Unit 1: Characteristics of Living Things
Unit Description 
All living things share a set of unique characteristics and processes that define life. While reviewing basic laboratory and microscopy techniques, students will explore the similarity and differences between cell types. Deeply investigating different domains and kingdoms of life allows for an introduction to the history of life on Earth, common ancestry, and evolution which are key concepts spiraled throughout the remainder of the course.

YouTube Video


View the video above, based on the Unit 1 Prezi, to learn more about the storyline for Unit 1. Thanks to Andrea Robinson and Joe Tartaglia for creating this presentation!



Unit Essential Questions

  • What makes things living? 
  • How can we use evidence to understand the evolution of life on Earth? 

Key Lab Components

5E Instructional Model Plans
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tlsCm2rTUIlW1id6PK9mDW5QOz7U2y9w8j-9NzKiFxU/edit


Spanish Resources (Translation of Select Unit Materials)