In this class, we will cover a wide range of life science topics, from the scientific method, characteristics and organization of living things, human biology, plant biology (botany), animal biology (zoology), cellular biology, molecular biology and genetics, the timeline of life, prokaryotes, protists and fungi, and ecology. These will be presented via a range of approaches, including presentation-style theory, with real-world examples and videos, combined with review and discussion questions. All classes will cover a stand-alone topic so that you can drop in at any time, and no prior knowledge or class attendance is required. If you do opt to attend weekly, we will cover all of our topics over a 2-year cycle.

Accompanying each class will be a review sheet with questions that students can answer to consolidate their learning of the subject. Where there is time, we will start these in class. Completed questions can be submitted to the teacher via Google Docs for review and comments, although this is not compulsory.

Our schedule for classes is as follows:

BOTANY 
9-15 Jan - Scientific Ways of Thinking & the Scientific Method
16-22 Jan - Characteristics & Organization of Living Things
23-29 Jan - Plant Characteristics, Photosynthesis & Evolution
30-5 Feb - Plant Classification, Vascular & Non-Vascular Plants, Reproduction & Life Cycles
6-12 Feb - NO CLASS
13-19 Feb - The Importance of Plants
20-26 Feb - Seed dispersal, Angiosperm & Plant Hormones
27 Feb - 5 Mar - Tropisms & Plant Adaptation

ZOOLOGY 1 - VERTEBRATES
6-12 Mar - Chordates & Vertebrate Diversity
13-19 Mar - Fish - Jawless
20-27 Mar - Fish - Cartilaginous & Bony
28-2 Apr - Amphibians - Salamanders
3-9 Apr  - Amphibians - Frogs & Toads
10-16 Apr - NO CLASS
17-23 Apr - Amphibian Evolution & Ecology
24-30 Apr - Reptiles - Lizards & Snakes
1-7 May - Reptiles - Crocodilia & Turtles
8-14 May - The Importance of Reptiles
15-21 May - Birds & Bird Reproduction
22-28 May - Bird Diversity & The Importance of Birds
29-4 Jun - NO CLASS
5-11 Jun - Mammals, inc Reproduction
12-18 Jun - Mammal Classification
19 - 25 Jun - The Importance of Mammals
26-2 Jul - Primates & Humans

ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
3-9 Jul - Animal Behaviour - Innate Behaviour
10-16 Jul - Learned & Social Behaviour
17-23 Jul - Cyclic & Reproductive Behaviour
SUMMER BREAK
14-20 Aug - Communication

ZOOLOGY 2 - INVERTEBRATES
31-6 Aug - Invertebrate Diversity
7-13 Aug - Sponges & Cnidarians
21-27 Aug - Flatworms, Segmented Worms & Roundworms
28-3 Sep - Mollusks - Types & Importance
4-10 Sep - Arthropods & Crustaceans
11-17 Sep - Centipedes & Millipedes
18-24 Sep - The Importance of Arthropods
25-1 Oct - Insects - Food, Reproduction & Importance
2-8 Oct - Echinoderms - Types & Importance

HUMAN BIOLOGY 1
9-15 Oct - Human Body & Homeostasis
16-22 Oct - NO CLASS
23-29 Oct - Integumentary System - Skin, Hair & Nails
30-5 Nov - Skeletal System & Bone Health
6-12 Nov - Joints & Muscles
13-19 Nov - Exercise, Food & Nutrients
20-26 Nov  - Vitamins, Minerals & Balanced Eating
27-3 Dec - Digestive System & Organs
4-10 Dec - Digestive Enzymes, Bacteria & Health
11-17 Dec - Cardiovascular & Lymphatic Systems
18-24 Dec - The Heart, Blood Vessels & Blood Pressure