Biology: Life Unlocked! is the first semester of a two-part introductory high school biology course that explores the fundamental principles of life science. This course covers topics such as the scientific method, cell structure and function, biochemistry, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and genetics. Emphasis is placed on developing scientific thinking, conducting investigations, and understanding how biological processes impact living organisms. Biology A lays the foundation for more advanced study in Biology B and prepares students for standardized assessments in the life sciences. Throughout this 15-week journey, students will investigate the nature of living things from the tiniest building blocks of life to the sophisticated mechanisms behind genetic inheritance and evolution. They'll engage with real-world issues and cutting-edge technology while developing the critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed in today’s scientific world.

What You’ll Learn:
The course kicks off with the basics of science itself: What defines life? How do scientists uncover new knowledge? Students will learn how to construct hypotheses, design experiments, and draw conclusions from data using CER writing (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning). They’ll apply this knowledge immediately with a virtual scientific method lab and other hands-on simulations.

From there, students move into biochemistry, uncovering the elemental building blocks of life, including the roles of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Through engaging activities like macromolecule comparison charts and enzyme labs, they'll see how chemistry drives every process in our bodies.

Next, we zoom into the cell, learning how organelles perform life’s functions and how membranes maintain balance through osmosis and transport. Students will complete virtual cell models and cell transport experiments—including the fan-favorite "egg osmosis" lab.

As we explore energy in cells, learners will uncover how chloroplasts and mitochondria drive photosynthesis and cellular respiration. They'll compare these energy cycles using creative tools like diagrams and interactive flipbooks.

The course then shifts into cell division—both mitosis and meiosis—where students examine how cells grow, replicate, and pass on genetic information. They’ll analyze the role of mutations, study the impact of cancer, and explore sexual reproduction’s contribution to genetic variation.

In the genetics unit, students become biology detectives as they trace traits, solve Punnett square puzzles, and explore fascinating concepts like codominance, sex-linked traits, and incomplete dominance.

Rounding out the course is an in-depth look at DNA and protein synthesis, where students build DNA models, simulate transcription and translation, and discuss the real-world implications of genetic mutations and biotechnology.

Whether you dream of curing diseases, exploring genetics, or simply want to understand how your body works, Biology: Life Unlocked! gives you the foundation and the spark to dive deeper into the science of life.