Irish Curriculum · 5th Year Biology

5th Year Biology Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

A full-year 5th Year Biology lesson plan aligned to the Leaving Certificate Biology specification (first examined in 2027). Week-by-week lessons for 1, 2 or 3 days a week from September to August, covering the Nature of Science and Organisation of Life (characteristics of life, biomolecules, cells, genetic inheritance and evolution), then enzymes, photosynthesis, respiration, cell division and protein synthesis, with the start of the Biology in Practice Investigation and summer consolidation.

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4Terms

48Weekly checkpoints

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5th Year Biology learning map

Choose a term, then compare a lighter weekly plan with a more intensive schedule.

1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice

September · Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life

5th Year Biology — September Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · Biology

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
September 1st week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Nature of Science: how biologists investigate	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Nature of Science: how biologists investigate 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Nature of Science: how biologists investigate 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
September 2nd week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Characteristics of living things	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Characteristics of living things 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Characteristics of living things 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
September 3rd week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Viruses: living or non-living?	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Viruses: living or non-living? 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Viruses: living or non-living? 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
September 4th week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Domains and kingdoms of life	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Domains and kingdoms of life 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Characteristics of Life 1: Domains and kingdoms of life 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding

October · Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules

5th Year Biology — October Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · Biology

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
October 1st week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Carbohydrates, lipids and proteins	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Carbohydrates, lipids and proteins 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Carbohydrates, lipids and proteins 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
October 2nd week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Nucleic acids, ATP and metabolic roles	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Nucleic acids, ATP and metabolic roles 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Nucleic acids, ATP and metabolic roles 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
October 3rd week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Minerals, vitamins and water	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Minerals, vitamins and water 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Minerals, vitamins and water 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
October 4th week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Investigating nutrients, including reducing sugars	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Investigating nutrients, including reducing sugars 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Chemicals of Life – Biomolecules 1: Investigating nutrients, including reducing sugars 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding

November · Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells

5th Year Biology — November Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · Biology

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
November 1st week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Levels of organisation	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Levels of organisation 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Levels of organisation 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
November 2nd week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
November 3rd week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Microscopy: preparing and mounting a slide	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Microscopy: preparing and mounting a slide 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Microscopy: preparing and mounting a slide 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
November 4th week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Cell structures and organelles	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Cell structures and organelles 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Unit of Life – Cells 1: Cell structures and organelles 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding

December · Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance

5th Year Biology — December Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · Biology

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
December 1st week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Chromosomes, DNA and genes	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Chromosomes, DNA and genes 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Chromosomes, DNA and genes 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
December 2nd week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
December 3rd week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Monohybrid crosses and incomplete dominance	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Monohybrid crosses and incomplete dominance 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Monohybrid crosses and incomplete dominance 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding
December 4th week (Biology)	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Mendel’s laws, dihybrid crosses and linkage	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Mendel’s laws, dihybrid crosses and linkage 2: Practice / retrieval task	Organisation of Life: Information of Life – Genetic Inheritance 1: Mendel’s laws, dihybrid crosses and linkage 2: Practical / data / discussion activity 3: Check for understanding

The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Retrieve and diagnose

Open with short questions that check the prior knowledge needed for the week’s 5th Year Biology topic.

25 minutes

Explore and explain

Work through the concept with diagrams and worked examples, then apply it to data, practicals and Leaving Cert-style questions.

10 minutes

Check for understanding

Finish with a short question or data task that shows progress towards the Leaving Cert exam.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for 5th Year Biology

Concept lessons

Clear explanations of every unit in the Leaving Certificate Biology specification, in course order.

Practicals & investigations

Guided practicals, data analysis and support with the Biology in Practice Investigation.

Exam-style practice

Leaving Cert Biology questions at Higher and Ordinary Level with worked solutions.

Progress notes

Regular feedback for parents on strengths, gaps and next steps.

Free first lesson

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Tell us your child’s level (Higher or Ordinary) and where they are with Leaving Cert Biology, and we will shape the first grind around the 5th Year Biology topics that matter most.

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