This high school study guide is part one of a two-part course in high school anatomy. In this series, students will learn about the organs and systems of the human body, from head to toe, in a clear and entertaining way. In this particular guide, they will learn about the skin and hair, the microbes that live in and on the human body, the brain, the mouth and throat, the heart and blood, and the body’s chemical makeup.

The study guide includes reading assignments from the spine text, narration prompts, and open discussion questions. Experiments related to the reading are also included. Optional supplemental activities, such as current events, videos, and article suggestions when there is time, are also included. Finally, you will find a link to an exam for each course in the introductory material.

Pages: 49
Prerequisites: Form 3-4 Biology. While the content in The Body does not exactly build on the content in Men, Microscopes, and Living Things by Katherine B. Shippen, I still recommend it as a prerequisite because it is the only survey of biology available in a living book format. Still, it is your choice and your student can get along fine without it.
This study can be used as one-third of a high school biology credit. Learn more about high school transcripts in this article.

Spine Text

This study guide accompanies the living book The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson (Doubleday, 2020, ISBN: 0552779903), which must be purchased separately.

464 pages, 23 chapters (184 pp, 8 chapters completed in this guide. This book is too long to complete in two terms; some chapters have been omitted from the assigned work. I do not suggest students read omitted portions in their free time except where noted in the study guide.)

Reading Level: grade 9 and up

There are many editions of this book! The study guide provides page numbers for the version with the ISBN listed above, as well as the British version, referred to as the “white book” in the guide. If you do not get one of those version, you will still be fine. Each reading assignment includes clear instructions on where to begin and where to stop.
The Body is also available as a well-read audiobook which might be a helpful if your student would benefit from reading along. Look for it on Audible.com.

Bill Bryson (1951) grew up in Des Moines, Iowa but ultimately settled in England. He has authored more than twenty books which can be categorized into four broad categories: travel, history, language, and science.

He believes in the importance, worth, and excitement of science for all, both for now and for our future. This led him to set up the Bill Bryson Prize for Science Communication, with the Royal Society of Chemistry. This competition helps to engage students from around the world in explaining science to non-experts. The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of the world’s most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence, of which Bill Bryson is an Honorary Fellow.

In one of the first chapters of one of his first books, The Lost Continent, we see what shines in all of his writings and in life: a true curiosity into journeys of discovery. —Michele Jahncke (source)

An important note: There are sections of this text that will not be included due to the nature of the content, and still, there will be sections assigned that might not be acceptable to you. Even if you are pretty relaxed about the content your children take in, I think this book is worth prereading. In particular, take note of the insert pages. There is one you may wish to remove as you may find it inappropriate. Also, note that the author of The Body primarily takes a naturalistic view of creation. You can read how I approach that with the kids on the third sample page included below.

So WHY use a book that has issues? 1) It’s actually a really great book and I’ve received ample feedback that the kids are learning so much from it. But, it’s not written to the kids, which is the case for almost all of my high school selections. The other authors just have a little more tact, and let’s be honest, conversations about the human body and its functions can cause us to get a little squirmy in ways chemistry and physics never will! 2) As Charlotte Mason once lamented, “We have not a copious scientific literature in English but we have quite enough to go on with in our schools.” (6/219) This is the best in-print option I have come across. If you do not want to use it, you can always select an out-of-print book from the Human Body (extra option.) Just be aware that daily lesson plans are not included with those options.

Other Necessary Items to Complement This Course

Review the Supply List for this course.

Schedule:

This study guide includes 33 lessons, each requiring approximately 30-40 minutes. You can either schedule it:

Three times a week for 11 weeks allowing for exams during the 12th week, or
Once a week for an entire year, allowing time for exams at the end of each term, and including other science subjects on the other days of the week.

We love Sabbath Mood Homeschool! I am so grateful for all the curriculum/guides we have used thus far. I feel badly for my older kids that didn’t get much Science unfortunately since I just couldn’t get my head around doing it properly as CMers. But my last three love science and I even made my olders do some of the younger classes with them just to catch a bit of enthusiasm for this vast subject. One of my daughters even wants to go into Anatomy for post-secondary which is a lot considering we are a very ‘artsy’ family. Thank you SMH for inspiring and awakening this love that was there, it just needed to be kindled!

—S. Hobbs

Sample Lessons

A digital version can be purchased below, but the paperback copies of this study guide must be purchased on Amazon.

The study guide includes religious content, though the accompanying spine text does not. If you require a secular version, please choose that option below.