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Biology | 9th & 10th Grade

Don’t leave teaming up to chance. Create better teamwork through science.

Biology is the study of biological systems and how they interact and function. In this basic biology course, we will study the macromolecules that make up living things, the cell components and functions, the genetic code of living things and the taxonomic structure used to classify living organisms.

  • Atom, Molecules, and Compounds

  • Chemical and Physical Change

  • Macromolecules & Enzymes

  • Cell Structure and Processes

  • DNA Replication

Spring Semester 2025​

Program Dates:

Jan 13, 2025 - May 23, 2025​

Schedule:

Mon, Wed, & Fri 

11:00am-12:15pm PST

Price:

$975*

*Discount available here​​

Enrollment Closes:​​​​

Jan 27, 2025

What You'll Learn​​

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  1. ​Understanding Biological Concepts: Students will grasp fundamental biological concepts, including the structure and function of cells, genetics, evolution, and ecosystems.

  2. Scientific Method and Inquiry: Students will learn to use the scientific method to formulate questions, design experiments, and analyze results.

  3. Scientific Literacy: Develop skills to read, write, and communicate scientific information clearly and effectively.

  4. Organismal Diversity: Explore the diversity of life, classifying organisms, understanding their interrelationships, and the importance of biodiversity.

  5. Genetics and Heredity: Understand the principles of genetics and heredity, including Mendelian genetics and the role of DNA.

  6. Homeostasis and Physiology: Investigate how organisms maintain homeostasis and the physiological processes that underlie these functions.

  7. Ecology and Environmental Science: Analyze ecosystems, biomes, and the interactions between organisms and their environment, including human impacts on the biosphere.

  8. Evolution and Natural Selection: Understand the mechanisms of evolution and the evidence supporting the theory of natural selection.

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By the end of the course, students will be able to:​

✓Describe Cellular Structure: Explain the structure and function of different cell types and organelles, including prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

✓Conduct Experiments: Design and conduct scientific investigations, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions based on evidence.

✓Explain Genetic Principles: Demonstrate understanding of genetic principles, including Punnett squares, inheritance patterns, and traits.

✓Classify Organisms: Use taxonomic classification to identify and categorize various organisms, recognizing the hierarchical structure of taxonomy.

​✓Summarize Ecosystem Interactions: Describe the

relationships within ecosystems, including food webs, energy flow, and nutrient cycling.

✓Analyze Evolutionary Evidence: Discuss the evidence

supporting evolution, including fossil records, anatomical

similarities, and genetic evidence.

✓Evaluate Environmental Impact: Assess and discuss the

impact of human activities on ecosystems and biodiversity, proposing solutions for sustainability.

✓Communicate Findings: Present scientific findings clearly and effectively, using appropriate scientific terminology and formats (e.g., reports, presentations).

Your Instructor

duyen_enhanced.png

Mrs. Duyen Paquette graduated from University of Ottawa with a BS in General Science, and then graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Environmental Science and a Master of Science degree, specializing in Parasitic Entomology. She was a Program Chair for an IT department and a lead faculty for two different proprietary colleges. She also taught science in public high school. Currently, she is dedicated to teaching online science classes for Veritas Classical Academy and other institutions, such as Northwestern University CTD, and Central Texas College.
She and her husband both coordinate a private cat/kitten rescue to help sick, injured and abandoned cats/kittens. She is an avid jogger and swimmer. Her dream vacation is anywhere with a sandy beach. Her favorite Bible verse comes from Psalm 36:6 :  "Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals."

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Course Information â€‹

Download Full Syllabus >

Course-Specific Required Materials:
Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course:

  • Apologia Biology, ISBN: xxxx​

  • Additional learning resources assigned by the instructor.

  • Laptop or tablet for research, note-taking, and assignments. All assignments will be typed digitally and submitted to Google Classroom.

  • Post-it notes and sticky tabs.

  • Planner, either physical or digital.

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General Technical Requirements: â€‹

  • Laptop or Desktop

    • Please use a reliable laptop or desktop with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later) or XP (with SP3 or later). An inexpensive laptop or netbook is preferred, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Students are only permitted to use phones for the Zoom sessions in cases of emergency. Note: It is significantly better to use an Ethernet cable to wire into a router rather than using WiFi, as WiFi signals can be notoriously unreliable based on device, distance to router, and interference from other electronics nearby

  • High-Speed Internet Connection

    • You will also need a reliable high-speed internet connection, ideally through an Ethernet cable directly connected to your computer. While Wi-Fi can work, it may not provide the best performance in terms of bandwidth. A faster internet connection will improve your experience, and we recommend a minimum download/upload speed of 5/1.5 Mbps. Depending on your location, you may also need to purchase a VPN to access Google Classroom, Google Suite, and Gmail.

  • Zoom

    • For our classes, we use Zoom, a web conferencing platform that allows students and instructors to connect face-to-face in real time, no matter where they are in the world. Zoom is free to download and simple to use. Click here to download Zoom.

  • See the VOA Parent-Student Handbook, §VII for more information about internet accessibility issues.​

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