The cell is quite the place! Explore the functions and structures of the cell!.

How to get the most out of The Cell (with Lab)  with Kris Correira:

This is a flipped-classroom course. Complete each item in the order they appear in Caravel.

• Class Prep should be completed before watching the class recording.

• Lab assignments are completed after watching the class recording.

• Once the course is completed to the parent's and professor’s satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.

Please see recorded course syllabus for full information.

Total classes: 12 class meetings

Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: Middle School (though probably best for grades 7 through 9)
Suggested credit: 1 trimester (1/3 credit of middle school biology)

Instructor: Kris Correira

Course description: The cell is quite the place! From its membrane to its organelles to DNA, it has fascinating structures. And then there are its amazing functions, from photosynthesis and respiration to cell division and protein synthesis. We will also explore how DNA passes on traits to offspring in specific inheritance patterns. This course aligns with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for middle school life science.

Course outline: 

• Class 1: The Microscope and The Chemistry of Living Things

• Class 2: Cells and Their Structures

• Class 3: Cell Transport

• Class 4: Photosynthesis

• Class 5: Cellular Respiration

• Class 6: Cell Division (Mitosis)

• Class 7: Reproduction (Meiosis)

• Class 8: The Genetic Code

• Class 9: Protein Synthesis

• Class 10: Father Mendel's Peas

• Class 11: Punnett Squares

• Class 12: Other Inheritance Patterns (Pedigree Charts)

Course materials: A coursebook is provided. A list of required lab supplies (available at any grocery store) is posted in Caravel.

Homework: The class is taught in a flipped-classroom format. Students are expected to gain familiarity with the assigned media (print, audio, video) prior to class. This includes up to 3 recorded lectures of up to 20 minutes each and other activities. Meeting time is spent engaging students with the material using the Socratic Method and other active learning approaches. It is also spend reviewing lab instructions and discussing finished results.

For each recording, students will need to prepare for the recording by reading the book and watching the videos and other assignments. They will complete 5 labs throughout the course. Approximately 4 to 5 hours each week will be needed to prepare for class and complete the labs.

Technical Help: If you have any technical trouble or questions about course content, please email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.

©2020 Homeschool Connections and Kris Correira. All rights reserved. This course is designed by Kris Correira.

• This material is only to be used for its intended purpose by active subscribers of Homeschool Connections. Any other use without explicit permission is in violation of the seventh commandment (yes, the 7th commandment) and in violation of US and International copyright laws.

• You may print or download to local hard disk extracts for your personal homeschool and non-commercial use only. This is not to be used for homeschool co-ops without express written permission from Homeschool Connections.