The Well Trained Mind as well as other classical homeschool curriculums are based upon a four-year rotation of both history and science. With this schedule students will study biology in first, fifth, and ninth grades. Since biology is often considered a high school subject, finding a biology curriculum for a fifth grader can seem like a challenge but in reality there are several great biology curriculums designed for upper elementary students that are perfect for fifth grade students.
Christian Kids Explore Biology
Published by Bright Ideas Press, and written by Stephanie Redmond, a homeschool mother of three, Christian Kids Explore Biology is a thoroughly Christian biology curriculum designed for students in grades third through sixth.
The book is written in a conversational tone, which helps to hold the students attention. There are thirty-five weekly lessons that include a reading, comprehension questions, hands-on projects, bible study tie ins, memorization lists, experiments, coloring pages, additional reading suggestions, writing assignments, and field trip suggestions.
Christian Kids Explore Biology can be purchased on the Bright Ideas Press website for $34.95.
Real Science-4-Kids Biology
Real Science-4-Kids Biology is written by Rebecca Keller, and is designed for students in fourth and fifth grades. The author does a great job of explaining college level biology concepts in a way that upper elementary aged students can understand them.
One of the major complaints of Real-Science-4-Kids among those who are not religious is the author’s stance on evolution, or should I say her lack thereof. The author expresses that she sees evolution, creationism, and intelligent design as equal viewpoints; therefore she does not discuss the theory of evolution. On the same note, that makes this book work for religious homeschoolers as well as secular homeschoolers, because the teacher can discuss their particular belief instead of having to teach a theory that they do not believe in.
The Real Science-4-Kids Biology curriculum can be purchased on their publisher’s website, or it can be purchased from other homeschool curriculum sources. I would highly suggest purchasing it from someone other than the publisher, as their shipping prices make purchasing it from them very expensive. You can purchase it from Amazon for $19.77 with Free Super Saver Shipping.
Noeo Science Biology 1: Seeds, Scales, Feathers, and Tails
Noeo Science is written by Dr. Randy Pritchard, a homeschool father of two boys. The Biology 1 program from Noeo is an excellent elementary biology curriculum. A full year curriculum it covers many biology concepts including invertebrates, fish, birds, the human body, major ecosystems, plants, trees, and weather. The lesson plans include experiments, reading assignments, and science notebook pages.
You can purchase Noeo Science Biology 1 directly from their website for $19.95.
