Biology lesson notes for SS1–SS3

What students learn

By the end of SS3, a student who has worked through these notes should be able to:

• Describe the cell and explain some of its properties and functions
• Classify living things and recognise their main features
• Explain the main body systems, including digestion, respiration, excretion and circulation in mammals
• Compare asexual and sexual reproduction in animals and plants
• Describe pollination and the formation of fruits in flowering plants
• Explain basic ecological ideas and describe aquatic, terrestrial and grassland habitats
• Describe the structure of the eye and the role of the nervous system and sense organs
• Explain genetics, chromosomes, variation, evolution and adaptation

What each class covers

Every topic is a separate lesson note, listed here in teaching order. Open any topic, or the term, to read it.

SS1 Biology 27 notes

First Term 11 notes

• Grassland
• Science of Living Things
• Recognizing Living Things
• Classification of Living Things I
• The Cell
• The Cell and It's Environment
• Some Properties and Functions of the Cell
• Some Properties and Functions of the Cell II
• Some Properties and Functions of the Cell III
• Movement
• Reproduction

Second Term 8 notes

• Tissues and Supporting Systems
• Nutrition in Mammals
• Basic Ecological Concepts
• Basic Ecological System II
• Basic Ecological Systems III
• Functions in Ecosystem
• Energy Transformation in Nature
• Relevance of Biology to Agriculture

Third Term 8 notes

• Micro Organisms Around Us
• Microoraganisms in Action
• Towards Better Health: How to Control Harmful Microorganisms
• Aquatic and Estuarine Habibat
• Freshwater Habitat
• Terrestial Habitat
• Arid Land/Deserts
• Reproduction in Unicellular Organisms and Invertebrates

SS2 Biology 24 notes

First Term 9 notes

• Reproduction: Asexual Reproduction
• Reproduction II: Sexual Reproduction
• Reproductive Health
• Cellular Respiration
• Respiratory System
• Excretory System
• Tissues and Supporting Systems in Animals
• Supporting Tissues in Plants
• Joints

Second Term 6 notes

• Digestive System
• Transport System
• Circulatory System in Mammals
• Mechanism of Transportation in Higher Mammals
• Cell Division
• Reproductive System in Vertebrates

Third Term 9 notes

• Reproductive System in Flowering Plants
• Pollination in Plants
• Fruits
• Habitat: Marine Habitat
• Estuarine and Freshwater Habitat
• Terrestrial Habitat
• Grassland Habitats
• Ecology of Population
• Food Storage

SS3 Biology 11 notes

First Term 5 notes

• Regulation of Internal Environment II
• Peripheral Nervous System
• Sense Organ
• The Eye
• Genetics

Second Term 6 notes

• Chromosomes
• Variation
• Evolution
• Adaptation
• Biological Diagrams/drawing
• Spelling Drills of Biological Technical Terms

How we prepare our lesson notes

Each note covers one topic for one class and one term, and the notes follow teaching order. Every note has behavioural objectives, the lesson content in short sections, evaluation questions and an assignment drawn from the same note.

Before publication, notes are edited for accuracy, plain language and the right level for the class.

Every note is free to read online. A PDF or Word copy of one subject costs ₦1,000 for one term, or ₦2,000 for all three terms. If you find a mistake, tell us and we will correct it.

Recommended Biology textbooks

Books are grouped by class. The line under each title shows which list recommends it.

SS1 Biology textbooks 4 books

Name	Author	Publisher
Senior Secondary School Biology Books 1-3JAMB (UTME syllabus recommended texts)Edition: 2001 (per JAMB list)	F.O.C. Ndu et al.	Longman
Essential Biology for Senior Secondary SchoolsSchool booklist – Whitesands School, Lagos (private)Edition: Konga lists 'Latest Edition'	M.C. Michael	Not stated in source
Progress in BiologySchool booklist – International School, University of Ibadan (UI-owned)	Sani Ibrahim et al.	RASMED Publications
College BiologySchool booklist – Whitesands School, Lagos (private)	Idodo Umeh	Not stated in source

SS2 Biology textbooks 5 books

Name	Author	Publisher
Senior Secondary School Biology Books 1-3JAMB (UTME syllabus recommended texts)Edition: 2001 (per JAMB list)	F.O.C. Ndu et al.	Longman
Essential Biology for Senior Secondary SchoolsSchool booklist – Whitesands School, Lagos (private)Edition: Konga lists 'Latest Edition'	M.C. Michael	Not stated in source
Progress in BiologySchool booklist – International School, University of Ibadan (UI-owned)	Sani Ibrahim et al.	RASMED Publications
College BiologySchool booklist – Whitesands School, Lagos (private)	Idodo Umeh	Not stated in source
Extensive Biology for Senior Secondary Schools and CollegesSchool booklist – International School, University of Ibadan (UI-owned)	Alawode Sunday et al.	Extension Publications

SS3 Biology textbooks 4 books

Name	Author	Publisher
Senior Secondary School Biology Books 1-3JAMB (UTME syllabus recommended texts)Edition: 2001 (per JAMB list)	F.O.C. Ndu et al.	Longman
Essential Biology for Senior Secondary SchoolsSchool booklist – Whitesands School, Lagos (private)Edition: Konga lists 'Latest Edition'	M.C. Michael	Not stated in source
Progress in BiologySchool booklist – International School, University of Ibadan (UI-owned)	Sani Ibrahim et al.	RASMED Publications
College BiologySchool booklist – Whitesands School, Lagos (private)	Idodo Umeh	Not stated in source

Based on the 2026/27 recommended lists. Editions change, so confirm the current edition with your school or bookseller.