Grades 6–8 reading level
CK-12 Biology Workbook
Adapted with AI from the original open resource by CK-12 Foundation. Nothing is invented — only the reading level changes.
CK-12 Biology Workbook
Authors: Margaret Lynch, Douglas Wilkin
Contributor: Doris Kraus
Editor: Douglas Wilkin
This book is provided by CK-12 Foundation, a non-profit group whose goal is to lower the cost of textbooks for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, both in the United States and around the world. CK-12 uses an "open-content" model, which means teachers and experts can work together online to build free, high-quality learning materials. These materials are part of what CK-12 calls the FlexBook, a flexible, digital textbook system that can be adjusted to fit different classrooms and used to create custom learning experiences.
This work is protected by copyright law, but it is shared freely under a Creative Commons license (a type of legal permission that allows people to copy and share the work for free, as long as they follow certain rules, such as giving credit to CK-12 and not using it for profit).
Table of Contents
This workbook covers a full year of biology topics, organized into 25 chapters. Below is an overview of what students will learn, in the order it appears in the book:
Chapter 1 – What is Biology?
Introduces science and how it helps us understand the natural world, then explains what biology (the study of life) actually studies.
Chapter 2 – The Chemistry of Life
Covers matter, organic compounds (molecules that contain carbon and are found in living things), how chemical reactions happen inside living things, and the special properties of water, acids, and bases.
Chapter 3 – Cellular Structure and Function
Introduces cells (the basic building blocks of life), the different parts inside cells, and how cells move materials in and out while keeping a stable internal environment (called homeostasis).
Chapter 4 – Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Explains how living things get and use energy, including how plants make sugar through photosynthesis, how cells release energy through cellular respiration, and how some organisms get energy without oxygen (anaerobic respiration).
Chapter 5 – The Cell Cycle, Mitosis, and Meiosis
Explores how cells divide and grow, how chromosomes (structures that carry genetic information) move during mitosis, and how meiosis creates cells used for reproduction.
Chapter 6 – Gregor Mendel and Genetics
Looks at the experiments of Gregor Mendel, the scientist who discovered basic rules of how traits are passed from parents to offspring, known as Mendelian inheritance.
Chapter 7 – Molecular Genetics: From DNA to Proteins
Explains DNA and RNA (molecules that carry genetic instructions), how proteins are built from these instructions, what happens when mutations (changes in DNA) occur, and how genes are turned on or off.
Chapter 8 – Human Genetics and Biotechnology
Covers human chromosomes and genes, patterns of human inheritance, and biotechnology (the use of science to work with living things, such as in medicine or farming).
Chapter 9 – Life: From the First Organism Onward
Discusses how Earth formed and how life began, how life evolved from single cells into many-celled organisms, and how scientists classify different living things into groups.
Chapter 10 – The Theory of Evolution
Introduces Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution (the idea that species change over time), the evidence supporting it, how populations change genetically over time (microevolution), and how entirely new species can form (macroevolution).
Chapter 11 – The Principles of Ecology
Explores ecology (the study of how living things interact with their environment), how matter is recycled through ecosystems, and the different major types of environments on Earth, called biomes.
Chapter 12 – Communities and Populations
Looks at how different species interact within communities, the features of populations, human population growth, the crisis of shrinking biodiversity (variety of life), and how natural resources and climate change affect the planet.
Chapter 13 – Microorganisms: Prokaryotes and Viruses
Introduces prokaryotes (simple, single-celled organisms without a nucleus) and viruses (tiny infectious particles).
Chapter 14 – Eukaryotes: Protists and Fungi
Covers protists and fungi, their roles in the environment, and the diseases they can cause in humans.
Chapter 15 – Plant Evolution and Classification
Introduces the plant kingdom, the four main types of modern plants, and how plants evolved and are classified.
Chapter 16 – Plant Biology
Explores plant tissues and growth, the main plant organs (roots, stems, and leaves), differences in plant life cycles, and how plants adapt and respond to their environment.
Chapter 17 – Introduction to Animals
Gives an overview of animals in general and a closer look at invertebrates (animals without backbones).
Chapter 18 – From Sponges to Invertebrate Chordates
Covers sponges, cnidarians (like jellyfish), flatworms, roundworms, mollusks, annelids (segmented worms), arthropods and insects, and echinoderms and invertebrate chordates.
Chapter 19 – From Fish to Birds
Introduces vertebrates (animals with backbones) and looks closely at fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
Chapter 20 – Mammals and Animal Behavior
Covers the traits that define mammals, how mammals reproduce, how mammals evolved and are classified, and an overview of animal behavior.
Chapter 21 – Introduction to the Human Body: Bones, Muscles, and Skin
Explains how the human body is organized, along with the skeletal system, muscular system, and integumentary system (skin, hair, and nails).
Chapter 22 – The Nervous and Endocrine Systems
Covers the nervous system (which sends signals through the body) and the endocrine system (which uses hormones to control body functions).
Chapter 23 – The Circulatory, Respiratory, Digestive, and Excretory Systems
Explains how blood moves through the body (circulatory system), how we breathe (respiratory system), how we digest food (digestive system), and how waste is removed (excretory system).
Chapter 24 – The Immune System and Disease
Covers the body's general defenses against germs, the specific immune response, diseases of the immune system, and how environmental problems affect human health.
Chapter 25 – Reproduction and Human Development
Begins with the male reproductive system, continuing into topics on human reproduction and development.
Original licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. This adaptation is provided free by OER.ai.