Experience Biology | High School Biology Course for Homeschoolers

Experience Biology (Level C)

Full-year course: $279

Give your high school student a complete, hands-on biology education without the overwhelm.

Experience Biology (Level C) combines engaging video lessons, guided labs & dissections, and structured assignments to help students explore life science at a deeper level while strengthening critical thinking and communication skills.

Every concept is presented from a Christian worldview, so your teen learns to see God’s design in every cell and system, no parental science expertise required.

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PREVIEW LESSONS

✔️ Video Lessons

✔️ Lab Assignments

✔️ Quizzes & Exams

✔️ Reading Assignments

Everything you need for a complete science experience:

35 weeks of engaging video lessons — 2 every week
Student Guidebook with lesson outlines your student can fill in to help with notetaking*
Weekly research questions to deepen understanding of scientific concepts
Weekly comprehension quizzes
Quarterly examinations to gauge your student’s understanding
Optional reading assignments from our recommended textbook The Riot and the Dance PLUS alternative reading lists for several other textbooks
Course guide
Lab Manual with weekly laboratory experiments and activities*
Lab videos to walk your student through laboratory exercises
Certificate of completion
Start anytime after purchase and get 12 months of access

*Manuals and guidebooks are included as a PDF download with the purchase of your course. Physical copies available to purchase separately.

Scope & Sequence

Experience Biology is an honors-level course investigating key subjects in foundational biology at the molecular, cellular, and microbiological level. Through coursework, hands-on labs, and research questions, students investigate foundational topics such as the scientific method, the chemistry of life, cytology, genetics, taxonomy, botany, zoology, human anatomy, and ecology. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking and scientific inquiry skills, preparing students for advanced study in the biological sciences.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Biology

What is biology?
Scientific investigation
Limits of the scientific method
Why is Earth well suited for life?
Importance of water to life

Lesson 2: The Chemistry of Life

Cells, molecules, elements, and atoms
Ionic & covalent bonding
Organic chemistry — the importance of carbon
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids

Lesson 3: Cytology

Discovery of the cell
Cell theory
Cell structure
Passive & active transport

Lesson 4: Cellular Metabolism Part I

Heterotrophs & autotrophs
Photosynthesis

Lesson 5: Cellular Metabolism Part II

Cellular energy — ATP
Cellular respiration
Aerobic vs anaerobic pathways

Lesson 6: Cellular Metabolism Part III

Basics of DNA
Protein Synthesis: replication, transcription, and translation

Lesson 7: Life Cycle of the Cell

Mitosis
Meiosis

Lesson 8: Genetics Part I

Mendelian genetics
Law of segregation
Law of independent assortment
Incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles
Polygenic inheritance

Lesson 9: Genetics Part II

Function vs structural genes
Mutations & errors
Variation
Eugenics
Biotechnology

Lesson 10: Exam 1

Lesson 11: Living Organisms

Classification
Binomial Nomenclature
Overview of 6 Kingdoms

Lesson 12: Microbiology

Kingdom Archaebacteria
Kingdom Eubacteria
Viruses

Lesson 13: Kingdom Protista

Protozoans — animal-like protists
Algae — plant-like protists
The “molds” — fungal-like protists

Lesson 14: Kingdom Fungi

Characteristics of fungus
Structure of fungi
Fungi reproduction
3 main groups of fungus

Lesson 15: Kingdom Plantae Part I

Characteristics of Plants
Overview of Phyla
Root and shoot system
Tissue types
Plant cells

Lesson 16: Kingdom Plantae Part II

Structure and function of leaves
Review of photosynthesis
Structure and function of stems
Structure and function of roots

Lesson 17: Kingdom Plantae Part III

Reproductive organs: flowers, fruits, and seeds
Vegetative vs sexual reproduction
Alternation of generations
Hormones
Tropisms
Photoperiodism
Importance of minerals

Lesson 18: Exam 2

Lesson 19: Kingdom Animalia

Characteristics of Kingdom Animalia
Formation of germ layers
Vertebrates vs invertebrates
Endotherms vs ectotherms
Phylum Porifera: the sponges

Lesson 20: The Worms

Phylum Platyhelminthes: flatworms
Phylum Nematoda: roundworms
Phylum Annelida: segmented worms

Lesson 21: Creatures in the Sea

Phylum Cnidaria: jellyfish, hydra, and sea anemones
Phylum Echinodermata: sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers

Lesson 22: Phylum Mollusca

Characteristics of mollusks
Class Bivalvia: clams, oysters, and mussels
Class Gastropoda: snails, slugs, and conchs
Class Cephalopoda: squid, octopus, and nautilus

Lesson 23: Phylum Arthropoda

Characteristics of arthropods
Class Insecta (the insects)
Complete vs incomplete metamorphosis
Sub-Phylum Crustacea: crabs, lobster, and crayfish
Class Arachnid: spiders, scorpions, and mites
Class Chilopoda & Diplopoda: centipedes and millipedes

Lesson 24: Phylum Chordata Part I

Characteristics of Chordates
Sub-Phylum Urochordata: tunicates
Sub-Phylum Cephalochordata: lancelets
Sub-Phylum Vertebrates: jawless fish, cartilaginous fish, and bony fish

Lesson 25: Phylum Chordata Part II

Class Amphibians: salamanders, frogs, and caecilians
Class Reptilia: snakes, lizards, turtles, and alligators

Lesson 26: Phylum Chordata Part III

Class Aves: the birds
Class Mammalia

Lesson 27: Exam 3

Lesson 28: Human Anatomy Part I

Skeletal System
Muscular System

Lesson 29: Human Anatomy Part II

Circulatory System
Respiratory System

Lesson 30: Human Anatomy Part III

Nervous System
Endocrine System

Lesson 31: Human Anatomy Part IV

Lymphatic System
Immune System
Integumentary System

Lesson 32: Human Anatomy Part V

Digestive System
Excretory System

Lesson 33: Human Anatomy Part VI

Reproductive System
Embryology & Human Development

Lesson 34: Introduction to Ecology

Lesson 35: Exam 4

Full-year course: $279

Pay in full or in 3 monthly installments
Generous multi-student discounts available for families with Level B & C students taking the same course in the same year
Educational Savings Accounts (ESA) available in many states

Trusted by more than 18,000 homeschool families worldwide

See why so many parents choose Journey Homeschool Academy for hands-on, faith-based science.

I hated the idea of my daughter doing work alone— simply handing her a boring textbook for biology but it’s difficult for me to do any school with her since she has 3 younger siblings that need help and I work from home. Experience Biology has such engaging lesson videos and the labs are interesting. So even though she’s done the course alone, it’s been a lot of fun!
~Melissa

My daughter learned so much in Biology this year she asked to take the Biology CLEP test.

She did a little extra studying after completing the course and just learned she passed with a high enough grade to earn 6 college credits! She has learned to love science and now feels confident in this area.

~Annabelle

I so appreciate the perfect blend of faith and science in this course. The Gilkerons have a logical, faith-based approach to creation. They don’t try to make it preachy like some Christian curricula, but maintain a high-standard for science academics. I love that my children have their faith and beliefs validated and enhanced while still getting high-quality academics.

~Cris

I needed a cost-effective curriculum that was God-centered, interactive, and kept my son enthusiastic about learning. I love having teachers that keep my son accountable — Luke and Trisha are personable, professional, love the Lord, and have a passion for what they teach. We love the vivid videos filled with real examples of life forms. The science experiments are professional, but not intimidating. My son is thriving in the course.

~Alissa

I had struggled with Biology in the past, and it helps my mom to have someone else teach. The best thing about Experience Biology has been the understandable and fun video lesson. The guidebook for taking notes is helpful. I use it to share with my family what I’m learning about. I’ve recommended this course to my friends — it’s so much better than just being given a textbook!

~Sam

My daughter was entering high school and the homeschool method we had been using wasn’t providing a rigorous high school level science. Experience Biology was so convenient. I’d highly recommend this course and tell any homeschooler I can!
~Kim

My daughter had taken Experience Astronomy and loved it, so we were excited to continue with Biology! She loves learning from your videos because they’re both informative and fun. The videos offer so much more than books alone can do. We’re hopeful you’ll make more classes for her high school years.
~Talitha

I have a dyslexic child so wanted something with videos. I also wanted something that included hands-on labs and a student-led program because I wasn’t a big fan of biology in school. My students enjoyed the videos in Experience Biology. The course was well laid out and very easy to use. I especially like that students learn to write lab reports throughout the year.
~Jennifer

We had avoided biology because I was nervous about teaching it. Experience Biology gave my daughter the ability to take biology without me doing all the work. Being able to watch the videos and take notes in the Guidebook has been very helpful. My daughter loves the stories in the videos the best, and I like the dissections!
~Teresa

I was concerned enrolling my kids in an online science course wouldn’t be a good use of our financial resources. However, by my estimate, each week’s lesson costs just a few dollars per week—an excellent value!
~Tammy

You’ve got questions… we’ve got answers

What’s included in my purchase?

You’ll have access to all lesson and lab videos along with PDF downloads of the student guidebook, lab guide, curriculum guide, answer keys, and sample lab reports.

Should you want a physical copy of the guidebook or lab guide, those are available for purchase in our store. It is highly recommended that you purchase the textbook The Riot & The Dance: Foundational Biology.

You will also be responsible for purchasing lab supplies for any labs you’d like your student to complete.

When does the course begin?

You’ll have immediate access to the course as soon as you register!

Since this course is self-paced, you, the parent, have control over when your student begins the course. You can start as soon as you register, or wait a few weeks or months. Beginning the course is as easy as pressing a button. Once you begin the course for your student, they will have one year to access the course.

How long will I have access to this course?

You’ll have access to the course for one year of access — you decide when your student begins the course. There are 35 weekly lessons, so that should provide ample time for your student to complete the course. Once each video is live, your student can watch and re-watch it anytime they would like to throughout the duration of the course.

Does my child have to view the course videos on specific days or times?

No, students can watch the lessons any time throughout the week. Once released, each video can be reviewed as many times as the student wants through the end of the course.

Do you teach about evolution or creation in this course?

We strongly believe students need to be equipped with an understanding of evolutionary concepts because they will encounter these teachings throughout their lives. Experience Biology addresses the subject of evolution and creation on multiple fronts, helping students think critically about how both the Bible and science address these concepts.

Can my student earn high school credit for this course?

In most states, students need to accumulate at least 120 hours of instruction and course work to receive a high school credit.

Many parents choose to record Experience Biology as an honors level lab-science on their student’s high school transcript. We recommend your student complete all of the following to accumulate the necessary course hours for high school credit:

complete all the course lectures
take all the quizzes and exams
complete recommended readings
watch laboratory videos and complete a minimum of 15 lab assignments

How you use this course and the resources available is ultimately up to you, the parent, as this is a homeschool course.

Can I enroll more than one student in this course at the same time?

In the upper level course, each student receives their own grade, online portal, and auto-graded quiz so each student should enroll separately. We do offer generous multi-student discounts for families enrolling more than one student in the class at the same time.

Can we use a different textbook for this course?

We believe parents are best equipped to determine their student’s educational needs. As a homeschool course, you’re welcome to choose whatever textbook you’d prefer for your student to use or omit textbook reading altogether. For most students, anytime they can use multiple modes of learning, it helps them retain information better.

After reviewing many, many textbooks we chose The Riot and the Dance because we believe it does an excellent job of reinforcing the concepts students are learning in the lectures. We provide recommended reading from The Riot and the Dance.

We have also created alternative reading schedules to accompany several other commonly used textbooks by homeschoolers. While we cannot vouch for every detail in these textbooks, the reading lists provided here generally overlap with what is covered in each of the lessons in the course.

In addition to our recommended textbook The Riot and the Dance, we currently have a reading list available for the following textbooks:

Biology, BJU Press (5th edition)
Exploring Creation With Biology, Apologia (2nd edition)
Biology: God’s Living Creation, Abeka (5th edition)
General Biology, Novare (1st edition)
Exploring Creation With Biology, Apologia (3rd edition)
Discovering Design With Biology, Berean Builders (1st edition)

How long do students have to complete individual lessons?

We recommend students plan to complete one lesson per week to finish the course during a typical school year. Once your student begins the course they will receive access to the next lesson within 1-2 hours of completing the current lesson. This allows you the flexibility to work ahead if needed to account for vacations or time off while still finishing the course in the typical timeframe. Students will have a full calendar year to complete the course, so if they fall a week or two behind, they should still have plenty of time to complete the course.

Can I take this course if I live outside the U.S.?

You sure can! We’ve made sure to make the lessons applicable to those worldwide.

What additional books or supplies will I need for this course?

Students will need a number of different supplies to complete the laboratory work. See the complete lab supply list here.

A compound microscope is highly recommended, however, if it’s cost-prohibitive we will make images available online for students to use in lieu of looking at organisms under the microscope. Please keep in mind, this is not ideal because an important part of taking a lab biology course is learning how to use a microscope.

It is highly recommended, though not required, that you purchase the textbook The Riot & The Dance: Foundational Biology. While this is our preferred textbook for the class, we’ve also included reading lists for several other textbooks, or you may omit textbook reading.

A pdf download of the Student Guidebook and Lab Guide are available as part of the course purchase. Physical copies are available to purchase separately.

Can I pay for this course with my Educational Savings Account (ESA)?

We are an approved vendor with several ESAs and are continuing to add to the list all the time! We’re happy to provide you with invoices or other information you need to submit to your ESA. You can see all the ESAs we’re currently approved vendors with and/or submit a request for us to apply to the ESA in your state.

Do you offer options for using this course with a co-op?

We offer co-op pricing for groups of 4 or more who have designated a single instructor/ facilitator. Co-op courses are designed for groups that are meeting at least weekly.

Our co-op courses are set up differently than our family programs to accommodate groups. You can learn more about our co-op courses here.

Please note: because of the way our group programs are set up, we are not able to communicate with individual parents of students within co-ops.

What is your refund policy?

We offer a 100% money-back, happiness guarantee within 30 days of the course start date OR 1 year from purchase date (whichever isless). Simply email us and we’ll give you a full refund.

Understanding the Fabulous Fit Promise

We want this course to be a fabulous fit for your family. Based on our parent and student feedback, we think you will be.

However, we offer a 100% money-back, happiness guarantee within 30 days of the course start date OR 1 year from purchase date (whichever is less).

Two engaging video lessons for every weekly module to help your child understand new and exciting concepts without feeling overwhelmed.

Carefully planned lab work with corresponding lab video lessons throughout the year so your child can experience biology — hands-on! See the lab supply list here.