Biology 2 - Real Science Odyssey - Grades 6-10

RSO Biology Level 2 is designed to fit in a 36-week school year. The Teacher Guide contains week-by-week scheduling guidance so you don’t have to plan the entire year on your own! There are two, three, and five-day per week scheduling options, so however often you teach, you’ll know exactly what you need to cover to stay on track.

REAL Science Odyssey Biology Level 2 is contained in three books–Biology 2 textbook, student Workbook (this item), and Teacher Guide. Together they form a year-long, secular homeschool science curriculum. The Workbook rounds out each lesson with independent research and hands-on activities, guiding students to EXPLORE, ABSORB, and LEARN more than they can from reading alone.

EXPLORE – Each lesson is followed by at least one hands-on lab. Students apply the scientific method, collect and interpret data, and build models. They get outside to observe their local biome, dissect a frog, and build a model animal cell.

The included microscope labs are optional, but encouraged. Microscopes expose us to the vast diversity of life that is too small for us to see with our eyes alone. Plus, microscopy gives students an exciting peak into some of the more specialized methods that lab scientists use, as they prepare and mount their own samples for viewing.

ABSORB— Students take on their own, independent research with the Famous Science Series (FSS). Each FSS project introduces a scientist or discovery related to the lesson. From Antony von Leuwenhoek’s revolutionary microscope lenses to the Polio vaccine, students engage with the history, personalities, and pathogens that shaped our understanding of biology.

LEARN—Show What You Know (SWIK) quizzes and assessments help you determine what your student has mastered, and what they still need to review. You can use these as formal, written assessments, or as the basis for conversations that help you gauge your student’s understanding of key concepts.

These labs, projects, and activities are an essential part of middle and high school biology. In addition to giving students the opportunity to learn by doing, the workbook serves as course record when complete

 

Lab Experiments

No homeschool science curriculum would be complete without hands-on experiments! Your student will apply the scientific method and experience how the concepts from each lesson play out in real life. They will build models, make observations, and think critically about how to interpret results.  RSO Biology Level 2 includes two types of labs: General and Microscope. In the general labs, your student will:

• Build a model of an animal cell with organelles
• Dissect a frog, giving them first-hand knowledge of the anatomy of a multicellular organism
• Observe organisms and map the food web in your local biome

Microscope labs are optional, especially at the middle school level, but highly recommended. Most life on Earth exists on the microscopic scale, and even larger organisms are composed of parts too small for the naked eye to perceive. In the microscope labs, your student will have the thrill of making the invisible visible, as they:

• Collect, prepare, and view a sample of strands of their own DNA
• View the chloroplasts in a plant cell and consider their function in the organism
• Collect, prepare, and view the microscopic structure of different types of tissue from a chicken wing
• Examine the damaging effects of acid on plant cells

These are just a few examples of the exciting experiments your student will encounter in the course. Each week provides a new chance to DO science, not just read about it.

 

Course Structure

RSO Biology Level 2 homeschool science curriculum consists of three products:

• The Textbook, containing 32 progressive, narrative lessons designed for your middle or high school student to read independently.
• The Workbook (this product), containing labs, Famous Science Series independent research projects, Show What You Know Quizzes, and unit assessments.
• The Teacher Guide, containing lesson plans, materials lists, scheduling suggestions and more.

Each lesson follows the same general format:

• A reading in the textbook that introduces key concepts and vocabulary in context.
• Hands-on labs, research projects, and quizzes found in the Workbook.
• Six Unit assessments are included in the workbook as well, which you may treat as tests, or simply use for review.

Biology Level 2 allows flexibility within this format. You can choose how many times per week to teach biology. You may choose to skip some or all the microscope labs for middle school. You can allow notes with the exams or not, or simply use them to review. No two homeschools are alike, and we make it easy for you to adapt the course to your needs.

 

REAL Science Odyssey Biology Level 2 is contained in three books– Biology 2 textbook, student Workbook, and Teacher Guide (this item). Together, they form a year-long, secular, homeschool biology course for middle or high school. The Teacher Guide gives you tools and support to implement the RSO Biology 2 curriculum. As your student works through the lessons and activities in the textbook and workbook, the Teacher Guide provides detailed guidance for you as the instructor.

 

• Materials—A full list of all materials needed for your entire homeschool biology year, broken down by chapter and lab, plus an alphabetical list of all materials for the course.
• Weekly Schedules—Week-by-week schedules for the entire year. Choose from two, three, or five sessions of biology per week.
• Learning Goals—A list of important concepts and main ideas for each lesson the course, so you know what your student should understand by the end.
• Extracurricular Resources—books, websites, and other resources complement and reinforce each week’s lesson. These are curated resources that give your student reliable information when they want to dive deeper into the subject, or need extra clarification.
• Math Review—A review of the math concepts needed for the week’s lesson, so you aren’t caught off guard by questions! Math is a key tool in science, and we highly recommend that you encourage your student to hone their ability to use it.
• Lesson Reviews—Notes that review the main points of each lesson, to help you teach more effectively. You can also use them as a jumping-off point for questions and discussions with your student.
• Answer Keys— Answers to Show What You Know quizzes, lab sheets, and Famous Science Series are provided for each chapter. Answers to all assessments are found in the appendix.
• Grading Rubrics—We provide grading schemes for various approaches to the course. Whether you do every single activity, or skip microscope labs or formal assessments, we demystify the weights and percentages you should apply to each activity.

The Teacher Guide takes the stress of planning and scheduling off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on your child’s learning and enjoy your homeschool journey.

 

Course Structure

RSO Biology Level 2 homeschool science curriculum consists of three products:

• The Textbook, containing 32 progressive, narrative lessons designed for your middle or high school student to read independently.
• The Workbook, containing labs, Famous Science Series independent research projects, Show What You Know Quizzes, and unit assessments.
• The Teacher Guide (this product), containing lesson plans, materials lists, scheduling suggestions and more.

Each lesson follows the same general format:

• A reading in the textbook that introduces key concepts and vocabulary in context.
• Hands-on labs, research projects, and quizzes found in the Workbook.
• Six Unit assessments are included in the workbook as well, which you may treat as tests, or simply use for review.

Biology Level 2 allows flexibility within this format. You can choose how many times per week to teach biology. You may choose to skip some or all the microscope labs for middle school. You can allow notes with the exams or not, or simply use them to review. No two homeschools are alike, and we make it easy for you to adapt the course to your needs.