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Biology Basics

A middle-school biology foundations track for cells, body systems, heredity, ecosystems, evolution basics, data, and claim-evidence-reasoning explanations.

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Middle school life science / NY grades 6-8 science / Regents bridge

Biology Basics

A middle-school biology foundations track for cells, body systems, heredity, ecosystems, evolution basics, data, and claim-evidence-reasoning explanations.

5 units400 checked answers5 units, 8-12 weeks science cycle
Outcomes
  • Explain living systems using cells, structures, functions, and interactions.
  • Use models and data to support biology claims.
  • Write science explanations that separate claim, evidence, and reasoning.

Study links

Middle school biology - NGSSNYS Grades 3-8 Science Learning StandardsNYS P-12 Learning Standards by Content AreaOpenStax ScienceFlexBook textbooks and conceptsOER Commons
Source index

Unit sequence

Start at unit 1. Move forward only after the checks are clean.

  1. 01

    Cells, microscopes, and levels of organization

    80 checks
    • Identify cell structures and their functions.
    • Connect cells to tissues, organs, organ systems, and organisms.

    Practice: Label a cell model and explain how three structures help the cell stay alive.

    Open practice checks
    Sequenced original practice checks

    Move in order: foundation, transfer, analysis, timed readiness, then metacognitive repair.

    6 shown / 80 checked answers
    Exercise path
    Foundation: 32Developing: 18Proficient: 18Advanced: 12

    Start the next sequenced check: #1 Microscope. Do not jump ahead until this one is correct.

    Learning analysis
    0/80
    Tried
    0
    Correct
    0%
    Mastery

    Weakest facet: Concept

    #1MicroscopeFluencyfoundationNext

    Set 2: eyepiece 7x and objective 10x. What is total magnification?

    #2Cell countFluencyfoundation

    Set 2: a sample has 7 cells in one view and 12 in another. How many total?

    #3MicroscopeFluencyfoundation

    Set 1: eyepiece 6x and objective 10x. What is total magnification?

    #4Cell countFluencyfoundation

    Set 1: a sample has 6 cells in one view and 9 in another. How many total?

    #5OrganelleConceptfoundation

    Set 1: which structure makes most usable energy for an animal cell?

    #6Trait probabilityApplicationdeveloping

    Set 1: if 1 out of 4 Punnett-square boxes is recessive, what percent is recessive?

  2. 02

    Body systems and homeostasis

    80 checks
    • Explain how body systems interact to meet organism needs.
    • Use cause-effect language for feedback and regulation.

    Practice: Trace how the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems work together during exercise.

    Open practice checks
    Sequenced original practice checks

    Move in order: foundation, transfer, analysis, timed readiness, then metacognitive repair.

    6 shown / 80 checked answers
    Exercise path
    Foundation: 32Proficient: 18Developing: 18Advanced: 12

    Start the next sequenced check: #1 Levels. Do not jump ahead until this one is correct.

    Learning analysis
    0/80
    Tried
    0
    Correct
    0%
    Mastery

    Weakest facet: Concept

    #1LevelsConceptfoundationNext

    Set 3: which order is smallest to largest?

    #2CER countExam Readinessproficient

    Set 3: a CER uses 1 claim, 5 evidence points, and 5 reasoning sentences. How many parts total?

    #3OrganelleConceptfoundation

    Set 1: which structure makes most usable energy for an animal cell?

    #4Trait probabilityApplicationdeveloping

    Set 1: if 1 out of 4 Punnett-square boxes is recessive, what percent is recessive?

    #5VariationAnalysisadvanced

    Set 2: variation in a population helps natural selection because:

    #6Data deltaExam Readinessadvanced

    Set 2: a biology measurement rises from 24 to 29. What is the increase?

  3. 03

    Heredity, traits, and variation

    80 checks
    • Use genes, chromosomes, inherited traits, and variation accurately.
    • Interpret simple inheritance and trait-data patterns.

    Practice: Analyze a family-trait scenario and write a CER paragraph about inheritance.

    Open practice checks
    Sequenced original practice checks

    Move in order: foundation, transfer, analysis, timed readiness, then metacognitive repair.

    6 shown / 80 checked answers
    Exercise path
    Proficient: 18Developing: 18Foundation: 32Advanced: 12

    Start the next sequenced check: #1 Population change. Do not jump ahead until this one is correct.

    Learning analysis
    0/80
    Tried
    0
    Correct
    0%
    Mastery

    Weakest facet: Concept

    #1Population changeAnalysisproficientNext

    Set 5: a population changes from 120 to 116. What is the change?

    #2Food web energyApplicationdeveloping

    Set 5: producers have 1200 energy units. About how many reach primary consumers?

    #3Population changeAnalysisproficient

    Set 1: a population changes from 80 to 74. What is the change?

    #4Food web energyApplicationdeveloping

    Set 1: producers have 800 energy units. About how many reach primary consumers?

    #5HomeostasisConceptdeveloping

    Set 4: sweating when body temperature rises is an example of:

    #6Graph evidenceAnalysisproficient

    Set 4: trial values are 11, 13, 15. What is their average?

  4. 04

    Ecosystems, food webs, and energy flow

    80 checks
    • Model producers, consumers, decomposers, populations, and communities.
    • Explain energy flow and matter cycling in ecosystems.

    Practice: Build a food-web model and predict what changes when one population decreases.

    Open practice checks
    Sequenced original practice checks

    Move in order: foundation, transfer, analysis, timed readiness, then metacognitive repair.

    6 shown / 80 checked answers
    Exercise path
    Foundation: 32Developing: 18Proficient: 18Advanced: 12

    Start the next sequenced check: #1 Microscope. Do not jump ahead until this one is correct.

    Learning analysis
    0/80
    Tried
    0
    Correct
    0%
    Mastery

    Weakest facet: Concept

    #1MicroscopeFluencyfoundationNext

    Set 7: eyepiece 15x and objective 10x. What is total magnification?

    #2Cell countFluencyfoundation

    Set 7: a sample has 15 cells in one view and 20 in another. How many total?

    #3HomeostasisConceptdeveloping

    Set 1: sweating when body temperature rises is an example of:

    #4Graph evidenceAnalysisproficient

    Set 1: trial values are 9, 11, 13. What is their average?

    #5OrganelleConceptfoundation

    Set 6: which structure makes most usable energy for an animal cell?

    #6Trait probabilityApplicationdeveloping

    Set 6: if 1 out of 4 Punnett-square boxes is recessive, what percent is recessive?

  5. 05

    Biology investigation and explanation

    80 checks
    • Use data tables, graphs, and models to support a biology claim.
    • Write a lab explanation with limitations and next questions.

    Practice: Write a one-page CER explanation from a classroom biology data set.

    Open practice checks
    Sequenced original practice checks

    Move in order: foundation, transfer, analysis, timed readiness, then metacognitive repair.

    6 shown / 80 checked answers
    Exercise path
    Foundation: 32Proficient: 18Advanced: 12Developing: 18

    Start the next sequenced check: #1 Levels. Do not jump ahead until this one is correct.

    Learning analysis
    0/80
    Tried
    0
    Correct
    0%
    Mastery

    Weakest facet: Concept

    #1LevelsConceptfoundationNext

    Set 8: which order is smallest to largest?

    #2CER countExam Readinessproficient

    Set 8: a CER uses 1 claim, 5 evidence points, and 5 reasoning sentences. How many parts total?

    #3LevelsConceptfoundation

    Set 1: which order is smallest to largest?

    #4CER countExam Readinessproficient

    Set 1: a CER uses 1 claim, 6 evidence points, and 6 reasoning sentences. How many parts total?

    #5VariationAnalysisadvanced

    Set 7: variation in a population helps natural selection because:

    #6Data deltaExam Readinessadvanced

    Set 7: a biology measurement rises from 48 to 53. What is the increase?

Biology Basics curriculum · PeerTutor