Life Sciences

In this course, students explore fundamental concepts in biology from cellular structures to ecosystem dynamics. They engage in a variety of hands-on activities and experiments that encourage scientific inquiry, enhancing their understanding of how life is interconnected. Key topics include the characteristics of life, the structure and function of plant and animal cells, human anatomy, and the relationships within ecosystems. Students also explore the impact of human activities on natural systems, fostering an awareness of environmental stewardship. Through projects like creating stop motion videos to illustrate cellular processes and analyzing data from ecological studies, the course integrates multiple disciplines, helping students see the relevance of science in everyday life.

To successfully complete this course, students will need access to a laptop or desktop computer with a reliable internet connection and a working webcam and microphone.

In addition, this course may require purchase of texts or other course materials.

CLI partner schools observe a wide range of calendars, including academic years which begin both before and after Labor Day. To accommodate this, yearlong courses are offered with both “August start” and “September start” options. For more information and to assist us in matching your school’s calendar, please reach out to your CLI contact.

This Fixed-Paced course incorporates a blend of synchronous and asynchronous elements. Students and teacher meet live via zoom on a regular weekly schedule. In addition, students complete coursework including guided readings, interactive videos, text and video-based discussion threads, problem sets, individual and collaborative projects, and so on. While these activities are time-flexible, teachers sequence them with weekly deadlines to help students keep on track and encourage and support the development of productive time management skills.

During the course orientation period, CLI asks students to complete a survey on their availability for live class meetings. Teachers set individual class meeting times based on student responses.