Click to get started —> Getting Started with Exploring Creation With Biology. This page will tell you what you need to get started with this curriculum. You’ll find my schedules, how to clean a microscope, supplies needed, and more.
Module 5 – The Chemistry of Life
Module 7 – Cellular Reproduction and DNA
Module 16 – Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals
APPLIE'S PLACE 
Thanks, I will just be having my child start this book and any help is useful~
You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping by. I a new post will be going up in a few days. I have some neat pictures. 🙂
Thanks for your blog, I’m really enjoying your postings. We are starting a biology lab for four 9th graders and this is not my favorite subject to teach (facilitate), so I’m grateful for all those that have gone before and are leaving a trail of bread crumbs to follow. I was wondering if you know if blue food coloring would work ok in place of methylene blue stain. Our first lab is on Monday and I forgot to order this item. Thanks for your imput.
Jennie
Hi Jennie,
Thank you for visiting my blog. Blue food coloring can not be used instead of methylene blue stain. sorry.
I have 7 HS students coming every other week for labs and we did 2.2 today. It was great fun to watch these young people getting excited about observing the swimming creatures in their pond water!! We all were amazed at God’s handywork……and look forward to seeing even more microorganisms at our next meeting!
Just wondering if you can post any photos or videos of your findings?
Thanks for your great website. God bless you.
Hi Stephanie, Thanks for visiting my blog. I do have one video of the photo that I have already posted. Since the kids were looking in different microscopes, I wasn’t able to take photos of what they found. I am thinking of doing this again on my own. I’ll try to get photos then. The little creatures move so fast it was hard to even find them. 🙂
Thank you so much for your sharing of these materials and planning. We are organizing a class to begin on OCT 1st. Can you tell me how often and how long your classes meet?
Thanks!
Hi Sandra,
Our co-op meets once a week for 1 1/2 hours. I usually have two days, for labs and lectures, before an exam. The exams are done at home. During that 1.5 hours, I am able to lecture and do labs; sometimes two labs are done. I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any more questions. 🙂
We have already started a Biology co-op, but could use a lot of advice on how to use our time effectively.
Our co-op meets twice a week (Tues. & Thurs.). Currently, we have a two week per module schedule, but somehow are finding it too rushed because we try to go over the OYO questions, give vocab. quizzes, do labs, review the Study Guide, and also administer the test in these two weeks (4 classes). Somehow, we don’t seem to have enough time to do all that, but I am not sure if it may be because we are giving too much time to certain areas.
So, here are my many questions:
Since we meet twice a week, do you recommend that we go over the OYO and Study Guide questions in class, or are these sections that the students can check by themselves at home?
Also, do you suggest that the tests be taken at home or in class?
Since I was not planning on lecturing, I found a website, called VirtualHomeschoolGroup.com, where there are lectures based on the Apologia Biology curriculum. Our thought was to play the lecture in class on the first Tuesday to introduce the new module, and then use the other class times for review or labs, and tests.
I guess my basic question is, how do you recommend we use our time twice a week?
Also, regarding lab materials, do you recommend each student purchase their own materials, or is it reasonable to figure out the cost as a group, and just have everyone reimburse the facilitator?
If you do lecture, what do you say or how do you prepare for a lecture other than from what the book already says?
Thanks for all and any help you can give us.
-Lisa
Answers to questions above:
Since we meet twice a week, do you recommend that we go over the OYO and Study Guide questions in class, or are these sections that the students can check by themselves at home?
The OYO are meant for the students to check on their own. The answers are at the back of each module. The Study Guide is just that a study guide and is meant to be done by the student just before the test and is to be checked by the parent. The only thing I do for these two things, is to check that the student did them. I don’t give a grade, but they do get credit for them.
Also, do you suggest that the tests be taken at home or in class?
In my class the test are taken at home and under parental supervision. My class time with the students is spent with labs and lectures. The tests are graded by me. If they are handed in late, I lower the grade by 10.
I guess my basic question is, how do you recommend we use our time twice a week?
I like your suggestion of playing the lecture from VirtualHomeschool in class the first day. I usually lecture 30 to 45 minutes, and then do the lab. Sometimes the lab takes up most of the time and I might do a little lecturing while we do the lab. I do have time to give a pop-quiz and plays games sometimes. I plan for these well in advance.
Also, regarding lab materials, do you recommend each student purchase their own materials, or is it reasonable to figure out the cost as a group, and just have everyone reimburse the facilitator?
I have six students and three microscopes. Some days I am able to have two students to a microscopes, but I only have two complete sets of prepared slides. For the prepared slides I have three students to a microscope. When doing field work, gathering mushrooms, growing mold, etc., I require all students to do this individually, but we will share the results. For example, not all students will be able to find mushrooms or grow mold, but they have to give it a try.
For the dissection, I had all students order their own specimens. All are required to dissect in my class. 🙂 We did pull funds together to order replacement dissecting tools. Our co-op already had some and we just needed a few replacement. If they didn’t have it, I would have the students order them on their own. Order them NOW, so you will have them when you need them. Slides were already provided by another mom.
If you do lecture, what do you say or how do you prepare for a lecture other than from what the book already says?
I think I have gone over this some, on my blog. I take the time before the week of lecture, to do some research. Sometimes I am able to get photos off the internet to help reinforce what the books says. Sometimes I am able to find a video on YouTube and share that with the students. The books is so well written, that I don’t have to add too much to it.
Thanks for all and any help you can give us.
You’re welcome! Please let me know if you have any other questions. 🙂
Hello Michelle,
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions and help me sort out what we need to do for our co-op class. I was quite anxious and wasn’t sure what steps to take, but your reply has given me valuable direction and it is very much appreciated!
Thanks again!
Thank you for taking the time to record your ideas. Looking at your notes allows me to check that I’ve prepared well (especially in looking ahead on labs to come). I also love the links you provide and the creative ideas!
You’re welcome. 🙂
Pingback: Crawdaddy, Crayfish, Craydaddy, Mudbug… «
Michelle, thank you so much for your wonderful work! I love the links! I am teaching AP Bio next year and am excited to find your resources as well as the links from Donna Young. I was wondering if your material can be used, or is it strictly for your students.
I would love to create a blog, but I am not that internet savy and already have to keep our coop web site afloat. 🙂 How do you do it with 4 children? You are a blessing,
Kristen Edmunds, PT, homeschool mom / co-op teacher
Hi Kristen,
Thank you for visiting my blog and for the nice comments. Yes, you may use any of my material, such that they are. lol Some of them do not print out correctly, so I’ll need to email them to you. Just let me know what you need.
How do I do it? I have no idea. 🙂 I am glad you are finding the Biology section useful. 🙂
Hey Michelle – Love your blog, just found it yesterday when looking for info on Apologia Biology. I’m a homeschool mom…just started blogging on wordpress myself to try it out. It’s a lot more fun than I thought! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your Biology stuff…it’s great! Julie
Thank you, Julie!
Any quizzes you have would be great for my classroom! I’m overwhelmed by this curriculum and any help would be a blessing.
I will be using Apologia Biology with my son and another young man 2010-2011. I would love copies of your quizzes.
Hi Shawna,
Thank you for visiting my blog. The quizzes are being updated. I’ll get them to you in a couple of weeks. 🙂
Hey Michelle! Is it OK to use/copy your schedules for our small co-op group? Would love your quizzes too….we’re just in the planning mode, so we’re trying to figure it all out for the fall. Thanks again for sharing your work!
Hey!
Yes, you may use my schedule for your group. It is not in pdf formate, so it may not print well. I think I have made some changes in it too. I am currently working on changing all of my documents to pdf so people can print them. I am also tweaking my quizzes and Bingo cards. Everything should be up and running just fine in a couple of weeks.
Let me know if you can print the schedule. I’ll email it to you. I just started working on next years schedule for the same class. 🙂
Thanks so much! You’re awesome! 🙂
Can you add me to the list for all your quizzes and games that you are updating? I am in the process of getting a coop started for Biology in the fall. They would a great help! Love your blog!
Great website! I would love copies of your quizzes. I am teaching Exploring Creation w/Biology for the first time this fall with just a handfull of students at our church school. Thanks you and God’s blessing!
I love your biology website and have picked up great ideas from you!
Please email me your quizzes as I will use them.
God bless you!
Hi! I love all these great ideas. I’m looking at doing a biology group next fall and would love it if you would send me your quizzes so I can use them.
Thank you so much!
Lori
What a blessing to find your site. Thank you so much for sharing with other home schooling families and groups!
Thank you! 🙂
Have I told you lately how much I appreciate the work you have done on your Biology postings. Getting so excited about starting our Bio co-op in August. I’m working on a Jeopardy template for module reviews and thinking about some kind of underwater vocabulary matching game for in the pool….Thanks for such a great resource…again! 🙂
Thank you and you’re welcome. I don’t understand the underwater vocabulary. Are you students going to be on a swim team for the co-op? 🙂
Underwater Vocabulary would work something like this…laminated flashcards with small fishing weight to hold them down will be placed in pool…teacher reads definition, students swim down and find the correct word and bring it to the surface…maybe we’ll do it in teams of two. Team with the most correct matches will win….or something like that. Beats the heat! Bathing suits and goggles not provided! (We did a twist on that for math…throw coins in pool, mom/teacher says “bring me $1.23”, kid dives down gets proper coins…voila….math and PE in one swipe!)
Great idea!!
What a huge blessing to come across your site! I will be teaching this course to five 9th grade boys this year and am so thankful to you for all you have put together with this course!! I would love a copy of the quizzes once you have updated them. Thank you so much!!!
Thank you so much for your website and links. I would love to be added to the “quiz” list, and if you could notify me when the coop schedule is updated to PDF, that would be great, too.
I am also going to look into a WordPress blog because I am so impressed with yours! Blessings, Laurie
I know I’ll have the first half of the year up by next week. I have a scheduling problem the second half of the year and won’t get that fixed until October. Anyhoo, last years schedule is still up. The links are listed on the Biology page.
Thank you for the nice comment on my blog. I try to be helpful. 🙂 Let me know what your blog addy is, so I can visit.
Quizzes are coming soon. Maybe I can get them all ready tonight. That would be a load off my mind. lol
I am teaching Biology for the first time this fall and love all the information that you have shared on your blog. Thank you so much for your willingness to share of your talent.
Do you happen to know when you will have the revised schedule for 2010-2011 posted? I assume I could use last years schedule and modify the dates.
It was scheduled to appear on the blog yesterday, but after reviewing it, I found some major mistakes. lol This schedule is used for my personal use and corresponds with our co-op’s schedule. I have also rearranged some modules, so it may not work for you. I put these schedules up so others can view them and use them as a starting point for their own schedules. If you can use them as is, great! If not, make them your own.
Oh, to answer your question. They’ll be up by Friday of this week. 🙂
Pingback: 2010/2011 Biology Schedule « APPLIE'S PLACE
Hey Applie! Just re-found a book that I just love! Do you have The Usborne Complete Book of the Microscope (Internet Linked)? It has great links for the microscopic world…check this one out…http://www.centreofthecell.org/interactives/exploreacell/index.php. We’re starting our co-op next Friday! Say a prayer for us! 🙂
Yes, I have that book. I should pull it out, because I haven’t looked at it in a long time. Thanks for the link. It is really cool.
This is awesome! I was just looking for something on donna young and saw the link–my son is doing Apologia Bio this year–this will be a great help for both of us!! Thanks
Thank you for your nice comments. 🙂
Pingback: Growing Bacteria Part B | APPLIE'S PLACE
Hi Applie! I am facilitating Bio at our Co-op for the first time this year so your website has been an incredible help and inspiration! We are getting ready to begin Module 6 and I was hoping you could tell me where you found the animal & plant cell handouts that the kids are scheduled to color and label. Thanks again! Blessings to you!
Hi Lynn!
I Googled “Plant or Animal Cell Coloring page” to find what I wanted. I used the following and I also added the links to this post. Hope this is what you are looking for. Please let me know if it is not. 🙂
Animal Cell Coloring Page: http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/cellcolor.html
Plant Cell Coloring Page:
http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/cell_color_plant.html
Your blog and ideas have helped me SO much in teaching our co-op class! This is my first time to do this and I have 10 students. It is going SO well – I think the kids are really enjoying it! Last week we made the Spudoodles that you linked to and they really got into that (especially the boys, which struck me as funny!)
We are going to take a field trip to Biosphere 2 (we are in AZ) over our holiday break. And I am looking forward to using your Bingo for our end-of-year reviews! Such great ideas – you have made my job so much easier and our class so much more fun for the students! I can’t thank you enough for being willing to share all your hard work with the rest of us!!
Thank you Erica! Your kind words mean a lot to me and I am so glad my blog has been a help to you. May I go on your field trip to the Biosphere 2? lol I have always wanted to see it. Yes, the boys really like the Spudoodles, which surprised me too. I hope to be doing something like that, but different again this year. I can’t say too much right now, because my students might read this. 🙂 Thank you for visiting my blog!
Pingback: Apologia Biology: Module 10 – Ecology « Mindful Ramblings
You are awesome. What else is there to say??? 🙂 You make my life SOOOO much easier… especially since I’m teaching a co-op after not having taken a biology class for over 20 yrs!
Oh, and can I have the Module 8 quiz, pretty please? Pretty please with spudoodles on top? 🙂
Done! 🙂
Oops. The email was returned to me as ‘Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently”. Need correct email. Thanks!
Pingback: Frog Guts | APPLIE'S PLACE
Pingback: Apologia Biology: Module 13 « Mindful Ramblings
Pingback: A Friendly Krispie Frog | APPLIE'S PLACE
Love this blog. I will definitely be following it this year. I am brand new at homeschooling and we are using a co-op. I have been assigned the 9th grade Biology class, and needless to say, I am terrified! I never taught a class, not alone make a lesson plan or create quizzes. I was so lost not even knowing where to begin until now. You are an inspiration! Would I be able to use your microscope quiz to start out the year? I will have to keep browsing to find out what to do about lab safety. I look forward to learning more from you!
Yes, you may use the quizzes. I’ll send you the password and link to find it, later tonight.
Thank you for visiting my blog and let me know if you have any questions. 🙂
You’re such an encouragment to us homeschool families. May I, too, get access to the Biology quizes?
Thank You
Just sent it. 🙂
The password did not work. I typed the sentence with spaces and without. Will you help clarify? Sorry!
The password I sent was correct. I’ll send it again. Sorry.
Hi there! I’m another one who found your blog after googling “how to teach Apologia Biology co-op!” I would absolutely love to have access to the quizzes and other helps. Thank you so much for this wonderful blog. What a blessing!
Pingback: A Dead Bunny and Bacterial Growth | APPLIE'S PLACE
Pingback: I’ve done it again. | APPLIE'S PLACE
Thank you so much for your website! You helped me be able to teach an even better class than I could have hoped. I used your pictures and examples very frequently! I even grabbed a great recipe or two! 😉
You did a wonderful job with your classes and I really appreciate you sharing your hard work!
Thank you Jamie. I appreciate your comments. 🙂
Pingback: Apologia Biology Resources Plus Winner - Spell Out Loud
Just found your site, via Donna’s page…I would love to get the password for your quizzes. It looks like we’ll be doing Biology 1 at home this year. Thanks, Christine
Thanks so much for sharing all of your wonderful tips and guidance for Biology. I’m going to be teaching the Apologia Biology class at our Co-Op this year for the first time. Just knowing you’re here, and using some of the tools that you’ve shared, has made the task a little less daunting. Thank you!!!
I am teaching this class for our co-op in Peoria, IL this year. It is my first time teaching this course, so I am excited but nervous as well! Finding these resources is a blessing!
Would it be possible for me to have access to your quizzes?
I am so very thankful for the time period in which we live. The internet makes sharing information and resources so much easier! God is good!
Thank you again for your generosity in sharing your ideas and work!
Thank you for the kind words. 🙂 Please email me for the password. It is easier to reply through email than through the blog. THANKS!
Pingback: Apologia – Biology – 2ed « Life's A Weekend!
Hello! I just came upon this course work and am excited to have found it. We have three kids at home, age 10, 13 (both boys), and a 15 year old daughter who is an avid ornithologist (spent the whole summer outdoors when she wasn’t on Cornell’s website) and can’t wait to experience her first full course of high school biology. The possible problem I am facing is that my husband has offered to teach science and math (Saxon) on weekdays, M-F, and has only 2 hours to do it before he leaves for work. As the younger two haven’t had physical science yet, I’m thinking I would get them going on that so she (the 15 year old) would be studying this alone and it sounds like a lot of work for them (she and her dad) to do together just for the benefit of 1 student. She also is really excited about Aplogia’s botany and marine science courses, so there’ll be a lot of ground to cover just to keep up with all her scientific interests! They all like the idea of studying via CD, although I’m not sure if the boys’ courses are available and if they are, if I will need to order the student workbooks and notebooks, etc., to go with that. We are all pretty avid ‘note-bookers’. lol Also curious about this thing called a lapbook…I don’t know what that is or if I will need it. I hope you don’t mind me throwing all of this at you. I admire your familiarity with the series, and all that you do with this blog site. Incredible! I would seriously appreciate any help you can give me in determining if this is a good direction for us and any ideas or advice that comes to mind given their ages. We don’t have a co-op in our area that I know of, but hey…maybe that’ll come. Thank you in advance for your helpful advice! ~Meeri
Hi Meeri,
I will email you privately and we’ll chat. 🙂
May I pease have the password, starting a group study for biology. Love your lesson plan and lab outline. Blessings Proud army wife
Pingback: Apologia Homeschool Blogs - Live and Learn Farm | Live and Learn Farm
I too found your website via the link on Donna Young’s. I would love to have the password to the quizzes as we are studying biology this year. Thanks so much for sharing your hard work.
Hello, I found your website via Donna Young’s. Thank you so much for sharing all your hard work and experiences. My daughter is a 10th grader this year and this is our first year to try homeschooling. Of all her classes Biology is THE one stressing me out – Not the Spanish 2 or the Geometry or the… also everything has a teachers manual. She has very few interests and Science is one of those few.
One question I have is where do I find the answers for the OYO questions? I have the student book and test book and answer book and the DVD. While I have looked and looked I can’t find the answers to OYO… (I figure they are someplace obvious and will bite me soon LOL)
My other question is about the Lapbook that is offered for this series. Can you offer any insight on this?
And may I have the password for the quizzes?
Thank you
Hi Susanna! The answers to OYO are at the back of each module. 🙂 I will answer the other questions this afternoon. I am not home right now.