Our Curriculum › Science › 9th Grade
Biology
A full year of high school biology: cells and energy, genetics and evolution, ecology, body systems, the chemistry of life, classification, biotechnology and disease, and how scientists design and judge experiments. The final weeks are mostly review and projects.
180 lessons
One a day for a school year
10 units
Each opens to its lessons
6 case studies
Plus a final capstone project
Standards
NGSS high school science
What's taught, unit by unit
Cells & energyDays 1–10
Cell structure, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, mitosis, differentiation, then photosynthesis (light reactions and Calvin cycle) and cellular respiration (glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport).
- 1 · Welcome to Biology: Cell Structure and Function
- 2 · Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells
- 3 · Cell Division: Mitosis Overview
- 4 · Cell Differentiation
- 6 · Photosynthesis: Light-Dependent Reactions
- 7 · Photosynthesis: The Calvin Cycle
- 8 · Cellular Respiration: Glycolysis
- 9 · Cellular Respiration: The Krebs Cycle and Electron Transport
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Genetics & evolutionDays 11–20
DNA structure, how genes become proteins, meiosis, Punnett squares and inheritance, chromosome changes, then evidence for common ancestry, natural selection as a change in gene frequency, and speciation.
- 11 · DNA Structure
- 12 · Gene Expression: From DNA to Protein
- 13 · Meiosis: Producing Genetic Variation
- 14 · Punnett Squares and Predicting Inheritance
- 16 · Chromosomal Variation
- 17 · Evidence for Common Ancestry
- 18 · Natural Selection as a Shift in Gene Frequency
- 19 · Speciation
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Ecology & populationsDays 21–30
Carrying capacity, energy flow through trophic levels, biodiversity and stability, human impact as a selective pressure, population growth models, extinction, ecosystem services, and a conservation case study.
- 21 · Ecosystems and Carrying Capacity
- 22 · Quantifying Trophic Energy Flow
- 23 · Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability
- 24 · Human Impact as a Selective Pressure
- 26 · Population Growth Models
- 27 · Extinction and Biodiversity Loss
- 28 · Ecosystem Services
- 29 · Analyzing a Real Conservation Case Study
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Membranes, homeostasis & enzymesDays 31–40
The cell membrane, diffusion and osmosis, active transport, homeostasis, enzymes and what changes their activity, how cells signal each other, and the potential of stem cells.
- 31 · Cell Membrane Structure and Function
- 32 · Passive Transport: Diffusion and Osmosis
- 33 · Active Transport
- 34 · Homeostasis
- 36 · Enzymes and Chemical Reactions in Cells
- 37 · Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity
- 38 · Cellular Communication: Cell Signaling
- 39 · Stem Cells and Their Potential
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Body systems & the chemistry of lifeDays 41–60
Levels of organization and the circulatory, respiratory, nervous, digestive, immune and endocrine systems, then carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, water, pH, nutrition labels, and metabolism.
- 41 · Levels of Biological Organization
- 42 · The Circulatory System
- 43 · The Respiratory System
- 44 · The Nervous System
- 46 · The Digestive System
- 47 · The Immune System
- 48 · The Endocrine System
- 49 · How Organ Systems Interact to Maintain Homeostasis
- 51 · Carbohydrates: Structure and Function
- 52 · Lipids: Structure and Function
- 53 · Proteins: Structure and Function
- 54 · Nucleic Acids: Structure and Function
- 56 · The Properties of Water That Support Life
- 57 · pH and Its Biological Importance
- 58 · Analyzing Nutrition Labels Using Macromolecule Knowledge
- 59 · Metabolism: Anabolic and Catabolic Reactions
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Classification, microbes, plants & animal behaviorDays 61–80
Taxonomy, binomial names and the six kingdoms, viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists, plant structure and reproduction, plant responses, innate and learned behavior, symbiosis, predator-prey and adaptations.
- 61 · Introducing Taxonomic Classification
- 62 · Binomial Nomenclature
- 63 · The 6 Kingdoms of Life
- 64 · Viruses: Structure and Reproduction
- 66 · Bacteria: Structure and Reproduction
- 67 · Beneficial and Harmful Bacteria
- 68 · Fungi: Structure and Ecological Role
- 69 · Protists: A Diverse Kingdom
- 71 · Plant Structure: Roots, Stems, and Leaves
- 72 · Plant Reproduction: Flowers and Pollination
- 73 · Plant Responses to Stimuli
- 74 · Animal Behavior: Innate vs. Learned
- 76 · Animal Behavior: Communication
- 77 · Symbiotic Relationships
- 78 · Predator-Prey Relationships
- 79 · Adaptations for Survival
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Biotechnology & diseaseDays 81–100
Genetic engineering, CRISPR, GMOs, ethics, cloning, medical biotechnology, then pathogens, how diseases spread, vaccines, epidemiology, antibiotic resistance, autoimmune disorders, and public health decisions.
- 81 · Introducing Genetic Engineering
- 82 · CRISPR: A Gene-Editing Tool
- 83 · Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
- 84 · Evaluating the Ethics of Biotechnology
- 86 · Selective Breeding vs. Genetic Engineering
- 87 · Cloning: Process and Applications
- 88 · Biotechnology in Medicine
- 89 · Synthesizing a Position on a Biotechnology Issue
- 91 · Pathogens and Disease
- 92 · How Diseases Spread: Modes of Transmission
- 93 · Vaccines and Acquired Immunity
- 94 · Introducing Epidemiology
- 96 · Antibiotic Resistance
- 97 · Autoimmune Disorders
- 98 · Synthesizing Genetics and Evolution: A Unified View
- 99 · Applying Biology to Public Health Decisions
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Doing science & Earth's biomesDays 101–120
Hypotheses, variables, sample size, peer review, judging science claims and consensus, and designing an independent investigation. Then rainforest, desert, tundra and aquatic biomes, climate change and habitat loss.
- 101 · The Scientific Method in Depth
- 102 · Controlled Variables and Experimental Design
- 103 · The Importance of Sample Size and Replication
- 104 · Peer Review and the Scientific Community
- 106 · Evaluating Scientific Claims in the Media
- 107 · Understanding Scientific Consensus
- 108 · The Difference Between a Scientific Theory and a Hypothesis
- 109 · Designing an Independent Biology Investigation
- 111 · Introducing Earth's Major Biomes
- 112 · The Tropical Rainforest Biome
- 113 · The Desert and Tundra Biomes
- 114 · Aquatic Biomes: Freshwater and Marine
- 116 · How Climate Change Affects Biomes
- 117 · Human Impact on Biomes: Deforestation and Habitat Loss
- 118 · Synthesizing Ecology, Evolution, and Biomes
- 119 · Cumulative Review: A Year of Biology
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Case studies, capstone & genomicsDays 121–140
Six applied case studies (exercise, nutrition, an outbreak, genetic counseling, ecosystem restoration, an evolutionary puzzle), a capstone project, then the Human Genome Project, personalized medicine, DNA testing and forensics.
- 121 · Case Study: Exercise Physiology
- 122 · Case Study: Nutrition and Metabolism
- 123 · Case Study: A Disease Outbreak Investigation
- 124 · Case Study: A Genetic Counseling Scenario
- 126 · Case Study: An Ecosystem Restoration Project
- 127 · Case Study: An Evolutionary Puzzle
- 128 · Designing a Final Biology Capstone Project
- 129 · Completing the Final Biology Capstone Project
- 131 · Introducing the Human Genome Project
- 132 · Introducing Bioinformatics
- 133 · Personalized Medicine
- 134 · Genetic Privacy and Ethical Considerations
- 136 · Ancestry and Genetic Testing
- 137 · Forensic Uses of DNA
- 138 · Cumulative Review: Cell Biology and Genetics
- 139 · Cumulative Review: Ecology and Evolution
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Last body systems, review & projectsDays 141–180
Skeletal, muscular, excretory and reproductive systems and how all systems cooperate (6 days of new content). The remaining weeks are cumulative review, practice tests, explainer and applied projects, and celebration.
- 141 · The Human Skeletal System
- 142 · The Human Muscular System
- 143 · The Excretory System
- 144 · The Reproductive System
- 146 · How All Body Systems Work Together
- 147 · Preparing for Year-End Biology Assessments
- 148 · Reflecting on a Year of Scientific Thinking
- 149 · Looking Ahead: Chemistry Next Year
- 151 · Cumulative Review: Cell Biology
- 152 · Cumulative Review: Genetics
- 153 · Cumulative Review: Ecology and Biomes
- 154 · Cumulative Review: Evolution and Biotechnology
- 156 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Biology Review Set
- 157 · Timed Practice Biology Assessment
- 158 · Reviewing Common Biology Misconceptions
- 159 · Final Reflection on a Year of Biology
- 161 · Explainer Project: Teaching Cellular Respiration
- 162 · Explainer Project: Teaching Natural Selection
- 163 · Applied Project: Analyzing Your Family's Local Ecosystem
- 164 · Applied Project: A Family Health and Nutrition Plan
- 166 · Explainer Project: Teaching the Immune System
- 167 · Applied Project: Evaluating a Biotech News Story
- 168 · Applied Project: Creating a Biology Terms Glossary
- 169 · Completing a Final Applied Project of Your Choice
- 171 · Final Review: Cells, Genetics, and Ecology
- 172 · Final Review: Evolution, Body Systems, and Biotechnology
- 173 · Preparing Your Year-End Biology Presentation
- 174 · Delivering Your Year-End Biology Presentation
- 175 · Celebration Day: Reflecting on a Year of Biology!
- 176 · Celebration Day: A Favorite Experiment Revisit
- 177 · Celebration Day: Biology Around You
- 178 · From Biology to Chemistry: The Atoms Underneath It All
- 179 · Final Reflection: My Year in Biology
- 180 · Congratulations! You Completed Biology!
Plus 6 review days, not listed.
By the end of the year, your child can
- Explain how cells get and use energy through photosynthesis and respiration
- Predict inherited traits with Punnett squares and explain how DNA becomes a trait
- Use evidence to explain natural selection and how populations change over time
- Describe how the major organ systems work together to keep the body stable
- Design a controlled experiment and judge whether a science claim holds up
Other 9th Grade subjects: Algebra I · English 9: Literature · English 9: Composition & Grammar · World History