Biology is commonly taught by progressing through hierarchical levels of biological organization, from the very small scale of molecules and cells to the very large scale of ecosystems and biomes. While this approach provides a logical structure for introducing biological concepts, students may struggle to appreciate how processes occurring at different scales contribute to the functioning of life on Earth as an integrated system. This work describes a novel educational approach to teaching biology through the lens of ecology, developed and implemented within the “Foundation Year programme” at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice - School for International Education. The course adopted ecology as a unifying conceptual framework through which all biological topics were explored. Throughout the curriculum, students were encouraged to continuously relate each biological process to its role in the broader functioning of the biosphere and according to the energy and matter flows across living systems. Student feedback and qualitative observations suggested that the ecological framework facilitated the integration of biological concepts across scales and promoted a more holistic understanding of life processes. The experience suggests that ecology may provide an effective conceptual scaffold for biology education, helping students connect different levels of biological organization and fostering systems-thinking competencies that are increasingly relevant for addressing contemporary environmental and societal challenges.