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Does Teaching High School Science Scare You?

As a veteran homeschool mom, who has graduated 3 children who took high school biology, I can assure you that teaching High School Science doesn’t have to be scary. I used the best available curriculum at that time, but today when faced with biology choices I wanted something different and fresh. Biology is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, but how we teach it can be new and exciting? This is where Journey Homeschool Academy comes in. This review will focus on Experience Biology: Upper Level.

I love science, but sadly not all my children experience the same joy when faced with learning biology, chemistry, or physics. Sometimes a new approach needs to be taken. I wanted something with substance and would actually teach, but would also engage my son. Would Journey Homeschool Academy’s Experience Biology: Upper Level fit the bill?

What is Journey Homeschool Academy 

Trisha and Luke (a husband and wife team) offer Online elementary and high school Science Courses which includes:

Elementary Astronomy and Biology

Upper Level Astronomy and Biology

For the purpose of this review, I received a 1 year subscription to Upper Level Biology which covers a college prep course of 1 year of  high school biology including labs and dissection.

The course if 35 weeks long. Each unit (week) has 2 video lessons, a lab video, quiz (graded automatically online), an optional reading assignment (see Optional Textbook below), and research questions.

The online Scope and Sequence details out what is covered each week and the supplies list allows you to see what materials will be needed.

Included in your purchase are the following online PDFs (which are available to purchase in print form):

Student Guidebook which includes lesson outlines and study notes.

Student Lab Guide includes Laboratory Assignments with instructions and all the notes your child will need to complete the lab.

OPTIONAL TEXTBOOK:

The Riot & The Dance: Foundational Biology is a textbook written by Dr. Gordon Wilson. It includes 130 illustrations and several hundred figures. Students are taught key details of biology. This foundation for understanding biology while clearly giving glory to God follows life from fungus to vertebrates.

(My 17-year-olds answer to Do you like this book?: It’s fine. Translated: I like it.)

The parent dashboard allows you to see each child’s progress at a glance. With grades for quizzes, you know if your child understands the materials presented to them.

NOTE: Their Elementary Level courses offer lifetime access for immediate family.

How We Have Used Experience Biology: Upper Level in our Family

Marcus is 17 years old and I admit that I put off Biology until this year because I was dreading it with him. He has not traditionally liked science. I literally began researching new high school biology curriculum when I received the opportunity to review Journey Homeschool Academy’s Biology for High School. Can you say, “God opportunity?” 

Have you ever had the “knowledge” that what you are looking at is exactly what your child needs at that moment? When looking at the website for Journey Homeschool Academy, I knew that my son would not only enjoy this biology course, but it was almost as if it were tailor-made for him – a teenager who didn’t understand why he has to learn more about biology when that isn’t what he will major in.

Marcus is getting ready to dissect a dogfish shark. Just one of the many hands on experiences your child will have with this program.

Things We Have Learned Using Experience Biology: Upper Level:

Even someone who hates science will love the fresh and exciting approach to Experience Biology.

The exuberance and passion that Trisha and Luke exhibit for the subject matter just jumps off the screen.

We skipped ahead (for the purpose of this review) and dissected a dogfish shark. While my son seemed excited at this prospect, he clearly doesn’t enjoy dissecting as much as I did in my high school biology class. 

While dissecting actual specimens is not necessary, I love the hands-on approach. You may want to opt to use the dissecting videos included in this course instead of actual dissection.

Would I Recommend Experience Biology for High School Science?

Not only does Experience Biology: Upper Level fit my student, but it is a great way to teach any student. The combination of videos, textbook, and labs, gives a well-rounded approach to teaching high school biology.

The teachers are adorable, work well together, and excite the students.

The layout of the lessons is easy to follow. I simply assigned each in my son’s schedule and he is able to do the lessons himself with little supervision. (A win for this working mom). 

Final Thoughts about Experience Biology: Upper Level from Journey Homeschool Academy

The God of the Universe, who ordered the heavens and the earth, knew what our family needed before we even knew. I am truly humbled by the timing of this science curriculum coinciding with my quest for a high school biology course.

Watching my son delve into biology and stay on target has brought great joy to this momma’s heart. I have not had to look at his progress and ask why he is behind. Sometimes he even has worked ahead!

I love the fact that we get to have 1 year from course date to finish – although based on his progress, I don’t think we will need the entire year to finish. However, it is great to have it because life happens.

If you don’t trust my word for it, check out the other reviews for Experience Biology: Upper Level by Journey Homeschool Academy by clicking on the big banner below!