Science Shepherd Biology begins with this verse: Psalm 33:9: "For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm." This is a very good beginning!

Science Shepherd Biology is a thorough full-year course for your 10th-12th grade high school student. The components of this curriculum are as follows: the main 632-page soft-cover student book; Test Booklet; and the soft-cover 222-page Answer Key & Parent Companion. The spiral-bound Lab Manual and the Biology Lab DVD are extra, and will be described below.

Dr. Hardin wanted to do two things; give parents the ability to continue homeschooling in the higher grades with confidence and provide a comprehensive and complete science curriculum. He has accomplished both. The fears of many homeschooling families are that upper level science is just too hard to do at home--especially if Mom or Dad don't have upper level science credentials to begin with. Dr. Hardin has laid that fear to rest with Science Shepherd Biology.

The Biology Scope and Sequence per chapter is below.

1. Introduction
2. The Composition and Chemistry of Life
3. Basic Biochemistry of the Molecules of Life
4. Introduction to the Cell and Cell Membrane
5. The Cell Interior and Function
6. Metabolism Overview and Enzymes
7. Photosynthesis
8. Cellular Respiration
9. DNA, RNA, and Proteins
10. Cell Reproductions: Mitosis
11. Organism Reproduction: Binary Fission, Budding, and Meiosis
12. Genes and Heredity
13. Inheritance Patterns
14. Genetic Variation
15. Human Genetics
16. DNA Technology
17. The Origin of Life and the Fossil Record
18. Evolution and Creation: Principles and Evidence
19. Speciation and Adaptation
20. Biological Classification and Viruses
21. Kingdom Eubacteria and Archaebacteria
22. Kingdom Protista
23. Kingdom Fungi
24. Plants: Introduction, Structure, and Function
25. Plants: Physiology, Reproduction, and Classification
26. Kingdom Animalia I
27. Kingdom Animalia II
28. Kingdom Animalia III
29. Kingdom Animalia IV
30. Human Anatomy and Physiology I: Nervous System and Special Senses
31. Human Anatomy and Physiology II: Immunologic, Endocrine, and Excretory Systems 32. Human Anatomy and Physiology III: Circulatory and Respiratory Systems
33. Human Anatomy and Physiology IV: Digestive, Musculoskeletal/Connective Tissue, and Integumentary Systems
34. Ecology

Within each of these chapters you will find sub-section headings that give an overview of that section as well as help the student locate important information for answering the study questions found at the end of every chapter. As an example, here is Chapter 6: Metabolism Overview and Enzymes:

6.0 Chapter Preview (identifies key points to be studied in the chapter)
6.1 Overview
6.2 Metabolism
6.3 Catabolic and Anabolic Metabolism
6.4 Potential and Kinetic Energy
6.5 Energy Conversion
6.6 Basic Thermodynamics
6.7 First Law of Thermodynamics
6.8 Second Law of Thermodynamics
6.9 Enzymes
6.10 Free Energy and Reaction Types
6.11 Exergonic Reactions
6.12 Endergonic Reactions
6.13 Activation Energy
6.14 Enzymes Solve the Activation Energy Problem
6.15 Models of Enzyme Function: Lock and Key; Induced Fit
6.16 Enzyme Types
6.17 Coenzymes and Cofactors
6.18 ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
6.19 Enzymes are Energy Couplers
6.20 Advanced
6.21 People of Science
6.22 Key Chapter Points (Identifies what to take away from the chapter.)
6.23 Definitions (All bolded words found in the chapter are defined here.)
6.24 Study Questions (In this chapter there were 17 questions.)

I was very impressed not only by the orderliness of the chapters, but the accessibility of the pertinent information for the student. In each chapter you will find many full-color photographs, diagrams, and drawings that correspond to the information given. They are conveniently labeled with the exact sub-section heading number so your student knows that the explanation for that drawing, graph, chart, or photo is explained in that sub-section. This is extremely helpful! We are just finishing up a science course that has been very frustrating to one of my children as the information was not clearly laid out for her in the text. It would be impossible for that to happen here.

There is very thorough coverage of the evolution/creation discussion that covers three chapters. His thoughtful answer to the often-asked question, "How are creation and evolution handled?" is answered here: http://www.scienceshepherd.com/faq.htm#FAQ4. I was really impressed by this answer and I encourage you to read it.

The Answer Key & Parent Companion is obvious in its first use, but as the Companion, it really is a marvelous tool for the parent. It offers "...brief summaries of every chapter's sub-sections in the textbook. The summarized information is designed to give you rapid access to the main concepts your student is studying. In addition, you will also find one or two questions with answers that you can ask your student...Many parents use the summarized material and questions in the Companion to help them stay connected to what their child is learning by asking them one or more questions every now and then." This is an optional activity, but for a program that is really student-lead, this is a great way for parents to engage in their child's subject.

The gem of this curriculum though, is the Labs DVD. Wow, what a smart idea! The DVD corresponds directly with the Lab Manual and they work hand in hand. Some students thrive and learn via the written word alone and others with audio/visual aids. Ideally, your student would be doing the labs right along with the instructor, but this is not always financially possible. This is simply a brilliant solution for a homeschool family on a budget.

The DVD will run in many computers as well as the regular DVD player. In our busy house of five children, we choose to use a computer for these kinds of things with a set of headphones. The DVD opens to a page that lists all 20 labs. The first is an introduction to lab work and gives instruction on keeping good records and creating good lab drawings. It is important though, and shouldn't be skipped. The following 19 remaining labs are all high quality, audio/visual instruction.

The lab titles include: Diffusion-Osmosis; General Cell Structure in Animals; Reproduction: Cellular; Protista: The Protozoans; Cell Structure: Plant; Leaf Structures; The Cell Interior and Function; Root Structure; Reproduction: Pollen Germination; Dissection: Clam, Earthworm, Grasshopper, Fish, Fetal Pig; Classification of Animals 1; Classification of Animals II; Nervous System: Reaction Time; Muscular System: Fatigue; and Population Succession Study.

As I said above, the Lab Manual works hand in hand with the DVD. The DVD fleshes out and "makes visual" the instruction found in the manual. In a calm, clear, and friendly voice, Dr. Hardin explains the lessons as well as demonstrates the actual lab as you would see it if you were doing it in front of you. That means you see the slides he sees, view the cell structures he sees (he also identifies specific cell structures, etc. with a moving mouse so you don't have to guess), and you visually participate in all the dissections right on screen. The video quality is clear and professionally done and the labs are easy to comprehend.

Sold alone or as a set for a better price, the three books (Science Shepherd Biology Textbook, Test Booklet, and Answer Key & Parent Companion) are $85.00. The Lab Manual is $20.00. The DVD is an optional product and is $75.00, but truly, I think it is worth its weight in gold.

Also included with the purchase of the three-book program or the purchase of the Answer Key and Parent's Companion alone, is a weekly schedule. The schedule lays out exactly what your student needs to read each day, when they should answer the chapter questions, which labs to do when, and the proper time to take the tests. This is a grab and go curriculum with literally no prep time for the parent/teacher. The schedule is currently a separate PDF file, but come the next printing, the Answer Key and Parent's Companion will contain it.

My one suggestion to the publishers would be to invest in a hardback book for the future. This would probably boost the cost of the curriculum, which might be a negative to some, but a hardback book is likely to hold-up longer in a busy homeschool. The soft-cover is sturdy, but I want this to last for five children so I will likely laminate mine.

Science Shepherd Biology is an excellent course. This curriculum is thorough, systematic, understandable and absolutely usable in the homeschool. I am excited to see what the future holds for this up and coming company. If they produce such beautiful, orderly, complete curriculum right out of the gate, I look forward to seeing what the do in the future. I highly recommend Science Shepherd Biology!