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Breadcrumb

Biology

In Cambridge, most students take biology as juniors. Two overarching essential questions frame the course:

  • How does our biological understanding help us make informed decisions that impact the environment and human health
  • How can we use evidence to understand the biological world?

In Grade 11 Biology, instructional time should focus on three areas:

  1. Evolution;
  2. Energy; and
  3. Genetics
Unit Essential Questions
Evolution (an introduction) and Life
  • How does natural selection drive past and present evolutionary processes?
  • How do we know if an ecosystem is balanced?
Energy
  • How is energy transferred through living things and systems?
  • How do processes that happen at a cellular level influence the structure, function and behavior at the level of tissues, organs, organ systems, or entire organisms?
  • How do we know if an ecosystem is balanced?
Genetics
  • How do processes that happen at a cellular level influence the structure, function and behavior at the level of tissues, organs, organ systems, or entire organisms?
  • How does DNA determine survival, inheritance, evolution, and diversity of living things?
Evolution (micro view)
  • How does natural selection drive past and present evolutionary processes?
  • How does DNA determine survival, inheritance, evolution, and diversity of living things?
  • How can we use evidence to evaluate the evolutionary relationship between organisms?

Department Information


Elementary Science


Middle School Science


High School Science


Contact Us
Deena DePamphilis, PK-12 Science Director
Adelaide Porreca, CRLS Dean of Curriculum & Programming, Science
Sarah Smith, Elementary Science Coach
Patty McGaffigan, Upper School Science Coach
Susan Agger, Maynard Ecology Center Director and Educator
Donna Pereira, R&D, Science Materials Manager

Science Department
359 Broadway, Cambridge
617.349.3012