9th Grade · Full-year course · 4 units
Biology
Week 1 is free. Tap Week 1. The reading and the problems are on that lesson. Weeks 2–36 open with a Life Academy plan ($35/month per student or $69/month per family (up to 4 students)).
Unit 1: Foundations
Weeks 1–9Week 1Nature of science + CER; lab safety; observation vs inferenceWeek 2Design a fair test; variables (IV/DV/controls); measurement errorWeek 3Microscope alternatives: onion/elodea/yeast OR video micrograph protocolWeek 4Finish CER portfolio starter; peer challenge one claimWeek 5Cell theory history; prokaryote vs eukaryoteWeek 6Organelles as systems; analogy map (cell ↔ city)Week 7Membrane transport; osmosis demo (potato/salt or egg)Week 8Photosynthesis overview; light vs dark reactions conceptualWeek 9Cellular respiration; ATP as energy currency metaphor
Unit 2: Building fluency
Weeks 10–18Week 10Respiration lab alternative: yeast CO₂ or exercise pulse CERWeek 11DNA structure intro; Chargaff / Rosalind Franklin fairness noteWeek 12Genetics intro: Mendel’s ratios; Punnett squaresWeek 13Meiosis vs mitosis; chromosomal inheritanceWeek 14DNA → protein central dogma conceptualWeek 15Modern genetics: alleles, pedigrees; ethics freeze-frameWeek 16Genetics problem set + CER on a heredity claimWeek 17Evolution: variation, selection, inheritance — Darwin carefullyWeek 18Evidence for evolution: fossils, homology, DNA (survey)
Unit 3: Depth & application
Weeks 19–27Week 19Natural selection simulations (bean/toothpick or digital)Week 20Evolution unit defense (CER + teach-back)Week 21Ecology: biotic/abiotic; food webs; energy pyramidsWeek 22Population ecology; carrying capacity modelsWeek 23Community ecology; keystone species case studyWeek 24Ecology field study OR window/yard biodiversity CERWeek 25Human impact: carbon, land use, biodiversity loss (factual)Week 26Local environmental audit (home/energy/waste)Week 27Design human-impact mitigation mini-proposal
Unit 4: Mastery & showcase
Weeks 28–36Week 28Lab design challenge proposal (testable question)Week 29Run lab design: collect data; begin CERWeek 30Finish lab CER; graph & uncertainty talkWeek 31Biology systems review map (cells → ecology)Week 32Biology practice defense questionsWeek 33Biology defense rehearsal (CER + diagrams)Week 34Biology oral defenseWeek 35Biology lab notebook auditWeek 36Biology credit evidence summary