Biology is the study of life. Throughout the course of the school year, we
will learn about the basics of biology including scientific method,
characteristics of life, ecology, human impact on the environment, structures
and functions of cells, photosynthesis and cellular respiration, basic
genetics, evolution, plants, and animals. As we build on each unit,
we will make connections between all living things.
LESSON PLANS:
Monday, June 4
Final Exams (4-6)
Tuesday, June 5
Final Exams (7-8, makeups)
Wednesday, June 6
Last Day of School!
CONTENT OVERVIEW FOR THE YEAR:
AUGUST:
THE STUDY OF LIFE
- What is a living organism?
- Biological properties of water
- Organic molecules essential to life
- Homeostasis
SEPTEMBER:
THE STUDY OF LIFE - ECOLOGY
- Biomes
- Roles of organisms in cycles
- Chemical/Energy cycles in Ecosystems
- Biodiversity and succession
OCTOBER:
CELL AND CELL MEMBRANES
- Functions of organelles and membranes
- Prokaryotes vs. eukaryotes
- Plant vs. animal cells
- Movement across membranes
- ATP in living things
NOVEMBER:
CELLULAR PROCESSES
- DNA and RNA structures and functions
- Replication, transcription, and translation
- Roles of enzymes
- Mutations
DECEMBER:
DNA AND RNA
- Mitosis and meiosis
- Structure and function of chromosomes
JANUARY:
GENETICS
- Gene expression
- Punnett square problems
EVOLUTION
- Natural selection
- Role of mutations
- Artificial selection and biotechnology
- Common ancestry
FEBRUARY:
EVOLUTION AND CLASSIFICATION
- Linnaean classification
- Binomial nomenclature
- Evolution in classification
MARCH:
VIRUSES AND BACTERIA
- Structure, function, and types of prokaryotes
- Human use of bacteria and viruses
- Cycles of viral infection
ZOOLOGY
- Importance of multicellularity
- Structure and function from the cellular to the multicellular level
- Characteristics of animals
- A tour of the animal kingdoms
APRIL:
BOTANY
- Structure and function of plant tissues
- Plant reproduction
- Monocots vs. eudicots
- Adaptation in plants
MAY:
WRAP-UP, REVIEW, CONNECTIONS
JUNE:
EXAMS