Biology

Biology provides opportunities for students to engage with living systems. In Unit 1, students develop their understanding of cells and multicellular organisms. In Unit 2, they engage with the concept of maintaining the internal environment. In Unit 3, students study biodiversity and the interconnectedness of life. This knowledge is linked in Unit 4 with the concepts of heredity and the continuity of life.

Students will learn valuable skills required for the scientific investigation of questions. In addition, they will become citizens who are better informed about the world around them and who have the critical skills to evaluate and make evidence-based decisions about current scientific issues.

Biology aims to develop students’:

• sense of wonder and curiosity about life
• respect for all living things and the environment
• understanding of how biological systems interact and are interrelated, the flow of matter and energy through and between these systems, and the processes by which they persist and change
• understanding of major biological concepts, theories and models related to biological systems at all scales, from subcellular processes to ecosystem dynamics
• appreciation of how biological knowledge has developed over time and continues to develop; how scientists use biology in a wide range of applications; and how biological knowledge influences society in local, regional and global contexts
• ability to plan and carry out fieldwork, laboratory and other research investigations, including the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data and the interpretation of evidence
• ability to use sound, evidence-based arguments creatively and analytically when evaluating claims and applying biological knowledge
• ability to communicate biological understanding, findings, arguments and conclusions using appropriate representations, modes and genres