A FREE High School Science Curriculum
Big Otter's Science: The Human Body

High School Science Curriculum

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Welcome to our FREE high school science curriculum!

For the 2008-2009 school year my high schoolers are studying world geography and cultures with a program I designed to accompany their younger brother's program: WinterPromise's Children Around the World. I was trying to decide what to do for science and started thinking, hey, why not study people for science all year too!?

Originally, for my high schooler, I had planned to use our copy of Apologia's Advanced Biology program: The Human Body, Fearfully and Wondefully Made. However, while creating a schedule for that curriculum, I found it very difficult to combine that program with the one I designed for our younger son, Otter. I really wanted to combine both boys in as much as possible, even though they are six grades apart. I also don't like how "ugly" the Apologia book is. The illustrations, in my opinion, are not very pleasing and the book as a whole, while containing good material, is not exceptionally engaging. So, I decided, instead, to use the book our daughter "Emily" used last year (she couldn't stand the Apologia book and wanted to switch to something else).

Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professionals: An Interactive Journey

There is an acompanying free website online that has videos, quizzes and more.

You can use the free website for four types of automatically graded quizzes.

The workbook is optional.

If you want to grade the workbook exercises as well as the questions from the test and have access to "official" tests, you will need the teacher's guide. You'll have to purchase it directly from Pearson Education, instead of Amazon.

I recommend that if you want to save $$, just purchase the text and use the free site for quizzes.

You can find the newest version of these materials at Pearsonhighered.com.

The title of the book is Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions and it is a college textbook. Don't let this scare you off though. It is easy to read, has clear, colorful illustrations and exercises to help cement learning. I find the book to be much more engaging and user-friendly than the Apologia book. It also comes with a multimedia CD that has 3D diagrams, interactive exercises, videos, animations and games - one of which is similar to "Who Wants to be a Millionaire".

We have the 2007 copy. I noticed the new 2008 copy has a little bit of new material in it. You can use the newer copy but it may not match up with ours exactly. Because of this possibility, I will schedule things in via chapters instead of pages.

*WARNING: This book contains nudity- both male and female. The nudity is depicted via 3-d style illustrations and does show detail, although in a scientific type of style. You will have to decide if this is appropriate for your students or not. You could put black marker over it, if you object to it.

As Bear reads through the Anatomy and Physiology book, he will also be doing activities and reading some of the material from Otter's science curriculum. You can choose which activities you'd like to combine or have the time for. In general I will probably have my boys do many of the activities together except for things that are just "too easy" for Bear like the Body Book. Although I will be using the following schedule a "supplement", I believe it is quite rigorous and full enough to stand on it's own
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If you use it independently, make sure you peek over at Otter's science curriculum to make sure you aren't missing out on any cool websites or whatnot. I also recommend you at least do the activities in the Blood and Guts book without skipping the dissections and the DNA project in week 2. If you do the dissections from the Blood and Guts book you will be dissecting a bone, chicken tendon and joint, sheep brain, cow eye, animal heart, and a sheep kidney. I have also added more detailed dissection guides to supplement the instructions in the Blood and Guts book from Home Science Tools. They are about $2.00 a booklet. There are other fun labs and activities scheduled where your student will get to find out his blood type, experiment with germs, observe microcsope slides and more.

This homeschool science curriculum doesn't just use a textbook! I have also included some additional books and DVD's. Weeks 27-33 do not use the text as it is scheduled to be finished by week 26. You could use the last 7 weeks independently as a unit study for the summer or any other time.

Click here to see all the materials you need for this study, including the optional microscope lab materials.

BEFORE SCHOOL BEGINS, your student will need to read through 2 chapters: Chapter 1 Anatomy and Physiology: Learning the Language and Chapter 2 The Human Body: Reading the Map. This will make it so you can jump in right at the point of where Otter's science curriculum starts and have things "match up".

If the schedule seems to move too fast - realize that this textbook is usually used over only one semester in college. If you have a mature high schooler working on it, hopefully it won't be a problem. Workbook pages and activities on the CD-ROM are optional depending on how much of Otter's Science Curriculum you are doing with your teen.

Your student is expected to schedule out the appropriate pages per day to learn "responsibility" and prepare for college. CD activities, videos and animations are scheduled in the book itself.

Leave a comment!

Printable Microscope lab sheet
This printable is for your microscope labs. Two circles with light gray grids are provided for drawings and there is a lined area for notes and observations.

Dissection lab printable
Use this printable to write-up and illustrate dissection labs.
Instead of drawings, your student may wish to document the dissection with photographs. If so, he should create his lab report in a Word document. Photos should be labeled in a photo editing program and then inserted into the lab report.

Additional science printables can be found here. Choose any you think are appropriate.

This is still a work in progress. :-)

Weeks are linked to Otter's Science Curriculum	Assignment
Week 1	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 3: The Cells: The Raw Materials and Building Blocks. Complete the review questions. National Geographic - Inside the Living Body Lab / Activity: Have Your DNA and eat it too Supplies: 2 pieces of red licorice, 12 toothpicks, bag of small colored marshmallows, 5 paper clips, masking tape
Week 2	Anatomy and Physiology Play the chapter 3 games Complete the chapter 3 workbook pages. Take the test. Please note: If you do not have the workbook or the official tests, do the online quizzes and/or activities instead whenever you see a workbook assignement or test mentioned in this schedule. Read 3/4 of chapter 4: Tissues, Membranes, Organs and Systems Microscope lab: Human squamous epithelium, smear
Week 3	Anatomy and Physiology Read the last ¼ of chapter 4 Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test.
Week 4	Anatomy and Physiology Read ¾ of chapter 5: The Skeletal System: The Framework Lab / Activity: Knot a bone Microscope lab: Bone marrow, red, section Human bone, ground, c.s.
Week 5	Anatomy and Physiology Read the last ¼ of chapter 5 Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Lab / Activity: Dissect a bone (Blood and Guts)
Week 6	Anatomy and Physiology Read ¾ of chapter 6: The Muscular System: Movement for the Journey Lab / Activity: Magnifying muscles (Blood and Guts) Microscope lab: Human muscle, striated, l.s.
Week 7	Anatomy and Physiology Read the last ¼ of chapter 6 Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Lab / Activity: Tendon and joint dissection (Blood and Guts)
Week 8	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 8: The Nervous System: The Body’s Control Center Part 1 Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Lab / Activity: Brain dissection (Blood and Guts) Photos of a brain dissection online that point out the different structures in the brain. Interactive -The Growing Brain (You must sign up for a free NY Times account to view this, but it's worth it.)
Week 9	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 9: The Nervous System: The Body’s Control Center Part 2 Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Microscope lab: Human cerebrum, section
Week 10	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 11: The Special Senses: The Sights and Sounds National Geographic - The Incredible Human Body
Week 11	Anatomy and Physiology Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Lab / Activity: Eye dissection (Blood & Guts) Cow eye dissection worksheet
Week 12	Read the books and do the activities in Otter’s Science Curriculum schedule: How to Really Fool Yourself: Illusions for All Your Senses Sound and Fury (DVD)
Week 13	Read the books and do the activities in Otter’s Science Curriculum schedule: She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer
Week 14	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 12: The Cardiovascular System: Transport and Supply Lab / Activity: Heart dissection Interactive sheep's heart Microscope lab: Bone marrow, red, section Human blood, Wright's stain, smear Human muscle, cardiac, l.s. Human myocardium infarct, section*
Week 15	Anatomy and Physiology Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Lab / Activity: Blood typing kit from Home Science Tools Microscope lab: Human blood, anemia, smear* Human capillary tumor, section*
Week 16	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 13: The Respiratory System: It’s a Gas Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Microscope lab: Human lung, section Human lung cell cancer, section* Human lung tuberculosis, section*
Week 17	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 15: The Gastrointestinal System: Fuel for the Trip Microscope lab: Human liver, section Human salivary gland, section Human stomach, section
Week 18	Anatomy and Physiology Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Microscope lab: Human gallbladder cholecystitis* Human intestines adenoma, section* Human liver cell cancer, section* Human liver fatty denaturation, section*
Week 19	Chew On This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food
Week 20
Week 21 (Otter is still studying nutrition)	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 10: The Endocrine System: The Body’s Other Control Center Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test.
Week 22	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 16: The Urinary System: Filtration and fluid balance Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Lab / Activity: Kidney dissection (Blood & Guts) Microscope lab: Human kidney pyelonephritis, section
Week 23	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 17: The Reproductive System: Replacement and Repair Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. National Geographic - In the Womb If you enjoy this DVD, there are a couple others in the series (that we personally will be watching): National Geographic: In the Womb - Multiples National Geographic: In the Womb - Animals Microscope lab: Human sperm, smear Human testis, section Purity book
Week 24	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 7: The Integumentary System: The Protective Covering Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Microscope lab: Human skin with hair follicle, section Human skin with sweat gland, section Human fibroma, section* Human melanin tumor, section*
Week 25	Anatomy and Physiology Read chapter 14: The Lymphatic and Immune Systems: Your Defense Systems Lab / Activity: Glo Germ Mini Handwashing Kit Glo Germ Experiments The World of Germs Kit Growing fungus or schedule out the activities in this Bacteria Study Kit. ;-)
Week 26	Anatomy and Physiology Complete the review questions. Play the chapter games Complete the chapter workbook pages. Take the test. Congratulations on finishing the textbook! Lab / Activity: The World of Germs Kit Keeping mold from growing Microscope lab: Human tonsil, section
Week 27	Where There is No Doctor a FREE book online by the Hesperian Foundation Read the 1^st halfThis is a very interesting and informative book. Lab / Activity: The World of Germs Kit Does soap really work?
Week 28	Where There is No Doctor a FREE book online by the Hesperian Foundation Read the 2nd half Lab / Activity: The World of Germs Kit Who has the cleanest toes?
Week 29	SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea Choose one of these survival books to read: Either the SAS book or Man vs. Wild. Man vs. Wild: Survival Techniques from the Most Dangerous Places on Earth American College of Emergency Physicians First Aid Manual Survivorman Schedule in 3 episodes per week, or just watch the episodes as you wish. Man vs. Wild - Season 1 (6 DVD set) Schedule this in as you wish over the next 4 weeks. Lab / Activity: The World of Germs Kit How do antibiotics really work?
Week 30	The SAS Survival Handbook American College of Emergency Physicians First Aid Manual Survivorman DVD watch 3 episodes Man vs. Wild Season 1 Lab / Activity: The World of Germs Kit Check your previous projects.
Week 31	Buzz: A Graphic Reality Check for Teens Dealing With Drugs and Alcohol (FlipSwitch)
Week 32	The SAS Survival Handbook American College of Emergency Physicians First Aid Manual Survivorman DVD 3 episodes Man vs. Wild Season 1
Week 33	The SAS Survival Handbook American College of Emergency Physicians First Aid Manual Man vs. Wild Season 1 Congratulations! You're done!

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