Biology B
Course Description
Students in Biology B will explore foundational biological concepts through four central themes: evolution, life on Earth, ecology, and sustainability. They will investigate the theory of evolution, mass extinctions, ecological interactions, and climate change impacts through hands-on projects and creative expression, fostering a deep understanding of biology and its relevance to real-world issues.
Evolution
Learn this: I will learn about the theory of evolution, natural and artificial selection, adaptation, evidence and mechanisms of evolution, and speciation.
Do this: I will create a project that demonstrates that I know how to:
Break down what the theory of evolution is and provide examples of the mechanisms that drive it.
Identify and interpret different lines of evidence that support evolution, such as fossil records, comparative anatomy, and/or molecular biology.
Design a butterfly that has evolved to survive in your home through camouflage and explain how it has become better suited to that environment and what effect that would have on future generations.
Connect evolution to your life personally.
Grow from: After I get feedback, I'll make my project even better to show what I've learned.
Life on Earth
Learn this: I will learn about the origin of life on Earth, the geologic time scale, mass extinctions events, the fossil record, taxonomy, Linnaean classification, and phylogenetic diagrams.
Do this: I will create a project that demonstrates that I know how to:
Create an illustrated timeline that features major mass extinction events and important fossil discoveries to demonstrate how life has been shaped on Earth.
Classify any organism of my choice based on its taxonomic classification and explain the meaning of each level of classification.
Demonstrate the similarity yet diversity that exists among organisms using evolutionary trees, genetic analysis, and/or comparative anatomy.
Conduct a hands-on lab activity that applies these concepts.
Grow from: After I get feedback, I'll make my project even better to show what I've learned.
Ecology
Learn this: I will learn about abiotic and biotic factors within ecosystems, biomes, trophic levels, food webs, predation, competition, symbiosis, succession, habitat, and niche.
Do this: I will create a project that demonstrates that I know how to:
Compare and contrast two or more different biomes (e.g. tropical rainforest vs. desert) and present their unique features, climate patterns, plants, animals, and adaptations of their organisms.
Select a well-known keystone species (e.g. elephants in savannas or sea otters in kelp forests) and explore its ecological role and significance within its habitat, ecological niche, and interactions with other species.
Construct a food web that illustrates relationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers and explain how energy flows through trophic levels and how nutrients cycle within that ecosystem.
Conduct a hands-on lab activity that applies these concepts.
Grow from: After I get feedback, I'll make my project even better to show what I've learned.
Climate Change
Learn this: I will learn about the carbon cycle, natural resources, greenhouse emissions, fossil fuels, deforestation, climate change and its impact, and what humans can do about it.
Do this: I will create a project that demonstrates that I know how to:
Analyze the carbon cycle including where carbon is emitted vs stored, human influence, and how greenhouse gasses cause climate change.
Investigate different consequences of climate change such as global temperature rise, extreme weather events, and impacts on your personal life.
Inspect what different countries are pledging to do to slow the effects of climate change by researching the Paris Agreement and the Sixth Assessment Report.
Create art, poetry, or music to creatively express the impacts of climate change and inspire action.
Grow from: After I get feedback, I'll make my project even better to show what I've learned.