Friendly Biology

Description

Facing the high school sciences with an apprehensive learner or overwhelmed home-teacher? Check out this new Biology course from the authors of Friendly Chemistry!

With a goal of teaching high school students the complexity of living things in a gentle, non-intimidating manner, this course goes above and beyond expectations. Presenting a traditional scope of study, sans evolution and natural selection, this text contains 28 lessons, vibrant illustrations, and lab activities for a complete, year-long course. Topically, students will study the characteristics of living things; basic chemistry as it pertains to living things; the roles of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in living systems; importance of pH in living systems; cytology; mitosis and meiosis; chromosome duplication and protein synthesis; reproduction (asexual and sexual); genetics; taxonomy, including a survey of each kingdom with an emphasis on various classes and orders; an overview of human anatomy and physiology; and the foundations of ecology.

The Student Textbook is available in a Christian Worldview version and a Secular version. Worth mentioning, content is marginally different (scripture references in the Christian Worldview version). Co-ops or classroom students could use the books concurrently with success. Lessons are expected to take one week to complete, with readings from 10-25 pages, so some lessons may need additional time to complete. Textbook readings are accompanied by lab activities. Labs are designed to be homeschool friendly and use household or easily found items. A sampling of lab experiences includes: osmosis with eggs and vegetables, creating a cell model, determining pH, and making butter and yogurt. You will need internet access for the Taxonomy activity. The Textbook includes space for documenting the lab activities although students may wish to make a science notebook. The author is in the process of developing video dissection labs; contact us for availability. No microscope is required for this course.

The Student Workbook is a vital component to this course and works with either version: Secular or Christian Worldview. The 2 worksheets per lesson contain a mix of fill in the blank questions, matching exercises and puzzles. Not reproducible, each child will need their own copy.

A Lesson Tests and Answer Keys book is also available. This contains the lesson tests, test answers and the answer key for the student workbook. Lesson tests contain multiple choice questions and photocopying within one family is permissible per the author.

The Complete Set includes the softcover Textbook, Student Workbook, and unlimited access to the digital Family License Video course.

This course would make an excellent introduction to the author's Friendly Anatomy or to ease struggling students into the high school level sciences to build confidence while learning. All books are soft cover. ~ Deanne

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Religious Content
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.