Biology (for teachers)

Waterford Biology
In 2021, Waterford launched a research-practice partnership (RPP) to create free, open-source biology curriculum. Our goal was to make NGSS alignment more feasible for teachers and students. These materials are research-based and offer ready-to-use modules built around engaging real-world phenomena. Classroom data shows that these resources can improve student engagement, reduce failure rates, and support strong test performance while consistently improving student science literacy. These materials use clear scaffolding, hands-on modeling, and data analysis activities to prepare students to make more informed decisions throughout their lives.

The resources below are listed in the order they are used at Waterford. Each packet is linked to a Google document; you are welcome to make your own copy of these documents so that you can personalize and modify them to match your localized needs. PDF copies are also available (due to ongoing edits, their may be some differences between PDFs and the Google documents for each packet). Additional resources (such as summative assessments) can be made available by emailing [email protected]. Training and professional development can also be arranged through this email. Content for additional courses is linked in the menu bar at the top of this page.

Additional resources can be found here: Course Syllabus - Course Planner (daily implementation) - Implementation How To - Implementation Video Guide - Notes Template - Extra Resources (Bell Ringers, Posters, Etc.) - Bell Ringers Slides - District Website. To view a research paper on our work, click here. To view our presentation for this research, click here. To view a presentation written for teachers, click here and here.
Links for additional materials can be found under "Resources" on the first page of each packet.

0. Lab Safety
0.1 Lab Safety Core Ideas; Lab Safety Contracts; Lab Safety Review Concepts; Lab Safety Test; First Day Activity; Pre-Assessment

1. Matter & Energy
1.1 Packet: What happens when something burns? (PDF)
1.2 Packet: How does burning change matter & energy? (PDF)
1.3 Packet: Review & Unit Assessment (PDF)

2. Animals
2.1 Packet: How do animal cells use food? (PDF)
2.2 Packet: What happens to food when it is consumed? (PDF)
2.3 Packet: How do cells acquire atoms from food? (PDF)
2.4 Packet: Review & Unit Assessment (PDF)

3. Plants
3.1 Packet: How do plant cells differ from animal cells? (PDF)
3.2 Packet: How do plant cells obtain matter and energy? (PDF)
3.3 Packet: How can we investigate plant growth and function? (PDF; Slides Template; Data; Example Presentation)
3.4 Packet: Review & Unit Assessment (PDF)

4. Ecosystems
4.1 Packet: Why do different places have different amounts of species? (PDF)
4.2 Packet: How does human activity affect species? (PDF)
4.3 Packet: Unit Assessment - Calculating Ecological Footprints (PDF)

Semester I Final Exam - Preview Copy (PDF)

5. Traits & Genes
5.1 Packet: What determines the traits of an organism? (PDF)
5.2 Packet: How are traits inherited from parents? (PDF)
5.3 Packet: Can we predict traits? (PDF)
5.4 Packet: Unit Assessment (PDF)

6. DNA & Proteins
6.1 Packet: What is DNA and how does it work? (PDF)
6.2 Packet: How does DNA affect protein assembly? (PDF)
6.3 Packet: Unit Assessment (PDF)
6.4 Packet: How are genes modified? (PDF)

7. Mutations & Change
7.1 Packet: How does a protein get its shape & function? (PDF)
7.2 Packet: How do mutations change genes & proteins? (PDF)
7.3 Packet: How can mutations create new traits & species? (Alt. version) (PDF 1; PDF 2)
7.4 Packet: Unit Assessment (PDF)
7.5 Packet: How Does Antibiotic Resistance Occur? (PDF; Protocol)

8. Biodiversity
8.1 Packet: How does biodiversity affect ecosystems? Why is biodiversity being lost? (PDF)

Semester II Final Exam: New Preview Copy (PDF); Old Preview Copy (PDF)
Fetal Pig Dissection: Dissection Prep Slides; Dissection Guide

Enrichment & Extension Options