Lesson 1 · First Day of Intro to Biology

What Is Biology, and Why Does It Matter?

A complete first-day lesson designed to help students feel curious, safe, and ready to explore life science. Built for the teacher to run from one screen with timers, prompts, discussion cards, quick checks, and exit tickets.

Start Lesson
50–60 minutes Grade Biology I Goal Curiosity + routines

Essential Question

How do biologists study living things, and how can biology help us understand the world around us?

Learning Targets

  • I can explain what biology is.
  • I can identify characteristics shared by living things.
  • I can describe how scientists ask questions and use evidence.

Materials

  • Projector or teacher screen
  • Sticky notes or index cards
  • Student notebooks
  • Optional: leaves, shells, photos, or small safe specimens

Run of Show

First Day Lesson Plan

Use the cards below as your teaching script. Each section includes what the teacher does, what students do, and the purpose.

Student Interaction

Interactive Biology Stations

These are built for whole-class display. Use them to spark discussion, check understanding, and keep the lesson moving.

Living or Nonliving?

Warm-up

Click each object and have students defend their answer. The goal is not just “right or wrong,” but evidence-based thinking.

Vocabulary Flash Cards

5 min

Word

Biology

Click to reveal

Meaning

The study of life and living things.

Quick Class Poll

Check

Which is the strongest evidence that something is alive?

Votes will appear here.

Illustrated Mini Lesson

Levels of Life

Use this visual to introduce how biology moves from tiny structures to whole ecosystems.

Teacher Control Panel

Tools for Running Class

Class Timer

05:00

Random Discussion Prompt

Click the button for a first-day biology discussion prompt.

Teacher Notes

These notes save in this browser so you can update the lesson after teaching it.

End of Class

Exit Ticket

Students answer these before leaving. You can project them, print them, or have students write them in notebooks.

1

In your own words, what is biology?

2

Name one characteristic all living things share.

3

What is one biology question you hope we answer this year?

Built for the Year

How to Add Future Lessons

This repo is ready to grow into a full Biology I website. Each lesson can become a new page using the same pattern.

Lesson 2

The Scientific Method and Observation Skills

Lesson 3

Lab Safety and Scientific Tools

Lesson 4

Characteristics of Life Deep Dive