Bio Blueprint Curriculum Map
Bio Blueprint
9th Grade General Biology Curriculum Map
36-WEEK MASTER PLAN
Indiana Academic Standards Aligned
Course Philosophy
The Biology Blueprint integrates scientific practices with core biological concepts. From molecular building blocks to the global biosphere, students engage in inquiry-based learning to master Indiana's Priority Standards.
Priority Standards
High-leverage concepts essential for Indiana state assessments.
Quarter 1: The Building Blocks of Life
WEEKS 1-9
| Units | Essential Questions | Standards | Key Vocabulary |
|---|
| Unit 1: Foundations | | | |
| (Weeks 1-4) | | | |
- How do scientific methods solve problems?
- How do properties of water support life?
- How do macromolecules function as building blocks?
|
B.LS1-1
SEPS: 1, 2, 4, 6
| Homeostasis, Metabolism, Covalent/Ionic Bonds, Hydrogen Bonding, Macromolecules, Enzymes. |
| Unit 2: Cells
(Weeks 5-9) |
- How does cell structure determine function?
- How do membranes maintain homeostasis?
- What differentiates cell types?
|
B.LS1-2 B.LS1-3
SEPS: 2, 3, 5
| Prokaryote, Eukaryote, Organelles, Plasma Membrane, Diffusion, Osmosis, Active Transport. |
Quarter 2: Energy & Growth
WEEKS 10-18
| Units | Essential Questions | Standards | Key Vocabulary |
|---|
| Unit 3: Energy | | | |
| (Weeks 10-14) | | | |
- How is light converted into chemical energy?
- How do organisms release energy from food?
- What is the cycle of photosynthesis and respiration?
|
B.LS1-5 B.LS1-6 B.LS1-7
SEPS: 2, 6, 7
| ATP, Chlorophyll, Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, Glycolysis, Aerobic/Anaerobic. |
| Unit 4: Growth
(Weeks 15-18) |
- Why must cells divide?
- How is the cell cycle regulated?
- How does meiosis lead to genetic variation?
|
B.LS1-4 B.LS1-8
SEPS: 1, 2, 6
| Cell Cycle, Mitosis, Chromosome, Cancer, Meiosis, Crossing Over, Nondisjunction. |
PROJECT: BIOLOGY_BLUEPRINT_MAP // P1
Quarter 1 & 2 Overview
Bio Blueprint
Semester 2: Information & Interdependence
36-WEEK MASTER PLAN
Indiana Academic Standards Aligned
Quarter 3: Genetics & Heredity
WEEKS 19-27
| Units | Essential Questions | Standards | Key Vocabulary |
|---|
| Unit 5: Molecular | | | |
| (Weeks 19-23) | | | |
- How is genetic code stored and replicated?
- How does DNA dictate protein synthesis?
- How do mutations affect organisms?
|
B.LS1-1 B.LS3-1
SEPS: 2, 6, 8
| Nucleotide, Replication, Transcription, Translation, mRNA, Protein Synthesis, Mutation. |
| Unit 6: Inheritance
(Weeks 24-27) |
- How are traits passed between generations?
- How can we predict cross outcomes?
- How is biotechnology used today?
|
B.LS3-2 B.LS3-3
SEPS: 4, 5, 6
| Genotype, Phenotype, Allele, Punnett Square, Dominant/Recessive, Pedigree, CRISPR. |
Quarter 4: Evolution & Ecology
WEEKS 28-36
| Units | Essential Questions | Standards | Key Vocabulary |
|---|
| Unit 7: Evolution | | | |
| (Weeks 28-31) | | | |
- What is the evidence for common ancestry?
- How does selection drive evolution?
- How does variation contribute to survival?
|
B.LS4-1 B.LS4-2 B.LS4-3
SEPS: 4, 6, 7
| Natural Selection, Adaptation, Fitness, Fossil Record, Homologous, Genetic Drift. |
| Unit 8: Ecology
(Weeks 32-36) |
- How does energy flow through ecosystems?
- What factors limit population growth?
- How have humans impacted biodiversity?
|
B.LS2-1 B.LS2-4 B.LS2-7
SEPS: 2, 5, 8
| Trophic Level, Food Web, 10% Rule, Cycles, Carrying Capacity, Biodiversity, Invasive Species. |
SEPS Integration
Science and Engineering Practices (SEPS) should be integrated daily. Focus on Developing Models and Analyzing Data as these form the core of the ILEARN Biology Assessment.
Assessment
Use common formative assessments (CFAs) midpoint in units. Quarter exams should be cumulative to ensure retention for the state assessment.
PROJECT: BIOLOGY_BLUEPRINT_MAP // P2
Quarter 3 & 4 Overview
Priority Standards Tracker
Teacher Resource
Priority Standards Tracker
Indiana Academic Standards for Biology (2023)
REF_ID: BIO_STANDARDS_2023
Implementation: Track the introduction (I), reinforcement (R), and mastery (M) of priority standards. These represent the "Power Standards" most likely to be assessed on state exams.
| Code | Standard Description | I | R | M |
|---|
| LS1: Molecules to Organisms | | | | |
| B.LS1-1 | DNA structure determines proteins which carry out essential functions of life. | | | |
| | | | |
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| B.LS1-2 | Hierarchical organization of interacting systems in multicellular organisms. |
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| B.LS1-4 | Role of cell division (mitosis) and differentiation in maintaining organisms. |
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| B.LS1-5 | Photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy. |
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| B.LS1-6 | Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen from sugar combine to form large molecules. |
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| LS2: Ecosystems |
| B.LS2-1 | Factors affecting carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales. |
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| B.LS2-2 | Factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems. |
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| B.LS2-4 | Cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem. |
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| LS3: Heredity |
| B.LS3-1 | Role of DNA and chromosomes in coding instructions for traits. |
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| B.LS3-2 | Inheritable genetic variations result from meiosis, errors, and mutations. |
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| LS4: Biological Evolution |
| B.LS4-1 | Common ancestry and evolution supported by multiple lines of evidence. |
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| B.LS4-2 | Evolution from population increase, variation, competition, and survival. |
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BIOLOGY BLUEPRINT CURRICULUM SERIES
VER: 2026.1 // INDIANA_BIO_TRACKER
Bio Blueprint Curriculum Map Subunits
Bio Blueprint
9th Grade General Biology Curriculum Map
36-WEEK MASTER PLAN
Indiana Academic Standards Aligned
Course Philosophy
The Biology Blueprint integrates scientific practices with core biological concepts. From molecular building blocks to the global biosphere, students engage in inquiry-based learning to master Indiana's Priority Standards.
Priority Standards
High-leverage concepts essential for Indiana state assessments.
Quarter 1: The Building Blocks of Life
WEEKS 1-9
| Units & Sub-Units | Essential Questions | Standards | Key Vocabulary |
|---|
| | | |
| Unit 1: Foundations (Wks 1-4) | | | |
- • 1.1 Scientific Inquiry
- • 1.2 Chemistry of Life
- • 1.3 Macromolecules
|
- How do scientific methods solve problems?
- How do properties of water support life?
- How do macromolecules function as building blocks?
|
B.LS1-1
SEPS: 1, 2, 4, 6
| Homeostasis, Metabolism, Macromolecules, Enzymes. |
|
Unit 2: Cells (Wks 5-9)
- • 2.1 Cell Types & Theory
- • 2.2 Organelle Function
- • 2.3 Membrane Transport
|
- How does cell structure determine function?
- How do membranes maintain homeostasis?
- What differentiates cell types?
|
B.LS1-2 B.LS1-3
SEPS: 2, 3, 5
| Prokaryote, Eukaryote, Organelles, Transport. |
Quarter 2: Energy & Growth
WEEKS 10-18
| Units & Sub-Units | Essential Questions | Standards | Key Vocabulary |
|---|
| | | |
| Unit 3: Energy (Wks 10-14) | | | |
- • 3.1 ATP & Bioenergetics
- • 3.2 Photosynthesis
- • 3.3 Respiration
|
- How is light converted into chemical energy?
- How do organisms release energy from food?
- What is the cycle of photosynthesis and respiration?
