SBI3U Curriculum Outline
Unit 1: Diversity of Living Thing
(Curriculum strand summary)
 (Corresponding textbook pages)
1.1 Analyze the risks and benefits of human intervention to the biodiversity of aquatic
and terrestrial ecosystems.
 10: Diversity of Habitats, 11: Species Interaction, 12: Biodiversity at Risk
1.2 Analyze the impact that climate change might have on biodiversity.
 11: Species interaction, 12: Biodiversity at Risk
2.1 Use appropriate terminology to explain biodiversity.
 10: What is a Species, 26: Kingdoms of Life, 28: Domains of Life, 48: The
Prokaryotes, 54: Viruses, 60: Protists, 80: Fungi, 86: Plants, 97: Animals
2.2 Classify and draw biological diagrams unique to their specific characteristics and
kingdoms.
 17: traditional Taxonomic Levels, 18: Dichotomous Key, 24: Taxonomy Today
2.3 Use proper sampling techniques to collect organisms, and classify them using
taxonomy.
 48: Key Features of Bacteria, 63: Characteristics of Protists, 97: Classification
and Phylogeny, 105: The Vertebrates
2.4 Create and apply a dichotomous key to identify and classify organisms.
 17: Traditional Taxonomic Levels, 106: Investigation 3.3.1
3.1 Explain the principles of taxonomy and phylogeny. Define concepts such as genus,
species, etc.
 17: Traditional Taxonomic Levels, 21: Phylogeny
3.2 Compare and contrast prokaryotes, eukaryotes and virus structure and function.
 48: Characteristics, Metabolism (Prokaryotes), 55: Characteristics (Viruses), 63:
Characteristics, Life Cycle (Eukaryotes)
3.3 Describe similar and different anatomical and physiological characteristics of various
organisms.
 48: Bacteria, 52: Archaea, 63: Protists, 81: fungi, 100: Animals, 105: Vertebrates
3.4 Explain structural and functional evolutionary changes throughout time.
 88: Early Adaptations to Life, 104: The vertebrate Success Story
3.5 Explain why biodiversity is important to maintaining viable ecosystems.
 6: What Connects Life on Earth, 10/11: Biodiversity Interactions
Unit 2: Evolution
(Curriculum strand summary)
 (Corresponding textbook pages)
1.1 Analyze based on environmental and economic concerns, the positives and negatives
of artificial selection.
 346: Avoiding Extinction, 283: Selective Breeding, 285: The Power of Artificial
Selection, 286: Implications
1.2 Evaluate the impact of environmental changes on natural selection and species
vulnerability.
 304: The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection, 334: Consequence of Human
Influence
2.1 Use appropriate terminology to explain evolution.
 282, 298, 326, 331, 336, 341
2.2 Use research to investigate key factors affecting evolution.
 326: Natural Selection, 342: Divergent Evolution, 343: Convergent Evolution,
344: Coevolution, 346: Activity 8.4, 362: Cultural Evolution Influencing
Biological Evolution
2.3 Analyze and report about various contributions of scientists to modern evolutionary
theories.
 288: Adaptation and Heredity, 291: Catastrophism and Uniformitarianism, 294:
The HMS Beagle
2.4 Investigate natural and artificial selection, and analyze their different mechanisms.
 326: Natural Selection, 329: Natural Selection in Action, 283: Selective Breeding,
285: The Power of Artificial Selection
3.1 Explain the theory of evolution using natural selection to illustrate it.
 326-329: Types of Natural Selection
3.2 Explain individual adaptations of organisms to their environments.
 306: Large Billed Finches on Galapagos Island, 329: Natural Selection in Action,
331: Scenario Challenge
3.3 Define speciation and explain how new species are formed.
 336: Speciation 336: Mechanisms of Reproductive Isolation, 337: Allopatric
Speciation, 339: Sympatric Speciation
3.4 Describe some evolutionary mechanisms and explain how they effect development
and extinction over time.
 331: Genetic Drift, 332: The Founder Effect, 349: Diversification and Mass
Extinction, 363: Are Humans Still Evolving
Unit 3: Genetic Processes
(Curriculum strand summary)
 (Corresponding textbook pages)
1.1 Analyze the social and ethical implications of genetic research.
 146: Cloning, 208: Exploring Genetic Screening, 242: DNA Identification, 245:
Manipulating the Genome, 249: Setbacks, 250: Successes
1.2 Evaluate the importance of recent contributions to knowledge of genetics and genetic
technologies.
 202: The Gene Hunters, 245: Manipulating the Genome, 247: Products of Genetic
Engineering
2.1 Use appropriate terminology to describe genetics.
 184: Mendelian Inheritance, 187: Dominant and Recessive Alleles, 190: Test
Crosses, 194: Variations in Heredity, 197: Pedigree, 210: dihybrid Cross
2.2 Investigate meiosis with the use of technology and draw diagrams of the phases of
meiosis.
 154-155: Meiosis I and II, 156: Random Assortment
2.3 Use punnet squares to solve problems such as monohybrid crosses, dihybrid crosses,
dominance, sex linked crosses etc.
 188: Predicting Inheritance of Alleles, 194: Incomplete Dominance and
Codominance, 200: Sex Linkage, 211: Solving Dihybrids
2.4 Investigate test crosses. Use punnet squares and probability rules to analyze data.
 188: Predicting Inheritance of Alleles, 201: Questions, 210: Independent
Assortment, 211:Solving a Dihybrid Cross, 213: Probability, Product Law
3.1 Explain the phases of meiosis and the movement of chromosomes.
 144-145, 153-156
3.2 Explain concepts of how DNA, genes, alleles, etc. contribute to heredity.
 138: Genetic Material, 140: Sexual Reproduction, 152: Sexual Reproduction, 157:
Gametogenesis, 228: DNA and the Code of Life
3.3 Explain terms like genotype, phenotype, dominant, recessive etc. according to
Mendelian laws.
 186: Mendel’s First Law of Genetics, 187: Dominant and Recessive Alleles, 194:
Incomplete Dominance and Codominance
3.4 Describe some genetic disorders, including the physical effects and treatment options.
 162: Nondisjunction, 204: Genetic Disorders, 206: Other Disorders, 235:
Chromosomal Mutations
3.5 Describe reproductive technology and explain how it can increase genetic diversity.
 207: Ontario Newborn Screening Program
Unit 4: Animal Structure and Function
(Curriculum strand summary)
 (Corresponding textbook pages)
1.1 Evaluate the importance of technological contribution, including Canadian
contributions, to our understanding of internal body systems.
 419: Endoscopy, 442: Spirometer, 459: New Technologies, 460: Artificial Lungs,
504: Looking Through the Body
1.2 Assess how societal need have lead to scientific and technological developments.
 424: John Snow Excerpt, 485: Artificial Blood, 499: Observing the Heart Beat
2.1 Use appropriate terminology related to animal anatomy.
 397, 400-402, 409, 413, 418, 441, 443, 480, 487, 499, 501
2.2 Perform a lab or a computer based simulation to dissect an animal and analyze the
relationships between the circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems.
 510: Activity 11.11.1
2.3 use medical equipment to monitor functional responses to the respiratory and
circulatory system due to external stimuli.
 465: Activity 10.2.1
3.1 Explain the anatomy of the respiratory system and the process of gas exchange.
 438: Gas Exchange, Cellular Respiration, 442: Mechanisms, 447: Transport and
Diffusion of Gas, 450: Maintaining Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Levels
3.2 Explain the anatomy of the digestive system and the importance of providing
nutrients needed for energy and growth to our body.

409: Structure of the Stomach, 410: Chemical Digestion, 412: Structure of the
Small Intestine, 418: Structure of the Large Intestine
3.3 Explain the anatomy of the circulatory system and its function of transporting
substances that are vital to our health.
 482: What is Blood, 487-492: Blood Vessels, 489: Controlling Blood Flow in the
Capillaries, 497: The Cardiac Cycle,
3.4 Describe disorders related to these three systems.
 421: Nausea and Vomiting, 452: COPD, 454:Tuberculosis, Pneumonia, Cystic
Fibrosis, 457: Smoking, 502: Treatment for Coronary Artery Disease
Unit 5: Plant Anatomy, Growth and Function
(Curriculum strand summary)
 (Corresponding textbook pages)
1.1 Evaluate the importance of plants to the growth and development of Canadian
society.
 540: Why are Plants so Useful, 571: Biomimicry, 573: Improving City Life With
Trees
1.2 Evaluate ways other societies have used plants to help sustain human populations
while supporting the environment as well.
 550: Human Uses for Leaves, 556: Human Uses for Stems, 561: Human Uses for
Roots, 562: Erosion Control
2.1 Use appropriate terminology related to plant anatomy, growth and function.
 544, 548, 598, 605
2.2 Conduct research through inquiry to determine the factors affecting plant growth.
 542: Basic Needs of Plants, 608, 609
2.3 Draw diagrams of specialized plant tissues using microscopes or through modeling.
 575: Investigation 12.2.1, 576: Investigation 12.3.1
2.4 Investigate various methods of plant propagation.
 592: Structures Involved, 593-594: Human Uses of Plant Asexual Reproduction
3.1 Describe structures in vascular plants and explain their transport methods.
 543: The Vascular Plant body, 547: The Structure of Leaves, 554: Cell Types in
Vascular Tissue, 559: General Structure of Roots, 564-570: Transport
3.2 Compare and contrast monocot and dicot plant structure and environments.
 544: Updating Phylogeny of Vascular Plants, 577:Investigation 12.4.1
3.3 Explain the reproductive mechanisms of plants in natural reproduction and artificial
propagation.
 592: Asexual Reproduction, 594: Human Uses, 595: Sexual Reproduction, 599:
Pollination and Fertilization
3.4 Describe factors effecting plant growth.
 608: Environmental Factors Affecting Plant Growth, 609: Table 1, 613-617: Plant
Growth Regulators
3.5 Explain ecological succession including plant roles in maintaining biodiversity and
organism survival.
 588: Succession, 590: Secondary Succession, Human Activity and Succession