Travis Armstrong » Biology: Living Earth

Biology: Living Earth


Welcome to Biology: Living Earth!


Students in my class can be certain that the year ahead will be filled with new and challenging experiences, but also powerful moments of success that will prepare you well for both college and industry. Our classroom is a place where young people are nurtured towards success. Please feel free to email me at [email protected] with any questions or concerns that may arise during the school year and know that I am here to help.


Our course is divided into the following six units:


Unit One: Ecosystem Interactions and Energy.

Big Ideas: Biotic and Abiotic factors, Energy Pyramids and Habitats.


Unit Two: History of Earth’s Atmosphere.

Big Ideas: Geologic Time Scale, Eukaryotic Cells, Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration. 


Unit Three: Structure, Function and Growth.

Big Ideas: Cell Structure and Growth. Anatomy.


Unit Four: Inheritance of Traits.  

Big Ideas: DNA, RNA, Replication. 


Unit Five: Evidence of Evolution. 

Big Ideas: Natural Selection, Speciation and Cladograms. 


Unit Six: Ecosystem Stability and The Response to Climate Change. 

Big Ideas: Climate Change and Humanity on Spaceship Earth. 



Here are a few suggestions to prepare you for success. 


First, it is important that you recognize that I will expect you to use the skills you have learned in all of your other classes to dive deeper into the essentials of what it means to be alive. For example, when you are plotting coordinates in math or converting fractions to decimals, know that you will be using these skills in Science. When you are outlining an essay or changing a topic sentence into a thesis statement in ELA, you will also use this skill in Science. 


Secondly, as your teacher, I will attend every class fully prepared to deliver quality lessons designed to stretch and enhance your overall academic experience, specifically in the area of Biology. I expect the same from you. You will attend every class with a growth mindset, fully engaged in the day’s lesson, ready and willing to do what it takes to master the material. You will demonstrate your knowledge through a variety of assignments, projects, and assessments.


Finally, Science and Technology go hand-in-hand and as part of our learning experience, we will be working with our Chromebooks everyday. It is your responsibility to arrive everyday with a charged Chromebook. 


After class, some students may want to explore a topic further or perhaps they missed something and need to review a particular topic to bolster their own understanding of complex scientific concepts. Below, I have posted several YouTube Channels that are extremely helpful as you navigate through your first year of biology.


  1. Amoeba Sisters https://www.youtube.com/@AmoebaSisters
  2. Khan Academy https://www.youtube.com/@khanacademy
  3. Bozeman Science https://www.youtube.com/@Bozemanscience1
  4. Professor Dave https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorDaveExplains
  5. Crash Course https://www.youtube.com/@crashcourse

I am passionate about seeing students, such as yourself, thrive at WVHS and I look forward to sitting with you on graduation day and celebrating a wildly successful season at West Valley High School.


It’s a GREAT day to be a Mustang.