What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1 hour per week. Students will be given many opportunities to practice and study between classes. The level of homework will depend on the student and their desired result from the course, whether they are preparing for a course or an exam.Assessment
Students can practice their knowledge at the end of each unit with a unit-based practice exam.Grading
Provided by request. The request must be voiced at the beginning of the section so I can track the student's progress throughout the course.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Beginner - Intermediate Level
Step into the fascinating world of cellular biology in our high school class. This engaging course will take you on a journey through the fundamental building blocks of life - cells. Delve into the inner workings of cells, discovering how they function, communicate, and contribute to the remarkable complexity of all living organisms. Through interactive lessons, hands-on experiments, and captivating discussions, you will explore cell structure, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and the intricacies of DNA and genetics. By the end of this class, you will gain a profound understanding of how cells power life itself and play a crucial role in shaping the world around us. Whether you're considering a future in the sciences or want to appreciate the wonders of the biological world, this course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to embark on an exciting journey into the cellular processes of biology. Join us and unlock the mysteries of life at its most fundamental level. ⭐ Unit 1 - Chemistry of Life Lesson 1 - Week of Aug 18th Water, Hydrogen Bonding, and Properties of Water Polarity, Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and more Lesson 2 - Week of Aug 25th pH and Calculations Acids, Bases, and the pH Scale Lesson 3 - Week of Sept 1st Biological Macromolecules Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Lipids Lesson 4 - Week of Sept 8th Nucleic Acids DNA and RNA Quiz ⭐ Unit 2 - Cell Structure and Function Lesson 5 - Week of Sept 15th Review of Cellular Organelles Prokaryote/Eukaryote and Functions of Organelles Lesson 6 - Week of Sept 22nd Endosymbiosis and Compartmentalization Mitochondria and Chloroplasts Lesson 7 - Week of Sept 29th The Plasma Membrane and Transport Structure of the Plasma Membrane and Active/Passive Transport Lesson 8 - Week of Oct 6th Water Potential and Osmolarity Calculating Water Potential and the Movement of Water and Solutes in and out of the Cell Quiz ⭐ Unit 3 - Cellular Energy and Communication Lesson 9 - Week of Oct 13th Enzymes Catalysts, Structure, Specificity, Coenzymes, and Inhibitors Lesson 10 - Week of Oct 20th Photosynthesis Light Dependent Reactions and the Calvin Cycle Lesson 11 - Week of Oct 27th Cellular Respiration Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, and the Electron Transport Chain Lesson 12 - Week of Nov 3rd Cell Signaling Cell Signals, Ligands, and Types of Feedback Lesson 13 - Week of Nov 10th Cell Cycle Cell Cycle, Mitosis, and Check Points Quiz ⭐ Unit 4 - Heredity Lesson 14 - Week of Nov 17th Meiosis Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase, and Genetic Diversity Lesson 15 - Week of Nov 24th Mendelian Genetics Monohybrid Alleles, Genotype, Phenotype, and Single Trait Punnett Squares (4x4) Lesson 16 - Week of Dec 1st Mendelian Genetics Dihybrid Two Trait Crosses Using Individual Trait Probability and Basic Math to Determine the Probability of Both Outcomes Occurring Simultaneously Lesson 17 - Week of Dec 8th Non-Mendelian Genetics (Part I) Linked Genes, Incomplete Dominance, Codominance, and Pedigrees Lesson 18 - Week of Dec 15th Non-Mendelian Genetics (Part II) Blood Types and Polygenic Traits Quiz ⭐ Unit 5 - Gene Expression Lesson 19 - Week of Jan 5th, 2025 DNA Replication Enzymes Involved in Replication Lesson 20 - Week of Jan 12th, 2025 Transcription and Translation The Difference Between the Processes and Where They are Occurring in the Cell Lesson 21 - Week of Jan 19th, 2025 Gene Regulation Prokaryotic Operons (Lac and Trp), Inducible, Repressible, and an Overview of Eukaryotic Regulation Lesson 22 - Week of Jan 26th, 2025 Mutations Chromosome Mutations, Point Mutations, Frame Shift Mutations, and Karyotypes Lesson 23 - Week of Feb 2nd, 2025 Biotechnologies Recombinant Genes in Bacteria, PCR, Gel Electrophoresis, and CRISPR Quiz Each lesson will contain new vocabulary, concepts, real-world examples, and short video clips. If time allows, we will review it together. If time does not allow for a review game, the questions will be sent out to students to review on their own time. Students will receive notes and study materials each week. If you want a grade for the end of the course, please let me know so I can keep track of your progress during the course. It is unnecessary, but students are encouraged to have supplementary material to help fill in any gaps if they are reviewing for AP exams. I will provide as much as possible, but most free materials do not include an assortment of high-level questions for students to practice. I recommend an AP Biology practice book, such as Barron's AP Biology Premium by Mary Wuerth, M.S., or Princeton Review AP Biology Prep. Compared to larger course books, these books are inexpensive and have many practice questions with answer keys. Some come with online practice exams.
Learning Goals
As stated by http://www.nextgenscience.org:
HS-LS1-1. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
HS-LS1-2. Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms.
HS-LS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.
HS-LS1-4. Use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division (mitosis) and differentiation in producing and maintaining complex organisms.
HS-LS1-5. Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.
HS-LS1-6. Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.
HS-LS1-7. Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed resulting in a net transfer of energy.
HS-LS2-1. Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.
HS-LS2-2. Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.
HS-LS2-3. Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling of matter and flow of energy in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
HS-LS2-4. Use mathematical representations to support claims for the cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem.
HS-LS2-5. Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
HS-LS2-6. Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS2-7. Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.*
HS-LS2-8. Evaluate the evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species’ chances to survive and reproduce.
HS-LS3-1. Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring.
HS-LS3-2. Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors.
Other Details
Supply List
It is unnecessary, but students are encouraged to have supplementary material to help fill in any gaps, especially if they are reviewing for AP exams. I will provide as much as possible, but most free materials do not include an assortment of high-level questions for students to practice. I recommend an AP Biology practice book, such as Barron's AP Biology Premium by Mary Wuerth, M.S., or Princeton Review AP Biology Prep. Compared to larger course books, these books are inexpensive and have many practice questions with answer keys. Some come with online practice exams.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Free Resources
ck12.org
HHMI Biointeractive
Biology Junction
Biology Corner
Nova Labs
Crash Course Biology
Reviews
Live Group Class
$16
weekly1x per week
55 min
Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
3-8 learners per class