Investigate the Living World

Biology starts in your own backyard. Students collect specimens, observe organisms, use microscopes, identify species, sketch discoveries, and explore the incredible diversity of life that exists all around them. Instead of starting with vocabulary words, you'll start by acting like a biologist.

Get Outside. Get in the Lab. Get Your Hands Dirty.

This isn't a watch-and-quiz course. Students run real experiments, collect specimens from their own backyard, peer through microscopes, and build models by hand. Every module has something to make, investigate, or discover in the real world.

Build a Scientist's Notebook

Students create a Biology Notebook filled with observations, sketches, lab results, diagrams, reflections, and research. By the end of the year, they'll have a personalized record of everything they've discovered about the living world.

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome!

    2. Gather your materials

    1. Science Notebook Setup

    2. What is Biology?

    1. Trying the SEEK App

    2. Classification & Taxonomy

    3. Contours in Nature

    4. What makes something living?

    5. Biodiversity

    6. Outdoor Biodiversity Hunt

    7. Conservation & Restoration

    1. Ecosystems

    2. Interdependence in Ecosystems

    3. Make a Food Web

    4. Energy Flow in an Ecosystem (Food Web Revisited)

    5. Photosynthesis (+ Diagram)

    6. Cellular Respiration

    7. LAB: Balloon Yeast Feast

    8. Parts & Functions of the Microscope

    9. Microscopy

    10. Stomata Peel under Microscope

    1. My Animal

    2. My Animal: Habitat and Population

    3. Adaptations

    4. LAB: Battle of the Beaks

    5. Darwin & Natural Selection

    6. Skeletal Anatomy of Animals

    7. My Animal: Anatomy & Adaptations

    8. My Animal: Life Cycle

    9. My Animal: Food Web

    10. Animal Research - Final Deliverable

    1. Biological Organization

    2. Introduction to Cells

    3. Draw Cell Diagrams

    4. Build a Cell Model

    5. Cell Transport

    6. Blood Cells under a Microscope

    7. LAB: Pond Water - A Closer Look

    8. Basic Human Anatomy

    9. Human Body Systems Review

    10. Full Body Anatomy Outline

About this course

  • $39.99
  • 52 lessons
  • High School
  • 1.0 Science credits

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What materials do I need?

    You'll need a compound microscope, a printer, a dedicated science notebook, colored pencils or markers, and a smartphone with the free SEEK app installed. Most of the lab supplies are common household items: dish soap, balloons, a strawberry. A full materials list is included in the course before you begin.

  • What kind of microscope do I need?

    Any standard student compound microscope works. We recommend one with a USB connection to a PC or laptop so students can view slides on a larger screen. Basic models are available on Amazon starting around $40–80.

  • Is this course really self-paced?

    Yes. There are no live sessions, no deadlines, and no scheduled class times. Your student works through lessons whenever it fits your schedule.

  • How does the mastery-based feedback work?

    When your student submits a lab or assignment, our instructors review it and either approve it or send specific feedback for revision. Students revise and resubmit until the work meets the standard. No moving on until it's solid.

  • How long does the course take to complete?

    Most students finish in 3–5 months, but there's no time limit. Some families move faster, some slower - the course works either way.

  • What do students get when they finish?

    A certificate of completion and 1.0 high school science credit. The course is transcript-eligible through Wild Oasis Learning, or students can self-report the credit to their own school or program.

  • Is this course good for credit recovery?

    Yes. It's a popular option for students who need to recover or replace a biology credit, including over the summer.

Get Started

A hands-on science experience that's worth every penny - and then some.

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