Visual Biology Beginnings: Draw Your Way Through Middle School Life Science
Designed for on-level middle school and advanced elementary learners, cells, fossils, genes, and ecosystems are explored through drawing and creativity. Each class features current research via a scientific article.
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
Learners have the option to privately share their completed infographics with other learners in the class in a warm, supportive environmentClass Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
Advanced Level
Visual Biology Beginnings is designed for on-level middle schoolers and advanced elementary learners. Vivid animations keep learners engaged while my conversational question and answer style provide many inroads to engage with this class. It's also great for leaners that want to learn how to draw on Procreate or practice their drawing skills. Learners are encouraged to draw their own set of sketch notes with me. Each class is based around current research in the field of biology, featuring recently published articles in popular science magazines, such as the Smithsonian, Scientific America, or Science News. I try to find innovative ways to teach the standards, for example I use sea sponge anatomy to teach cell theory. I believe a good class is centered around good questions. I build my classes around leading questions and I engage students by asking them to share what they already know or to invent their own hypothesis. This approach creates a conversational atmosphere where students feel encouraged to speak up and ask questions. Parents say that my classes leave their students feeling smart and empowered. In this class, we often dip our toes into advanced topics that aren't normally covered in middles school biology classes. For example, we discussed the carbonate-silicate cycle which explains how sea cucumbers are affecting coral reefs. We discovered that carbonate and calcium that weathers from mountains ends up in the ocean where sea cucumbers help process it into a form that corals can use for their skeletons. This class challenges students with high level material. I use animations and metaphor to make college level concepts comprehensible for a younger audience. I celebrate neurodiversity and encourage neurodiverse learners to give this class a try. I myself am dyslexic and have always understood things better through graphics rather than words. This class is also a great fit for learners with ADHD or Auditory Processing Disorder. Each week we will explore one of four categories of life sciences. In Learning Standard 1 (LS1 - Cells) we explore the inner workings of cells and talk about tissues and organs. For examples, in MS.LS.1.3 we explored the organs of sleeping glass frogs who hide their red blood cells inside their liver to become completely transparent! We discussed the role of the liver in our bodies and how hexagon shaped chambers and the hepatocytes within them filter blood and store nutrients. In Learning Standard 2 (LS2 - Ecosystems) we explore animals relationships to each other, plants, and the earth systems around them. For example, in MS.LS.2.4 we investigated why there are so many Mosasaur fossils on the west coast of Africa - answer: because ocean upwelling provided many nutrients for sea creatures in that region. I love Marine Biology and often weave Marine Biology topics into my classes. In Learning Standard 3 (LS3 - Genetics) we explore how different versions of genes create different organisms and how genes are inherited. In MS.LS.3.1, we explored how mutations in two zebra fish genes can create fins that have extra bones and could have led to the evolution of arms and legs in four legged animals! In Learning Standard 4 (LS4 - Evolution) we explore how the incredible variety of life forms on earth have proliferated through the process of evolution. In MS.LS.4.1, we delved into the fossil record to make a comprehensive history of all 5 mass extinction events that have shaped life as we know it, including the asteroid that ended the reign of the dinosaurs. However each time we cycle through the 21 topics laid out by the Next Generation Science Standards, we will use a different subtopic to bring them to life. For example, while studying MS.LS.1.7 - ("Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism.") - one cycle we may talk about the molecular mechanisms of muscles, and on another cycle, we might talk about how caffein affects energy production in the brain. Learners can stay enrolled in VBB indefinitely, and many have, to continuously deepen their passion for and knowledge of science. Here is the weekly schedule of topics. MS = Middle School LS = Life Science LS1 - Cells LS2 - Ecosystems LS3 - Genetics LS4 - Evolution Week of: Jan 6 MS.LS.3.2 Jan 13 MS.LS.4.2 Jan 20 MS.LS.1.3 Jan 27 MS.LS.2.3 Jan 6 MS.LS.4.3 Jan 13 MS.LS.1.4 Jan 20 MS.LS.2.4 Jan 27 MS.LS.4.4 Feb 3 MS.LS.1.5 Feb 10 MS.LS.2.5 Feb 17 MS.LS.4.5 Mar 3 MS.LS.1.6 Mar 10 MS.LS.4.6 Mar 17 MS.LS.1.7 Mar 24 MS.LS.1.8 Mar 31 MS.LS.1.1 April 7 MS.LS.2.1 April 14 MS.LS.3.1 April 21 MS.LS.4.1 April 28 MS.LS.1.2 Continued. . . For more details about the Next Generation Science Standards click here: https://my.nsta.org/ngss/AccessStandardsByDCI.aspx#tab-middle
Other Details
Parental Guidance
All classes are based on the accepted consensus of the secular scientific community, and may include discussions of evolution by natural selection, the cellular and hormonal mechanics of sexual and asexual reproduction, and other aspects of studying living systems.
Procreate and Sketchbook are digital drawing apps that can be downloaded for use on a tablet and are only for personal use for the learner. They do not require user accounts, and are not required for the class.
Supply List
Digital drawing app such as Procreate or Sketchbook, or any other preferred drawing and sketching tools
2 files available upon enrollment
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
4 teachers have teaching certificates
Georgia Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Georgia Teaching Certificate in Special Education
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
4 teachers have a Graduate degree
Doctoral Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Arts in Belgrade
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Arts in Belgrade
Master's Degree in Education from Georgia College and State University
Master's Degree in Education from University of Georgia
Master's Degree in Education from Georgia State University
9 teachers have a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's Degree in English from Kennesaw State University
Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science from Vassar College
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Georgia Southern University
Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Ramapo College of New Jersey
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Georgia
Bachelor's Degree in Education from UNCP
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Oglethorpe University
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Hampshire College
Bachelor's Degree in History from Georgia State University
Peter has been an educator for five years, specializing in biology for the last three. He began his Outschool journey by designing a garden-themed biology class that explores core scientific concepts through the lens of ecology and sustainable agriculture. Since joining the Creative Curriculum Coop in 2023, he has been using art and animation in teaching Visual Biology Beginnings and has maintained a perfect 5-star rating. From Outschool parents:
"Mr. Peter is truly one of the best teachers I have ever seen. My son is glued to his chair during this class. Mr. Peter unloads so much science in every class in such an engaging way. He has a lovely personality and makes my kid feel important and smart"
"My neurodivergent son really loves this class and the way in which the teacher and students interact. He loves biology but gets bored with traditional teaching styles. This class is very upbeat and inquisitive. He's able to ask many questions and sketch out the biology he's learning. He's always excited to tell me about what he learned about in class. "
"Remember when you were a kid and you had that one teacher, who was so passionate in his subject that all the kids in the class loved it as well? Well that's Mr Peter. He has a special way of taking fairly advanced topics and breaking them down for younger learners. My 10 year old talks all week after his class about what he has learned, explaining it to his Dad and I, in great detail. We can't thank Mr Peter enough for continuing to inspire our learner each week. "
Reviews
Live Group Class
$18
weekly1x per week
50 min
Completed by 406 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
3-12 learners per class