This two-semester lab course complements a biology curriculum, and students are welcome to join at any time.

Each lab session begins with a brief lecture to provide the background knowledge needed to perform the lab with understanding. Occasionally, students will be assigned preparatory work to complete at home to prepare for upcoming labs.

Students are expected to actively participate in the labs and will receive grades based on their work and engagement.

Please note that this course fulfills only the lab component of a biology curriculum. Students should supplement this course with their own biology studies at home, using any biology textbook. We provide correlation charts aligning our labs with many common biology textbooks.

Students should verify with their school to ensure this lab course meets a-g requirements.

The class uses a customized version of the QSL Biology Lab Manual, with many labs revised and rewritten. Students receive worksheets derived from these adapted materials instead of the manual itself.

Fall Semester:

• Microscope Magnification

• How to use a Microscope

• Wet Mounts and Microscope Drawings

• Prepare and View Plant Cells

• Prepare and View Plant Cells, Part 2

• Prepare and View Animal Cells

• Osmosis and Cytoplasmic Streaming

• Mitosis

• Forms of Bacteria

• Bacteria Around Us

• Protista

• Fungus: Squash

• Fungus: Mushrooms

Spring Semester:

• Fungus: Yeast

• Monocot vs. Dicot (Leaf, Root, Stem)

• Parts of a Flower

• Plant Leaves

• Dissection: Owl Pellet

• Dissection: Sea Star

• Dissection: Clam

• Dissection: Worm

• Dissection: Crayfish

• Dissection: Grasshopper

• Dissection: Frog

• Trophic Cascade

• Muscle