Just how to include homeschool nature study as part of high school biology? Here you will find a break down of nature study suggestions and accompanying resources for each module of your homeschool biology lessons. I really think it depends on the family and how much nature study you have time to fit in with your high school age children.
Homeschool Nature Study and High School Biology
There are two ways to approach homeschool nature study with high school biology.
1. Start with nature study and supplement with a text.
2. Use a text and supplement with nature study.
If you decide on approach number one, take each area of focus in the Outdoor Hour Challenge and add in supplemental information from a textbook.
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Using Apologia Exploring Creation with Biology
- OH Challenge: Garden Plants =Text Module 8 and 15
- OH Challenge: Insects =Text Module 3 and 12
- OH Challenge: Trees =Text Module 14
- OH Challenge: Mammals =Text Module 10 and 16
- OH Challenge: Flowerless Plants =Text Module 4 and 14
- OH Challenge: Birds =Text Module 16
- OH Challenge: Crop Plants =Text Module 8 and 15
For the second option, here is how I enhanced the Apologia biology text with nature study ideas…many of these ideas are on my Biology Squidoo Lens.
Module 1: Microbiology for Homeschool
Read biography of Carl Linnaeus
Read Microbe Hunters, chapter 1 Leeuwenhoek
Module 2: Microbiology and Homeschool Biology Pond Study
Read Microbe Hunters, chapter 2 Spallanzani and chapter 3 Pasteur
Start a pond study to complement the study of microscopic organisms-protozoa
Use A Golden Guide to Pond Life
Read biography of Louis Pasteur
Field trip to a pond: Complete nature journal pages for things observed in real life.
Enjoy a Turtle Homeschool Nature Study.
Module 3: Continue Pond Study-Algae
Handbook of Nature Study section on insects of the brook and pond
Examine pond water under the microscope.
Complete nature journal pages on pond insects you observe.
Module 4: High School Biology Nature Study Focus on Mushrooms and Other Fungi
Work with yeast
Work with molds
There are some ideas for study in the flowerless plants section of the Handbook of Nature Study.
Take a nature walk to look for mushrooms and then complete nature journal pages for each one identified.
Modules 5-7: During These Modules We Used Local Field Guides to Identify Various Subjects From Our Nature Walks Each Week
The Biology Coloring Book by Robert Griffin-color appropriate pages to help visualize the abstract concepts in these modules
Module 8: Gardening for High School Biology
Growing pea plants to support Mendelian genetic study (just for fun).
Read a biography of Gregor Mendel. (The picture book Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas looks like a wonderful way to include younger students).
Grow radishes as part of experiment 8.4
Worked on a garden plan for the following summer.
Module 9: Homeschool Rocks and Minerals Study
Read a biography of Charles Darwin
Handbook of Nature Study section on rocks and minerals
Using a field guide we identified several local rocks and made nature journal entries for each one.
Module 10: Mammals Study for High School Biology
Identify a local mammal and then draw where it fits in the food web.
Learn about your local watershed and then diagram it or draw a map for your journal.
Complete nature journal entries for mammals observed during this module.
Find more ideas in this Mammals Nature Study Using the Outdoor Hour Challenges.
Module 11: Invertebrates for Homeschool Biology Studies
Dissection of an earthworm
Nature study focus on Invertebrates-garden snails, earthworms
Handbook of Nature Study section on invertebrate animals other than insects
Complete nature journal entries for invertebrates observed during our Outdoor Hour time
Complete a one small square activity and look for invertebrates or signs of invertebrates in your own garden or yard.
Earthworm Study for Your Homeschool
Module 12: High School Biology Study on Insects
Nature study focus on arachnida (spiders) and/or insects and/or lepidoptera
Dissection of a crayfish
Handbook of Nature Study section on insects
Complete nature journal entries for insects observed during our Outdoor Hour time.
Module 13: Amphibians and Fishes
Dissection of a perch and a frog
Nature study focus on amphibians
Handbook of Nature Study section on fishes
Handbook of Nature Study section on amphibians
Keep an aquarium and use the Handbook of Nature Study suggestions for observations.
More in Homeschool Ocean Study and Marine Biology Resources.
Module 14: Plants
Collect leaf samples and make a pressed leaf collection
Nature study focus on flowerless plants
Handbook of Nature Study section on flowerless plants
Module 15: Garden Flowers and Seeds
Insectivorous plants-observe a Venus Flytrap or Sundew
Nature study focus on garden flowers-parts of a flower
Collect and press flowers
Germinate seeds
Handbook of Nature Study section on plants/garden flowers
Start a seasonal tree study for a tree in your own yard
The Ultimate List of Garden and Wildflower Nature Study for Your Homeschool
Module 16: High School Biology Nature Study Focus on Birds, Reptiles or Mammals
Handbook of Nature Study section on birds
Handbook of Nature Study section on reptiles
Handbook of Nature Study section on mammals
Keep a pet and make observations based on suggestions in the Handbook of Nature Study.
Hang a birdfeeder and keep a log of birds that visit.
Go bird watching and make journal entries for each bird you identify.
The Ultimate List of Birds Homeschool Nature Study Resources Using the Outdoor Hour Challenges
You can see how you can take an idea and then expand on it using nature study. If you use the basic ideas I have illustrated with the biology topics, you can make a study of nature high school level. Keep everything relevant to your local area and it will be a joy to work on each week. Your family will learn so much together as part of the Outdoor Hour Challenges.
More Resources For Your Homeschool High School Biology and Nature Study
- Find the answer to the question, Does Homeschool Nature Study Count as Science?
- See how Tricia’s family used Nature Study to Complement High School Biology.
- Review of Apologia Biology by Tricia and by Daniele.
All of the Outdoor Hour Challenges that pair with homeschool high school biology are included in Homeschool Nature Study membership!
You’ll receive new ideas each and every week that require little or no prep – all bringing the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool!
Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get Outdoors!
published August 2009 by Barb
Do you have a module for using the elementary Apologia combined w/ nature study? Thanks Friederike
Hi Friederike,
I don’t have a plan for using those books that correspond with the Handbook of Nature Study. It would be fairly easy to do though using the Handbook. You could take your topic and use the table of contents to find subjects to incorporate. If you are using the Flying Creatures book, glance down the birds section, the insects section, and then read the bat lesson when you are working through those pages in Apologia.
Hope that helps.
Barb