plans distinguish phyla: mollusks, annelids, arthropods, and chordates.
Binomial nomenclature (Genus species) gives every species a unique two-part name.
Watch out for
- Writing the species name without capitalizing the genus or italicizing.
- Classifying viruses as bacteria or as fully living cells.
- Assuming all plants have roots, stems, and leaves.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 6 skills
Agricultural Botany of Saskatchewan
Biological Processes in Plants
Plant reproduction and transport
I can describe plant reproduction and how solutions move through a plant.
Skill 4.1
Crop systems and growth influences
I can describe the systems of a Saskatchewan crop and how climate and pests affect its stages.
Skill 4.2
Plant structures and tissues
I can identify plant structures and the four broad tissue types.
Skill 4.3
Biogeographical Regions and Agriculture
Saskatchewan's biogeographical regions
I can relate Saskatchewan's biogeographical regions to its agriculture.
Skill 4.4
Internal and External Influences on Plant Growth
Hormones, tropisms, and soil chemistry
I can describe how hormones, tropisms, and soil chemistry influence plant growth.
Skill 4.5
Agriculture and the Environment
Agriculture and the environment
I can describe how agriculture and the environment are interconnected.
Skill 4.6
The official wording · 6 outcomes
- 4.1
- Recognize the various biological processes associated with plant systems.
- 4.2
- the various biological processes associated with plant systems.
- 4.3
- the various biological processes associated with plant systems.
- 4.4
- Appreciate the relation of Saskatchewan's biogeographical regions and agricultural activity.
- 4.5
- Describe the internal and external influences on plant growth.
- 4.6
- Recognize the interconnectedness of agriculture and the environment.
Key ideas
Angiosperms reproduce sexually via pollination, fertilization, and seed formation, and can reproduce asexually.
Regions (grassland, parkland, boreal) differ in soil, moisture, and native vegetation.
Cytokinins, auxins, and gibberellins are plant hormones that regulate growth.
Agriculture affects soil, water, and biodiversity locally and globally.
Water and minerals rise in xylem; sugars move in phloem.
Watch out for
- Thinking pollination and fertilization are the same event.
- Treating the whole province as one agricultural zone.
- Confusing a tropism (growth) with a turgor movement (pressure).
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
Which course?
Saskatchewan has 4 science courses for Grade 11. Here they are side by side.
- Biology 20This course4 units · 26 skillsNo provincial examWhat it coversIntroduction to Biology · Ecological Organization · The Diversity of Life · Agricultural Botany of Saskatchewan
- Chemistry 207 units · 18 skillsNo provincial examWhat it coversIntroduction to Chemistry · Laboratory Activities · Independent Research · Atoms and Elements · Molecules and Compounds · Chemical Reactions · Mole Concept and Stoichiometry
- Environmental Science 207 units · 26 skillsNo provincial examWhat it coversCareer Exploration · Student-Directed Study · The Nature of Environmental Science · Atmosphere and Human Health · Human Population and Pollution · Aquatic Systems · Terrestrial Ecosystems
- Physics 204 units · 24 skillsNo provincial examWhat it coversThe Physics of Everyday Things · Waves · Light · Heat
What a university, college or program asks for is theirs to say: check its admission page, and your school’s course guide.
The official curriculum
This page follows Saskatchewan’s own curriculum for Biology 20.
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches Biology 20 one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.
Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep Biology 20 organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 30
- Fillable fields
- 1,365
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about Biology 20
What is Biology 20?
Saskatchewan’s Grade 11 science course: 4 units and 26 skills, from Introduction to Biology to Agricultural Botany of Saskatchewan.
What units are in Biology 20?
1. Introduction to Biology, 2. Ecological Organization, 3. The Diversity of Life and 4. Agricultural Botany of Saskatchewan.
Is there a provincial exam for Biology 20?
No. Saskatchewan gives no provincial exam for Biology 20.
What comes after Biology 20?
Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30 and Earth Science 30.
Can MapleMind help with Biology 20?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of Biology 20, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
Get ready for Biology 20
Practise every skill of Biology 20 in MapleMind, free with daily limits.
