Biology-Core Curriculum Class for High School

Biology topics taught in this class include:
1. Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits (Patterns are the similarities and differences in traits shared between offspring and parent or among siblings.) (Weeks 1-5)
2. Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity (Weeks 6-9)
3. Earth and Human Activity (Weeks 10-12)
The Next Generation Science Standards (nextgenscience.org) will be used to guide course instruction and ensure learners have the needed skills for high school level biology.

In keeping with the Next Generation Science standards, science and engineering practices along with crosscutting concepts will be incorporated as learners participate in class. For example, when learners study biological evolution they will create an animal that can adapt to an environment (engineering) and discuss the cause and effect of the animal adaptations (crosscutting concept).

NGSS-Specific Weekly Objectives for High School Content:

1. Investigate the inheritance of characteristics in organisms, recognizing the interplay between genetic factors and environmental influences.
2. Examine the variations in appearance and function among organisms, attributing these differences to their unique genetic makeup.
3. Utilize graphical representations to analyze and interpret data related to inherited traits in organisms.
4. Evaluate the role of fossils and other evidences of past organisms and their evolutionary history.
5. Investigate the factors influencing organism survival in specific environments and explore the concept of natural selection.
6. Engineer and design a novel animal tailored for a designated environment, considering adaptations for optimal survival.
7. Conduct research on a specific natural hazard, formulating a claim regarding the effectiveness of a proposed solution based on relevant evidence, criteria, and constraints.
8. Deliver presentations showcasing the research projects developed.

The class will be structured as teacher facilitated and interactive. Learners will be engaged in discussions, videos and hands-on projects. I encourage learner participation and questions. Learners will have many opportunities to interact with me and their classmates each week.