Exploring Creation With Biology 3rd Ed.

Teaching a high school biology course at home can be challenging. Apologia's Exploring Creation with Biology, 3rd edition is updated, but still written with Christian homeschool families in mind. Viewing God as the Master Designer of life, this course begins with a thorough explanation of the scientific method, tools, and limitations of science. Topically, students will study the science of life, the chemistry of life, ecology, genetics, bacteria, viruses, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. The theory of evolution is also evaluated through a Biblical worldview. There are 16 modules, each taking approximately 2 weeks (1 hour per day/5 days per week.) Exams follow each module and quarterly exams are also available. Labs are required, and the publisher recommends all 3 types be completed: Microscopic, Dissection and Household. If you are familiar with the previous editions of Biology, the 3rd ed. text has been reorganized and updated with new content and current discoveries, detailed infographics and updated graphics. The writing feels less conversational or chatty, compared to the previous edition, but in my sample module (available download below), the text is clearly explained and understandable to most high school students. This edition is not compatible with previous editions.

Three types of lab exercises are included: Household, microscopic (require the use of a 400x microscope, concave and flat slides, and the prepared slide set), and the dissection labs which require a dissection kit of instruments and specimens. Families who have used the 2nd edition and own the recommended slides and microscope will appreciate that the microscopic and dissection lab equipment is unchanged, with the exception that the chick embryo is no longer used. There are additional household and lab supplies that are necessary. Download the list of required items below this description. Nature's Workshop Plus is in the process of creating lab kits for this course.

The soft cover Student Text includes all student reading, experiments, "On Your Own" exercises (with answers and discussion later in the chapter), and Study Guide questions at the end of each chapter. It also includes a link and password to "Book Extras" which offers supplemental resources to aid students in their study of biology. The Solutions and Tests, contains the chapter test booklet, answers to the test questions and solutions to the "Study Guide" questions. Tests are not reproducible. Test booklets can also be purchased separately.

Optional supports include the recommended Student Notebook, which provides a suggested daily schedule, space to answer the "On Your Own" and Study Guide questions and record personal study notes. It also includes lab forms for all lab activities, and additional information (not found in text) on how to design and perform their own experiments. It is not reproducible. Available teaching supports include the Video Instruction Thumb Drive and the Audio MP3 CD. Thumb Drive is Mac and Windows compatible. Requires Thumb Drive with minimum USB 2.0 port, web browser (no internet connection required), and a program capable of playing .mp4 files (Quick Time, VLC Player, or Windows Media Player). ~ Deanne