Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
6th Year The Living World: Foundations of Biology
A comprehensive exploration of life from microscopic structures to complex ecosystems. Students investigate the mechanisms of inheritance, the diversity of life through evolution, and the intricate systems that maintain human health.
01The Building Blocks of Life
An investigation into cell structure, function, and the fundamental processes that sustain living organisms.
Differentiating between living and non-living things and identifying the characteristics of life.
Identifying and comparing the main external parts of common plants and animals.
Using magnifying glasses and simple microscopes to observe small living things in our environment.
Exploring how substances, like smells or colours, spread out in liquids and gases.
Understanding the importance of water for plants and animals, and how they take it in.
Understanding how plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
Understanding that living things need food to get energy to grow and move.
02Genetics and the Code of Life
Exploring how traits are passed from one generation to the next through DNA and inheritance patterns.
Identifying observable traits and discussing how they are passed from parents to offspring.
Exploring how we inherit features from our parents and grandparents.
Identifying and discussing a variety of observable traits in plants and animals.
Understanding that some traits are more common than others in families and populations.
Discussing how humans have changed plants and animals over time for different purposes (e.g., farming, pets).
03Evolution and Adaptation
Tracing the history of life on Earth and the mechanisms that drive biological change over time.
Looking at how living things have changed over very long periods to suit their environment.
Exploring how different features help animals and plants survive and reproduce in their habitats.
Investigating physical and behavioral adaptations that help organisms thrive in their environments.
Learning about fossils as evidence of ancient life and how they are formed.
Understanding that humans are animals and share characteristics with other living things.
04Ecology and Interdependence
Studying the complex relationships between organisms and their physical environments.
Identifying the living and non-living components of an ecosystem and their interactions.
Mapping the movement of energy through food webs and the role of decomposers.
Evaluating the importance of variety in ecosystems and the impact of human activity on habitats.
Understanding that carbon moves between living things, the air, and the ground.
Exploring how important nutrients, like those found in compost, help plants grow.
Examining different types of pollution and their impact on ecosystems and human health.
05The Human Machine
An in-depth look at the physiological systems that allow the human body to function and respond to its environment.
Exploring how bones and muscles work together to provide support, movement, and protection.
Examining the transport of oxygen and nutrients and the removal of waste products.
Understanding the mechanics of breathing and gas exchange in the lungs.
Breaking down the chemical and mechanical processes of turning food into fuel.
Understanding how the brain, spinal cord, and nerves process information and coordinate responses.
Discussing how our bodies change as we grow from babies to adults.
06Disease and the Immune Response
Exploring the causes of disease and the body's sophisticated methods of defense.
Identifying the types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that cause illness in humans.
Understanding simple ways to keep our bodies healthy and prevent getting sick.
Learning about the body's natural ways to fight off germs and stay well.
Understanding that vaccinations help our bodies learn to fight off certain illnesses.
Learning about different types of medicines and how they help us when we are sick.
Exploring lifestyle choices that promote health and prevent common diseases.