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Visual Biology: Draw Your Way Through the Study of Life

Whether used as a full course with feedback or enrichment for science lovers, this 24 week cycle has it all. Start at any time to draw "sketchnote" summaries of recent biology research, discuss relatable "big picture ideas", and have fun!
Benjamin Corey's Creative Curriculum Coop
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Number of reviews:
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What's included

1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per week
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Each week's discussion is accompanied by a learning module administered through Padlet.
Assessment
Each week's discussion is accompanied by a learning module administered through Padlet. In addition to relevant videos and activities, the module has a self-graded quiz for learners that would like feedback on their progress
Letter Grade
Grades can be provided upon learner request, provided the learner has completed relevant Padlet quizzes

Class Experience

US Grade 7 - 10
Dive into the captivating realm of biology, where the intricacies of living systems unfold. In this ongoing weekly class, middle and high school learners are invited to embark on an exciting journey that combines their creativity and collaboration skills with the exploration of recent research in biology. Through the engaging practice of sketchnoting, a visual learning technique, students will develop creative infographics that summarize the latest scientific discoveries. No prior artistic skill is required! 

Our teaching methodology, sketchnoting or visual notetaking, enhances learning by allowing students to focus and actively engage with the subject matter. Each week, we will explore a different objective aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for high school learners. We will dive into recent research on these topics, fostering in-depth discussions and analysis of experimental designs. Together, we will unravel the fascinating world of biology and its relevance to our lives.

Joining our class grants you the flexibility to enroll at any time, and you can remain enrolled for up to six months to cover all the standards. Each week, we will tackle a new objective, ensuring that even long-time learners will encounter a fresh and unique experience in every class. While the standards may repeat, our approach will always be different, stimulating continuous growth and learning.

In this class, you will not only expand your biology knowledge but also develop valuable skills in creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Sketchnoting empowers you to unleash your imagination and present complex scientific concepts in a visually engaging manner.

So come and join us on this captivating journey through the world of biology. Explore the wonders of life science, summarize cutting-edge research, and discover how biology shapes our understanding of the world around us. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned learner, this class welcomes you to immerse yourself in the fascinating realm of biology, one objective at a time.

Here is the schedule of topics. IMPORTANT NOTE: DIFFERENT DAYS OF THE WEEK ARE AT DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE CURRICULUM. Please check to before requesting a transfer or enrolling in a new section on a different day. Tuesday leads the pack, followed by Wednesday, Thursday, then Monday. Refunds will not be  given for double-booking the same lesson. If in doubt, reach out. 
 
LS1 - Molecules to Organisms (Cell Biology)
LS2 - Ecosystems
LS3 - Heredity Inheritance and Variation of Traits
LS4 - Biological Evolution
LS = Life Science
HS = High School


Week of…		Monday 		Tuesday 		Wednesday 	Thursday 
Week of…		Monday 		Tuesday 		Wednesday 	Thursday 
Aug 5-9		        HS.LS1.5		HS.LS1.4		HS.LS1.3		HS.LS2.7
Aug 12-16		HS.LS2.5		HS.LS1.5		HS.LS1.4		Holiday 
Aug 19-23		Holiday		Holiday		Holiday		Holiday 
Aug 26-30		HS.LS1.6		HS.LS1.6		HS.LS1.5		HS.LS2.8
Sep 2-6	                Holiday		HS.LS1.7		HS.LS1.6		HS.LS1.1
Sep 9-13		        HS.LS1.1		HS.LS2.1		HS.LS1.7		HS.LS1.2
Sep 16-20		HS.LS1.2		HS.LS2.2		HS.LS2.1		HS.LS1.3
Sep 23-27		HS.LS1.3		HS.LS2.3		HS.LS2.2		HS.LS1.4
Sep 30-Oct 4		HS.LS1.4		HS.LS2.4		HS.LS2.3		HS.LS1.5
Oct 7-11		        HS.LS1.5		HS.LS2.5		HS.LS2.4		HS.LS1.6
Oct 14-18		Holiday		HS.LS2.6		HS.LS2.5		HS.LS1.7
Oct 21-25		HS.LS1.6		HS.LS2.7		HS.LS2.6		HS.LS2.1
Oct 28-Nov 1		HS.LS1.7		HS.LS2.8		HS.LS2.7		HS.LS2.2
Nov 4-8		        HS.LS2.1		HS.LS3.1		HS.LS2.8		HS.LS2.3
Nov 11-15		HS.LS2.2		HS.LS3.2		HS.LS3.1		HS.LS2.4
Nov 18-22		HS.LS2.3		HS.LS3.3		HS.LS3.2		HS.LS2.5
Nov 25-29		Holiday		Holiday		Holiday		Holiday 
Dec 2-6		        HS.LS2.4		HS.LS4.1		HS.LS3.3		HS.LS2.6
Dec 9-13		        HS.LS2.5		HS.LS4.2		HS.LS4.1		HS.LS2.7
Dec 16-20		HS.LS2.6		HS.LS4.3		HS.LS4.2		HS.LS2.8
Dec 23-27		Winter Break	Winter Break	Winter Break	Winter Break
Dec 30-Jan 3		Winter Break	Winter Break	Winter Break	Winter Break
Jan 6- Jan 10	        HS.LS2.7	       HS.LS4.4	        HS.LS4.3. 	HS.LS3.1
Jan 13-Jan17	        HS.LS2.8	       HS.LS4.5	        HS.LS4.4	HS.LS3.2
Jan 20-Jan 24	Holiday	       HS.LS4.6	        HS.LS4.5	        HS.LS3.3
Jan 27-Jan 31	        HS.LS1.1.        HS.LS1.1	        HS.LS4.6	        HS.LS4.1
Feb 3-7	                HS.LS1.2	       HS.LS1.2	        HS.LS1.1	        HS.LS4.2
Feb 10-14	        HS.LS1.3        HS.LS1.3	        HS.LS1.2	        HS.LS4.3
Feb 17-24	        Holiday	       HS.LS1.4	        HS.LS1.3	        HS.LS4.4
Mar 3-7	                HS.LS1.4	       HS.LS1.5.  	HS.LS1.4.  	HS.LS4.5
Mar 10-14	        HS.LS1.5	       HS.LS1.6	        HS.LS1.5	        HS.LS2.2
Mar 17-21	        HS.LS1.6.       HS.LS1.7	        HS.LS1.6	        HS.LS2.3
Mar 24-28	        HS.LS1.7	      HS.LS2.1.     	HS.LS1.7	        HS.LS2.4
Mar 31-April 4	HS.LS2.1	      HS.LS2.2	        HS.LS2.1	        HS.LS2.5
April 7-11	        HS.LS2.2	      HS.LS2.3.          HS.LS2.2	        HS.LS2.6
April 14-18	        HS.LS2.3	      HS.LS2.4	        HS.LS2.3	        HS.LS2.7
April 21-25	        HS.LS2.4	      HS.LS2.5	        HS.LS2.4	        HS.LS2.8
April 28-May 2	HS.LS2.5	      HS.LS2.6	        HS.LS2.5	        HS.LS3.1
May 5-9	                HS.LS2.6	      HS.LS2.7	        HS.LS2.6	        HS.LS3.2
May 12-16	        HS.LS2.7	      HS.LS2.8      	HS.LS2.7 	HS.LS3.3
May 19-23	        HS.LS2.8	      HS.LS3.1       	HS.LS2.8	        Holiday
May 26-30	        Holiday	      HS.LS3.2	        HS.LS3.1	        HS.LS4.1
Jun 2-6	                HS.LS3.1	      HS.LS3.3	        HS.LS3.2	        HS.LS4.2
Jun 9-13	                HS.LS3.2	      HS.LS4.1	        HS.LS3.3	        HS.LS4.3
Jun 16-20	        HS.LS3.3	      HS.LS4.2	        HS.LS4.1	        HS.LS4.4
Jun 23-27	        HS.LS4.1	      HS.LS4.3	        HS.LS4.2	        HS.LS4.5
Jun 30-Jul 4	        HS.LS4.2	      HS.LS4.4	        HS.LS4.3	        HS.LS4.6
Jul 7-11	                HS.LS4.3	      HS.LS4.5	        HS.LS4.4	HS.LS1.1
Jul 14-18	                HS.LS4.4      HS.LS4.6	        HS.LS4.5	         HS.LS1.2
Jul 21-25	                HS.LS4.5	      HS.LS1.1	        HS.LS4.6	         HS.LS1.3
Jul 28-Aug 1	        HS.LS4.6	      HS.LS1.2       	HS.LS1.1	         HS.LS1.4
Aug 4-8           	HS.LS1.1        HS.LS1.3.    	HS.LS1.2        	 HS.LS1.5
Aug 11-15	        HS.LS1.2	      HS.LS1.4      	HS.LS1.3	         HS.LS1.6
Aug 18-22	        HS.LS1.3	      HS.LS1.5	        HS.LS1.4	         HS.LS1.7
Aug 25-29	        HS.LS1.4	      HS.LS1.6	        HS.LS1.5	         HS.LS2.1
Sep 1-5	                Holiday	      HS.LS1.7	        HS.LS1.6	         HS.LS2.2
Sep 8-12	                HS.LS1.5	      HS.LS2.1	        HS.LS1.7	         HS.LS2.3
Sep 15-19	        HS.LS1.6	      HS.LS2.2	        HS.LS2.1	         HS.LS2.4
Sep 22-26	        HS.LS1.7	      HS.LS2.3	        HS.LS2.2          HS.LS2.5
Sep 29-Oct 3	        HS.LS2.1        HS.LS2.4	        HS.LS2.3	         HS.LS2.6
Oct 6-10         	HS.LS2.2       HS.LS2.5	        HS.LS2.4	         HS.LS2.7
Oct 13-17	        HS.LS2.3	      HS.LS2.6	        HS.LS2.5	         HS.LS2.8
Oct 20-31	        HS.LS2.4	      HS.LS2.7	        HS.LS2.6	         HS.LS3.1
Nov 3-7	                HS.LS2.5.      HS.LS2.8	        HS.LS2.7	         HS.LS3.2
Nov 10-14	        HS.LS2.6	      HS.LS3.1	        HS.LS2.8	         HS.LS3.3
Nov 17-21	        HS.LS2.7.      HS.LS3.2    	HS.LS3.1	         HS.LS4.1
Nov 24-28	        Holiday	     Holiday	        Holiday          	 Holiday
Dec 1-5	                HS.LS2.8	     HS.LS3.3	        HS.LS3.2	         HS.LS4.2
Dec 8-12	                HS.LS3.1	     HS.LS4.1	        HS.LS3.3	         HS.LS4.3
Dec 15-19	        HS.LS3.2	     HS.LS4.2	        HS.LS4.1	         HS.LS4.4
Dec 22-26	        Holiday	    Holiday	        Holiday	         Holiday
Dec 29-Jan 2	        Holiday	    Holiday        	Holiday	         Holiday

Other Details

Learning Needs
Sketchnoting, a visual note-taking method, benefits neurodiverse learners by embracing non-linear thinking. Its use of iconography and visual metaphor provides alternative pathways for comprehension, accommodating diverse cognitive styles.
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. For some topics, research will be drawn from vetted science news sources. Learners will have no need to navigate to these news sites themselves. 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
 1 file available upon enrollment
Joined January, 2018
4.9
4574reviews
Popular
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Georgia Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Jordan Kohanim
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Cameron Shaw
Georgia Teaching Certificate in Special Education
Maria Thorne
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
Allie Baker
Doctoral Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Arts in Belgrade
Natalija Stojanovic
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Arts in Belgrade
Natalija Stojanovic
Master's Degree in Education from Georgia College and State University
Maria Thorne
Master's Degree in Education from Georgia State University
Benjamin Corey
Master's Degree in Education from University of Georgia
Whitney Panetta
Bachelor's Degree in English from Kennesaw State University
Jordan Kohanim
Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science from Vassar College
Cameron Shaw
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Georgia Southern University
Maria Thorne
Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Ramapo College of New Jersey
Jessica Rinzuello
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Georgia
Whitney Panetta
Bachelor's Degree in Education from UNCP
Allie Baker
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Oglethorpe University
Benjamin Corey
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Hampshire College
Peter Burke
Bachelor's Degree in History from Georgia State University
James Bostick
Benjamin Corey holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology from Oglethorpe University and a Master's of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Science Education from Georgia State University. With 16 years of experience teaching sciences to inclusion classes for grades 7-12, he has been certified in both Georgia and California. Benjamin is deeply knowledgeable about the structure of the Next Generation Science Standards and best practices in science instruction.

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Live Group Class
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$18

weekly
1x per week
55 min

Completed by 1067 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-16
3-14 learners per class

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