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.
The Building Blocks of Life
An investigation into cell structure, function, and the fundamental processes that sustain living organisms.
Comparing plant and animal cells to understand how specialized structures support life functions.
Exploring the history of microbiology and the technical skills required to observe the unseen world.
Examining diffusion and osmosis as the primary methods for nutrient and waste transport in cells.
Genetics and the Code of Life
Exploring how traits are passed from one generation to the next through DNA and inheritance patterns.
Understanding the double helix structure and how it encodes the instructions for building an organism.
Investigating dominant and recessive traits using Mendelian genetics and Punnett squares.
Discussing modern biotechnology and the societal impacts of genetic modification.
Evolution and Adaptation
Tracing the history of life on Earth and the mechanisms that drive biological change over time.
Analyzing how environmental pressures lead to the survival and reproduction of the fittest individuals.
Using geological evidence to reconstruct the evolutionary history of extinct and extant species.
Exploring the biological origins of humans and our relationship to other primates.
Ecology and Interdependence
Studying the complex relationships between organisms and their physical environments.
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.
Investigating how essential elements are cycled through the biotic and abiotic components of Earth.
The Human Machine
An in depth look at the physiological systems that allow the human body to function and respond to its environment.
Examining the transport of oxygen and nutrients and the removal of waste products.
Understanding how the brain, spinal cord, and nerves process information and coordinate responses.
Breaking down the chemical and mechanical processes of turning food into fuel.
Disease 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.
Investigating white blood cells, antibodies, and the body's multi layered defense strategy.
Analyzing the history and science of medical interventions against infectious disease.