Dissection Specimens for Biology (Earthworm, Crayfish, Fish and Frog)

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

This science course, designed for high school, has been updated for 2020 and is now available in a 3rd edition. The 3rd edition is not compatible with the previous 2nd edition, which is now out of print with limited availability.

Written specifically for use in a homeschool environment, these biblically-centered courses take a lot of pressure off the parent teaching the course. The main component of each course is the textbook. Please note that most textbooks have switched from hardcover to softcover format. The student text includes all the student reading, instructions for labs, "On Your Own" exercises, and fifteen to twenty "Study Guide" questions at the end of each chapter. Unlike many upper-level science texts, we have found these to be extremely readable! The text has a conversational tone, and concepts are explained in an easy-to-understand way. Plenty of helpful diagrams and pictures are included which add interest and break up the text. Answers to the "On Your Own" exercises are also included with discussion at the end of each chapter. The labs are designed to be done easily, and most require only household items to complete; unlike high school courses, like Bob Jones which require investing in some lab equipment and chemicals to complete the labs. Where a microscope or dissecting materials are required, a reasonably-priced complete kit of materials is available, for ease in collecting the items.

The Solution Manual contains test questions for each chapter, answers to the test questions and solutions to the "Study Guide" questions. For some courses, a separate Perforated Tests booklet is available; please note that this is only necessary if you want an extra copy of the test questions.

TheStudent Notebooks are a user-friendly companion that provides space for answering the On Your Own and Study Guide questions as well as for developing Lab Reports. Study helps include graphic organizers and a Module Summary for each module (fill-in-the-blank). Digging Deeper sections provide opportunity for practical applications and writing activities. For the teacher there are grading rubrics for lab reports and suggested answers for some of the graphic organizers. The History of Science module includes a nicely done timeline. Grading rubrics for the lab reports are provided in the Appendix.

MP3 Audio CDs are also available for most courses. The audio files are in MP3 format, and will require an MP3-compatible CD player to use (these can also be run on most computers). Tests, study guides, and answers are not included - this is simply an audio version of the text.

Apologia also offers Video Instruction for Biology, Chemistry, Marine Biology and Advanced Biology. These have transitioned to USB flash drive format. Sherri Seligson, author and scientist, is your host and takes you to interesting locations, incorporating animated diagrams (over 20 hours of instruction) to help students better understand the concepts being taught. The content is more of a summary of the textual information found in each section of the modules than a narration of the text. Students will either see Sherri Seligson on location or in a lab during the speaking portions or they will see animated illustrations and examples. Sherri takes students through each lab and talks about what needs to be done and the results of the experiments.

System requirements for USB drives: USB port (PC or Mac), media player capable of playing mp4 files, and an internet browser. DVD requirements: DVD drive on your computer (PC or MAC) capable of playing mp4 files; these are not compatible with a DVD player.

We now offer SuperSets and Advantage Sets which include multiple items. Advantage Sets include the text, solutions manual (with a copy of the test), notebooking journal, and the MP3 Audiobook CD. SuperSets include everything in the Advantage Set (text, solutions manual with tests, otebooking journal and MP3 CD) plus the Video Instruction USB Flash Drive.

Apologia Science courses are written from a Biblical worldview with the homeschool in mind. At the elementary level, courses follow a Charlotte Mason-inspired methodology, with lessons organized around narration, notebooking exercises and hands-on activities or projects. Children at different ages can use these together, learning at their own level. Each course is designed to be teacher-student interactive, so teacher involvement is fairly high at this level. At the junior high and high school levels, science courses are more traditional in nature, with the textbook written to the student. Teacher involvement time at this level is much less than at the elementary level. Textbooks contain student reading, lab instructions, "On Your Own" questions and Study Guide questions. A Solutions Manual provides the answers to these and the test questions. Lab kits are available separately for both the elementary and upper-level science courses which include most of the harder to find items you will need.

Items listed in this section tend to be complete science programs with a teacher and student component, requiring few supplements besides science supplies.