World of Birds (Level B)
Grade Level: Middle school | Ages: 11-14
World of Birds (Level B) combines engaging video lessons, hands-on activities, and guided assignments to help students explore the remarkable world of birds—from feathers and flight to migration, intelligence, and life across diverse habitats.
Every concept is taught from a Christian worldview, helping students discover God’s creativity and design revealed through the beauty and complexity of birds.
Half-year Elective: $97
✔️ Video Lessons
✔️ Lab Assignments
✔️ Quizzes & Exams
✔️ Reading Assignments
Everything your student needs for a complete digital science course
· 16 weeks (≈one semester) of engaging video lessons
· Explorer’s handbook with weekly activities, fill-in-the-blank outlines, and study guides*
· Weekly comprehension quizzes
· 2 graded-for-you exams
· At-a-glance parent guide
· Start anytime and get 6 months of access
· Payment plans now available!
Generous multi-student discounts available (for families with level B students taking the same course in the same year)
Scope & Sequence
Step into the fascinating world of birds with this hands-on, 16-week homeschool course that brings science to life—right in your own backyard! This course goes far beyond basic birdwatching, using a multidisciplinary approach that covers biology, ecology, physiology, and behavior. Your middle schooler will build practical skills in identification and observation while exploring topics like feathers, flight, migration, nesting, and survival. Along the way, they’ll see how birds reflect God’s intricate design and care, with insights woven throughout Scripture.
Week 1: What Makes a Bird a Bird?
• Classification of birds within the animal kingdom
• Defining features of birds
• The role of birds in ecosystems
Week 2: Built for the Sky
• Adaptations in skeletal structure for flight
• Specialized digestive & respiratory systems
• Flight muscles and sternum design
Week 3: Feathered for Flight
• Types of feathers and their functions
• Molting & feather maintenance
• Detailed feather anatomy
Week 4: Beaks, Feet, & Bird Tools
• Beak and foot structures for feeding and locomotion
• Tools for climbing, swimming, hunting, and digging
• Behaviors linked to tool use and environmental adaptation
Week 5: Birds That Talk & Dance
• Differences between birdsong and calls
• Bird dances and mating displays
• Flocking behavior
Week 6: Wings Across the World
• Why birds migrate
• Major types of migration and
• How birds travel across continents and elevations
Week 7: Home Sweet Nest
• Types of bird nests and how structure meets function
• How birds use tools and materials to build
• Nesting locations, timing, and reproduction
• Parental care and development of chicks
Week 8: Exam 1
Week 9: Waders, Swimmers, & Shoreline Stalkers
• Adaptations for wetland and shoreline habitats
• Specialized legs, bills, and feet for feeding and movement
• Aquatic feeding strategies: dabbling, diving, grazing, and filtering
• Shared traits: feather waterproofing and salt-removal glands
Week 10: Fierce Fliers of the Sky & Night
• Shared characteristics of birds of prey
• Differences between diurnal and nocturnal raptors
• Specialized adaptations for hunting by day and by night
• Ecological roles: apex predators and scavengers
Week 11: Birds That Sing
• Classification and defining traits of songbirds
• How songbirds produce complex vocalizations
• Vocal learning, dialects, and the cultural transmission of birdsong
Week 12: From High-Flyers to Fast Peckers
• Movement and feeding adaptations in swifts, hummingbirds, and woodpeckers
• Unique body structures that support movement
• Specialized features: pamprodactyl and zygodactyl feet, shock-absorbing skulls, and nectar-sipping tongues
Week 13: Birds With Big Brains
• Cognitive abilities of parrots, corvids, and pigeons
• Brain structures linked to intelligence and learning
• Tool use, memory, navigation, and mimicry in birds
Week 14: Flightless Wonders
• Characteristics of flightless birds and how they still fit Class Aves
• Clues for identifying flightless birds based on anatomy and behavior
• Scientific classification from kingdom to species using real bird examples
• Adaptations in five key species
Week 15: Fading Feathers: Extinct & On-the-Brink
• Causes of bird extinction and endangerment
• Case studies of extinct and endangered birds
• The role of conservation in protecting vulnerable species
• Biblical call to stewardship and care for creation
Week 16: Exam 2
Full-year course: $179
· 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. Learn more.
Trusted by more than 18,000 homeschool families worldwide
See why so many parents choose Journey Homeschool Academy for hands-on, faith-based science.
It's easy to get bogged down in academics (and occasionally overwhelmed), but I needed an additional elective…
This course was refreshing and enjoyable and gave me something to look forward to, even at my most mentally depleted. It has been easily manageable, leaving time to focus on more demanding tasks.
The hands-on observations were not only important for solidifying the material, they made for some great memories with my father.
I needed to find something more in depth that my daughter could do mostly on her own.
I was most concerned that an online class wouldn't work well for her and I'd have to spend a lot of time reteaching the material. This hasn't been the case at all. Instead, she's been able to be very independent with the work and have great discussions about what she's learning.
I LOVE the set up of the notes and study guide. Not only does your program teach science, it is teaching note taking and studying skills as well. These are such important skills that don't happen overnight.
The quizzes and tests have required studying, but aren't overly challenging so as to cause my daughter to feel discouraged. In fact, she's gained a lot of confidence in her ability to study and take tests.
We used your elementary level courses, and loved them. I was hoping the middle school level class would be a good fit for us…
It totally was! All the parts of the class work really well together. I’ve watched the videos with my kids and we’ve learned so much. (I LOVE how it teaches them note-taking along with everything else. Such an important life skill!) This class has been great for my whole family!
You’ve got questions… we’ve got answers
What exactly is covered in this course?
Think birding is just a bunch of fluff? Think again. World of Birds takes a multidisciplinary approach to science. It includes topics like biology, ecology, physiology, and behavior, as well as practical skills like identification and observation.
We’ll explore everything from feathers, flight, and migration to beaks, nests, songs, and survival strategies — plus how birds reflect God’s design and provision throughout Scripture. You can peek at the full course Scope & Sequence here.
What’s included with my purchase? Do I need to buy anything else?
You’ll get everything you need to make this course a simple and joyful experience:
• 14 fun-filled, pre-recorded video lessons
• A downloadable Explorer’s Handbook with outlines, study guides, and hands-on activities
• A simple parent guide to help keep your kiddo on track
• Weekly quizzes and two graded-for-you exams
While this course won’t have an extensive lab supply list like some of our high school courses, your student will need some supplies to complete the hands-on activities. You can find the supply list here.
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 the course?
Once you hit “start,” your student will have a full six months to complete the course. You’re in control of your schedule — and there’s plenty of wiggle room built into this 16-week curriculum. (Life happens. We get it!)
Does my child have to view the course videos on specific days?
Nope! Lessons unlock as you go, and your student can watch them anytime — morning, noon, or even from the hammock during spring migration. Each video can be rewatched as often as they like.
How much time does it take each week?
Plan for a sweet spot of about 30 minutes a day, three to four days per week. That includes time to watch the video lesson, take notes, do the activities, and review. But the pace is totally up to you: stretch it out, slow it down, or dive deeper if your curious learner wants to discover more. It’s all about what works for your homeschool rhythm.
Can I enroll more than one child in this course?
Each student needs their own registration to access the online portal, quizzes, exams, and progress tracking, so they do need to enroll separately. But don’t worry — we’ve got sibling discounts! 👇
Do you offer sibling discounts?
Yes! Families enrolling multiple students (from the same immediate family) in the same course get:
• 50% off the second student
• 75% off the third and fourth student
Discounts are automatically applied at checkout.
Can I use this course outside the U.S.?
Absolutely! Birds are everywhere — and this course is designed with global learners in mind. You can join us from anywhere with internet access.
Can I pay using an ESA (Educational Savings Account)?Here
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.
What if it’s not a good fit?
We offer a 100% money-back, happiness guarantee within 30 days of the course start date OR 6 months from the purchase date (whichever is less). Simply email us and we’ll give you a full refund.
Understanding the Fabulous Fit Promise
We have a 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 delighted with the course.
However, we offer a 100% money-back, happiness guarantee within 30 days of the start of the course OR 6 months from purchase date (whichever comes first).
Our Fabulous Fit Promise: 100% Money Back, Risk Free
See inside the student dashboard
Curious what the course looks like once you’re enrolled?
This short tour walks you through the student dashboard so you can see how lessons, downloads, assignments, and quizzes are organized.
What's Included?
World of Birds is an engaging, open-and-go course designed with your busy family in mind. Inside you’ll find:
14 DELIGHT-FILLED VIDEO LESSONS
Bite-sized instruction that feels more like a field trip than ‘real’ schoolwork—making science engaging and accessible for even the most reluctant learner.
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES & STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES
Fun, low-prep activities that bring lessons into real life and grow wonder at God’s creation. We’ll walk your student through doing independently, step-by-step, so you don’t have to.
EXPLORER’S HANDBOOK
It’s note-taking meets nature journaling, and your student will use it to build study skills while sketching, answering discussion questions, and reflecting on what they’ve learned.
GRADED-FOR-YOU QUIZZES & EXAMS
These graded-for-you assessments measure understanding and build confidence in your learner while giving you the peace of mind that they’re actually absorbing what they’ve learned.
PARENT CURRICULUM GUIDE
You’ll get this at-a-glance course roadmap, so you always know exactly what your child is learning (without having to go through the whole course yourself)!
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