Living Science Study Guide Now Available

Last week I left you guessing as to my favorite science biography. It is Men, Microscopes, and Living Things by Katherine B. Shippen later reprinted as So Many Marvels. I have never found another book that covers the subject of basic biology so engagingly and so thoroughly.

In honor of it being my favorite, I have written my first science study guide to accompany it. Learn more about this study guide, including a list of the biology principles that are introduced through the combined use of this living book and several other resources by visiting my Middle School Biology Study Guide page.

MS Biology Study Guide

This is the first but I hope to offer several more in the future. In fact, I am working on three others already, including one for elementary students, and another for high school students.

 

19 thoughts on “Living Science Study Guide Now Available

  1. Audra Taylor

    Thank you so much Nicole, I just purchased both the spine and your study guide. My son is in 7th grade and we are working our way through a classical astronomy class this year and I was looking for a biology curriculum for 8th grade. I was so happy to receive your email! We school year-round, although we follow a lighter schedule in the summer with plenty of breaks throughout the year. I will be starting this in June when we finish Astronomy and using it as a whole year curriculum. June should be great to also make use of the out-of-door resources as they relate to the course.

    Reply
    1. Nicole Post author

      I hope you both enjoy it, Audra. It’s a little light for a whole year curriculum, so I would probably add a couple other books, likely biographies, on the side. You could do one related to biology, and maybe another of a chemist. That would help whet your son’s appetite for a future study in that area.

      Reply
  2. RobinP

    I was so excited yesterday, Nicole, to check your site and find the study there! I bought it right away and have ordered a couple of the titles I didn’t have. It looks wonderful! I was so upset because my computer decided to shut down for an update in the middle of downloading it and now it won’t let me go back and download it so I can’t print it out. But I was able to get it on my iPad so we’ll just have to work from there.

    Thank you for what you’ve given to the CM community!

    Reply
  3. Amber

    This looks absolutely wonderful, Nicole! I won’t have a middle schooler next year, but I will keep it in mind for the future. I’ll be looking forward to your elementary and high school guides.

    I am really enjoying the Delectable Education podcasts too, thank you!

    Reply
  4. Allison Taggart

    This is incredible! my oldest will only be in 4th grade next year….any chance you are working on an elementary guide? Really, just take my money!

    Reply
      1. Alli Taggart

        Yay! I head read in the blog post you were working on one….I have listened to you on the podcasts on delectable education (and every blog post is incredible!) and I can’t wait to see what you say next there and here! Thank you so, so much!

        Reply
  5. Sharyn

    Nicole,
    Thank you for making this available to us. You are much appreciated! Any thoughts on how to bump this middle school plan into the high school arena? I was thinking of adding a few more books and a mini research paper, CM style. Thoughts?
    Warmly,
    Sharyn Kelly

    Reply
    1. Nicole Post author

      Sharyn, I’m glad you asked this question. This study guide would be great for a high school student who has not covered much biology yet. I wouldn’t try to add to it, however. Instead, I would just complete it, and then use another book and take it from there. My goal is to create several study guides for high school biology, that can be taken one after another. For instance, a student might read a book that deals with cell biology or ecology, and then maybe another on physiology and anatomy, and then something about evolution, etc. Try not to think of biology as one class in high school, but rather an ongoing endeavorer.

      Reply
  6. Ashley

    This looks wonderful. Is there a way to list the additional book resources (such as Sparrow Girl) that would be needed for the full benefit without taking away from your hard work? I saw the one in the sample and just wondered how many there might be and if I would need to purchase or be able to find some at the library. Obviously, if you’ve included an online option there is a no cost choice so I don’t mean everything. The price is definitely not too much to spend and find out on one’s own so I hope this isn’t an offending question, just checking! 🙂 Thank you for creating this resource!

    Reply
    1. Nicole Post author

      Ashley, I offer a list of additional books at the beginning of the study guide, but they are suggestions, not requirements. My hope is that they may be ordered through inter-library loan. (I personally could not go buy a bunch of extra books like that, and don’t expect others to either.) In many cases I have also included an alternative, by way of a video or a website, which can be used if the supplemental book cannot be used. When a book is really great, I do try to note that it would be worth tracking down. In my opinion Sparrow Girl is one of those!

      Reply
  7. Betty

    Wow! So neat Nicole! You have been busy! Just staring to prepare to start school with my youngest and last. So glad these resources will be available! Thank you!

    Reply
  8. Pingback: My Favorite Science Biographies (Some of Them) | Sabbath Mood Homeschool

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *