Survey of Life

Students will:

• Explore how scientists use scientific skills and practices to observe and explain the natural world.
• Understand that all living things share the same basic life processes and their structures determine the processes that they perform and that organisms are complex, organized systems that interact to maintain homeostasis.
• Use classification patterns to explain and compare characteristics of organisms.

Cellular Structure and Functions

Students will:

• Explore how the structures in unicellular and multicellular organisms work interdependently to carry out life processes and maintain homeostasis.
• Understand that scientific collaboration and advancements in technology led to the development of the modern cell theory.
• Understand how the structure and organization of a cell determines its function within a living system.

Molecules, Membranes and Movement

Students will:

• Understand how the structure of water allows it to facilitates life processes.
• Describe the molecular structure of cells and their components. 
  Model how the structure of the cell membrane impacts the functions it is able to perform.

Energy and Enzymes

Students will:

• Understand the importance of enzymes in regulating the rate of chemical reactions.
• Model the continuous cycles of cellular respiration and photosynthesis and how they allow energy to be converted into usable forms.

Cellular Reproduction

Students will:

• Explore the methods of cellular reproduction used by different organisms.
• Model the cell cycle to understand its importance in the growth and repair of cells in an organism.
• Understand the importance of the process of meiosis in sexual reproduction and genetic variation within a population.

Patterns of Inheritance

Students will:

• Model how biological traits are passed through generations.
• Understand the variety of patterns of inheritance that allow us to predict the genetic make-up and traits of future generations.
• Use pedigrees to interpret patterns of inheritance in a family.

DNA, RNA and Protein Synthesis

Students will:

• Explore how DNA base pairs serve as the basis for the genetic code of all living things.
• Use a model of DNA ro represent the complexity of the model and its function within a cell.
• Understand how mutations impact the proteins produced and affect a population.
• Understand the role of technology in manipulating and studying DNA for a variety of purposes.

Evolution

Students will:

• Understand how genetic variation, reproductive strategies and environmental pressures affect the survival of species.
• Understand how natural selection is a mechanism that leads to adaptations and may lead to the divergence of new species.
• Identify evidence to support the Theory of Evolution.

Classification

Students will:

• Explain how characteristics of organisms are compared using classification patterns.
• Understand the role that bacteria and viruses play in the environment and human health.
• Explain how the germ theory led to the understanding that many diseases are caused by microorganisms and can be cured, prevented or treated.

Ecology

Students will:

• Model how energy is transferred through an ecosystem.
• Explore the complex relationship between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem.
• Understand the factors that limit the size of populations.
• Describe the impact that humans can have on an ecosystem.