Biology in questions and answers

This course will be based on curiosity. Kids – and adults alike – are usually curious about animals and plants, microorganisms and viruses, and how living organisms work, what they are made of, and why, and so on. Each lesson starts with new questions, which are not limited to any theme or level of complexity, especially because the one who asks the question usually doesn’t know if it is hard or easy. Many questions seem small and easy when asked, but answering them we can go really far; for a curious person, every answer contains a new question, and any problem can be considered on the next level of detail. This is basically the main idea of the course: to learn biology “on the way”, asking funny questions, getting answers on different levels, going deeper and deeper into the world of biological science.

To give you an idea, here are some examples from the lessons in the past:

• We feel hot when we run. Does a jumping frog feel the same?
• How does the electric eel produce an electric discharge?
• When do plants grow — at night or in the daytime?
• How small can the smallest organism be?

What will we learn?

This depends on the questions. On the one hand, everyone an ask anything, and this can lead us to any field of biology. On the other hand, to give it a little bit of structure, in the very beginning of the course we’ll define a theme, or subject, of the course, to which we’ll stick throughout the year. Each class can choose its topic as it likes.

Here are some examples of the topics, which can be combined depending on interests:

• Zoology (including zoogeography and zoohistory). A little bit of paleontology, history of Earth, animal physiology, ecology, basics of the theory of evolution, natural and artificial selection, and very basics of genetics.
• Living microworld. What are microbes, how did we learn about them and how could we prove that they are often responsible for illnesses? How do scientists investigate microbes? Protists, fungi, microscopic algae – what are they and why are they interesting? What are viruses and how are they built?
• Molecules and life (From molecules to cells). Intriguing molecules. Which molecules are important for living creatures, and which not much so? What are cells made of, and how? Cell’s “organs” and how and what for are they made? From single cells to multicellular organism. What are genes and how they work.
• Animal physiology: adaptation and environment. Air, water, temperature: how to adapt? Life in extreme environments: deserts, deep ocean, ice, hot springs, etc. Energy (getting and spending), movement, information, senses.
• Ecology and evolution. How organisms (and species) evolve, adapt, and live with each other.

How will we work?

At the beginning of each lesson, everyone can ask whatever they want, we agree on the order of answering, and start discussing the questions in the class. All can share their ideas, knowledge, and fantasy, and gradually we come to the answer. This way, kids can discover many biological rules and laws by themselves. When needed, I’ll provide explanations; short lectures are also possible, when the students are willing to have them.

In addition, on each lesson we’ll try to find time for our main subject, which we’ve chosen for this class.

What are the goals?

• To give food to curious minds, support and develop interest to biology as a science and — probably more important — interest to the living world around us.
• To show what a scientific approach to searching for answers is.
• To teach the main biological principles, many of which are not formulated clearly, if at all, in school courses. These principal ideas help to form an educated view on the world and allow the kids not to be easily fooled by the floods of false information. (When it comes to health questions, these floods are huger than in any other science).
• To learn to listen and discuss, being critical but respectful.

Any questions?

Please call us or write an email:
0151 701 66 162 | lyzeum.muenchen@gmail.com