Life science

Biology: from cells to ecosystems.

Biology explains living systems at more than one scale. Students move from organelles to organisms to energy flow in an ecosystem.

Cells and energy

Plant and animal cells share mitochondria, a nucleus, and a cell membrane. Plant cells also have a cell wall and chloroplasts. Photosynthesis stores energy in sugars; cellular respiration releases energy students can connect to food and oxygen. Use a CER paragraph: claim (plants produce glucose), evidence (gas exchange or starch tests described in class), reasoning (chloroplasts capture light energy).

Genetics and ecology

Introduce gene, allele, genotype, and phenotype with non-threatening traits such as seed color in a model. Ecology lessons distinguish producers, consumers, and decomposers, then trace a food web with arrows that mean “energy flows to.” Human impact is discussed with data, not slogans.