Welcome to the Guest Hollow’s Jr. Anatomy Curriculum Book and Resource List! This list is to give you an idea of what will be needed if you are using Guest Hollow’s Jr. Anatomy Curriculum along with some helpful tips and other information. For details about the curriculum itself please click here.
Thank You,
The Guest Family
© Guest Hollow, LLC
Literature-based anatomy that’s engaging and fun!
In order to use Guest Hollow’s Jr. Anatomy Curriculum, you will need to obtain the scheduled books and other items separately. You may be able to borrow many for FREE from your local library! Check out the F.A.Q. below for tips on how to save money when using a literature-based curriculum.
Every purchase comes with a printable book list!
Every purchase of Guest Hollow’s Jr. Anatomy Curriculum comes with a FREE printable book list to help you with your planning and shopping.
The printable version of the book list features:
- The ISBN number and author’s name
You can make sure your copy of the book matches the one in the schedule. - Notification of when each book or item is used
You can plan ahead when to check out books from the library. Books used throughout the year are marked “multiple weeks,” so you can decide whether you want to purchase them vs. borrow them. - Checklists for planning
A handy checklist helps you plan if you are going to buy or borrow a book. It can also help you choose the format of your books (physical copy, e-book, or audio book). - Books are ranked in order of importance
Books are ranked in order of importance to help you choose which books you need the most and which can potentially be skipped. - Consumables are marked
You’ll get advance notice of which items are consumable, so you’ll know what you may need to purchase and how many copies you may want to get if you are using the curriculum with multiple students.
Here’s an example of the printable book list:
Keep scrolling to see the full online book list (below the F.A.Q. on this page).
We’ve scheduled in lots of colorful, fact-filled, interesting and engaging books for Guest Hollow’s Jr. Anatomy! Before taking a look at the books and resources, we’ve addressed some common questions:
Book and Resource F.A.Q.
Warning! Preview all materials! I strongly recommend you preview all items to see if they are appropriate for your student. Every family is different in what they find offensive! Additional notes about some of the books are in the descriptions below.
Books and Items | |
Note: There are some references to evolution. | Enjoy Your Cells (Enjoy Your Cells, 1) The Enjoy Your Cells series of books is great for elementary students. The illustrations are fun, colorful, clear and the information is detailed, but still simple enough to digest and understand. |
Kids Discover Magazine: Cells This is a nice magazine. My kids had a few issues and really liked them. You can preview some of the pages at the link above. | |
Book 1 (for younger students): My First Human Body Book (Dover Children’s Science Books) This book is free at the Open Library. “It’s easy to learn about your body! This cool coloring book includes 28 drawings that explore muscles, bones, lungs, and more. You can read how your voice box works, how your tongue tastes food, how your DNA is different from your family and friends, and more.” | Book 2 (for older students): Human Anatomy Coloring Book: an Entertaining and Instructive Guide to the Human Body – Bones, Muscles, Blood, Nerves and How They Work (Coloring Books) (Dover Science For Kids Coloring Books) This book is free at the Open Library. Note: This book features the internal structures of reproductive parts. Exterior breasts are shown (like a cartoon style drawing). The Human Anatomy Coloring Book is an affordable anatomy class. This easy learning study aid contains careful, scientifically accurate line renderings of the body’s organs and major systems: skeletal, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, nervous, digestive, urinary, reproductive, endocrine, lymphatic, and skin. Hundreds of specialized organs, bones, muscles, nerve fibers, blood vessels, and other anatomical features can be absorbed and understood by means of an ingenious format: a coloring book that can help mature children and adult colorists learn anatomy. It is an excellent educational tool for EMT, medical and nursing students, homeschoolers, biology teachers for classroom learning, and anyone interested in studies of the human body and its anatomy. |
Note: This book mentions evolution in one place has a few non-detailed drawings that depict nudity. This book is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s High School Curriculum. | Blood and Guts An e-book version of this book is available to check out for FREE at OpenLibrary.org. This fun book integrates lots of experiments and activities in with lots of information about the human body. Many of this year’s labs come from this book, so don’t skip it! Some of the activities are very simple and easy to do with a minimum of supplies, while others are more involved like dissections. All 3 of my kids enjoyed this book. In my opinion, the activities are appropriate for elementary school through high school! |
Choose one of the following: | |
Project book option 1: The Body Book: Easy-to-Make Hands-on Models That Teach (Grades 3-6) This books has lots of hands-on models to make. There is lots of coloring, cutting and pasting to do and information about the models made that help your learning “stick”. When using this book, remember that tape is your friend as opposed to glue, lol. This is the book I used with my son. We displayed a lot of the models in our schoolroom for a long time! If you have a middle school student who’d like to make human body projects, this is the more appropriate option vs. the second book option. | Project book option 2: Easy Make & Learn Projects: Human Body (Grades 2-4) Of the two books, this one has models (and mini-books and so on) that are smaller and easier to assemble. “How do we hear? What makes our bodies move? How do nerves work? Kids find the answers to these and other questions with Accordion Ears, Muscle Makers, and Nerve Necklaces! Ready-to-use patterns and easy how-to’s let kids make models that teach about the major body systems. Includes science background information and extension activities! 80 pages.” |
Note: This book has quite a bit of evolution, but it’s one of the best books on this topic for this age group. Christian parents should do this book as a read-aloud, in order to skip any objectionable material, or at least be on hand to discuss. | Have a Nice DNA (Enjoy Your Cells, 3) “This series is a must for all elementary school students and those who care about educating them to be well-informed in a world of increasingly complex health-related and environmental issues.” |
The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey n Your Place in the Universe, Jason Chin zoomed outward, from our planet, solar system, and galaxy to the outer reaches of the observable universe. Now, Chin reverses course, zooming in past our skin to our cells, molecules, and atoms, all the way down to particles so small we can’t yet even measure them. Like its companion, The Universe in You is a mind-boggling adventure that makes complex science accessible and enjoyable to readers of any age. | |
Note: This is a middle school add-on. | Genetics: Breaking the Code of your DNA “Why do children resemble their parents and siblings? Introducing young readers to the fascinating world of genetics, this educational resource presents the main concepts of the science, including what a chromosome does, how DNA is structured, and how genetic inheritance works. Students learn about new discoveries in the field of genetics and how those discoveries have helped to cure or even prevent certain diseases, as well as examine controversial issues in genetics such as genetically modified foods and stem cell research. Combining inquiry-based, age-appropriate activities with biology, Genetics: Breaking the Code of Your DNA features graphic novel illustrations, fascinating sidebars, and a glossary of important vocabulary to illuminate the complex world of genetics and bring it to life.” |
Gene Machines (Enjoy Your Cells, 4) This is another book in the Enjoy Your Cells series of books. | |
Note: I love the cut paper illustrations in this book! When looking at the different types of bones, Christian families can point out the similarities between some of the animal and human bones. God used the same template. 🙂 Note: This book mentions evolution on the page that shows a mouse lemur skull. | Bones: Skeletons and How They Work “Caldecott Honor winner Steve Jenkins presents a fascinating look at the bones of the human body as compared to the bones of animals, and shows them off! This book is far from skinny — it’s the definitive nonfiction title about human and animal bones, delivered with in-your-face accuracy and intrigue. In this visually driven volume, kids come face-to-face with some head-to-toe boney comparisons, many of them shown at actual size. Here you’ll find the differences between a man’s hand and that of a spider monkey; the great weight of an elephant’s leg, paired with the feather-light femur of a stork; and rib-tickling info about snakes and sloths. How many bones are in the whole human body?” |
The Skeleton Book “The ultimate guide to every bone in your body. Did you know bones are 75% water? Or that humans and giraffes both have just seven vertebrae in their necks? Learn more amazing facts in The Skeleton Book. Full of incredible computer-generated 3-D images, children can explore the bones of the body in great detail. Find out how the skeleton is flexible enough to make the body agile but provides support and strength to the body. Bones are stronger than steel, gram for gram, but are five times lighter and ten times more elastic. The Skeleton Book works down from the skull to the toes so that each one of the 206 bones are fully explored. This book also uses comparison to animal skeletons to help kids understand more about their bones and show how the human skeleton is unique. Explore the future of skeletons through modern prosthetics and see how 3-D printing can help people with missing limbs.” | |
Horrible Science: Blood, Bones and Body Bits “Find out what happens when a boil bursts. See what lives in your eyelashes. Gulp at the workings of your disgusting digestion. Redesigned in a bold, funky new look for the next generation of HORRIBLE SCIENCE fans.” | |
Muscles: Our Muscular System ” Don’t move a muscle–read all about them! Did you know that… ★ Without muscles you couldn’t blink–or even breathe! ★ Nearly 700 muscles control your life. ★ Big or small, a muscle is made up of just one cell. ★ Exercise doesn’t give you more muscles, but it strengthens the ones you have. Discover how muscles make us move–and see what it really looks like under your skin.” | |
Note: This is a middle school add-on. This book is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s High School Curriculum. | Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine “It was August 27, 1885. In a hospital in Lima, Peru, a student named Daniel Carrión was preparing to infect himself with a dreaded disease . . . He had a small, sharp lancet ready . . . Carrión’s friends and teacher from the medical school thought it was a bad idea. They knew Carrión was eager to learn more about this mysterious disease. But were the risks worth it? Science and medicine from the inside out-ten engrossing stories of self-experimentation Who are these “guinea pig scientists”? Searching for clues to some of science’s and medicine’s bigger (and sometimes stranger) questions, they are all the men and women who devoted their lives to help find the answers. Spanning from the 1770s to the present–and uncovering the science behind digestion, the spread of yellow fever, the development of the first heart catheter, and more–their ten stories are at once scientifically detailed and fascinatingly personal.” |
Choose one of the following: | |
Option 1 (For older students): The Electrifying Nervous System (God’s Wondrous Machine) “Developed by a homeschooling pediatrician, this book focuses on the amazing design and functionality of the human body’s nervous system. You will discover: ★ The main areas and structures of the brain and what important role each plays in making your body work ★ Awesome examples of God’s creativity in both the design and precision of human anatomy showing you are wonderfully made ★ Important historical discoveries and modern medical techniques used for diagnosis and repair of the brain! Learn interesting and important facts about why you sleep, the function of the central nervous system, what foods can superpower your brain functions, and much more in a wonderful exploration of the brain and how it controls the wondrous machine known as your body!” Quote from book description. | Option 2 (For younger students): You Can’t Use Your Brain if You’re a Jellyfish! “This title provides a fun and informative look at brains—insect brains, bird brains, dog brains, monkey brains, and our brains—and how they have each adapted to particular survival needs. This complex subject is made not only understandable but fascinating, and sometimes even funny!” |
Note: This book mentions evolution in one of the chapters. | How to Be a Genius “How to be a Genius reveals the magical and mysterious world of the brain. With facts, puzzles, brain teasers, optical illusions, and other brain training activities, readers will unlock their true intellectual power. How to be a Genius explores the physiology, anatomy, and evolution of the brain and then teaches innovative brain stimulating exercises. Covering all aspects of brain activity, from perception and problem solving, to memory, language, and creativity, readers will learn tips and tricks for getting the most out of the brain. The book also features activities including sports, magic, playing cards, and computer games. Readers will enjoy employing their creativity with this hands-on guide to the mind filled with wonderful knowledge and great activities to boost brainpower.” |
This kit is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s High School Curriculum. | Sheep brain “Study mammal anatomy with this preserved sheep brain specimen (cranial nerves attached)! Through dissection, students will observe external & internal brain structures, such as the corpus callosum, pituitary gland & more.” |
This series is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s High School Curriculum. | The Secret Life of the Brain “A startling new map of the human brain has emerged during the past decade of neuroscience research, contradicting much of what was previously believed. Narrated by Blair Brown and directed by David Grubin, this series tells stories through a mix of personal histories, expert commentary, and cutting-edge animation. Viewers learn startling new truths about the brain as they journey inside about this complicated organ.” |
This is a middle school add-on. It can also be read aloud to younger students. This book is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s High School Curriculum. | Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science An e-book version of this book is available to check out for FREE at OpenLibrary.org. “Phineas Gage was truly a man with a hole in his head. Phineas, a railroad construction foreman, was blasting rock near Cavendish, Vermont, in 1848 when a thirteen-pound iron rod was shot through his brain. Miraculously, he survived to live another eleven years and become a textbook case in brain science.” |
Note: This is a Christian book. | Fanny Crosby: Queen of Gospel Songs “The man said he was a doctor . . . but he did something to little baby Fanny’s eyes that made her blind for the rest of her life. How could she find out about the world around her? How could she be happy? How could she learn? How could she love God? How could she forgive? Fanny Crosby was blind for more than ninety years . . . and she wrote over 8,000 hymns and gospel songs about her Savior.” |
Follow My Leader “After Jimmy is blinded in an accident with a firecracker, he has to relearn all the things he used to know. With the help of a determined therapist, he learns to read Braille and to use a cane. Then he’s given the chance to have a guide dog. Learning to work with Leader is not easy, but Jimmy tries harder than he ever has before.” | |
This kit is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s High School Curriculum. | Cow Eye Kit “This Cow Eye Dissection Kit gives an inside view of how the eye works. It comes with all the tools you need for this activity.” |
How to Really Fool Yourself: Illusions for All Your Senses This book contains over 70 activities and is a fun read. Even a high schooler should enjoy it. We had fun playing with this book! “Fans of Vicki Cobb’s unique blend of humor, science, and hands-on activities will have tons of fun with How to Really Fool Yourself. Kids won’t be able to believe their eyes–not to mention their ears, noses, hands, and tongues! Packed with all-new illustrations and a delightful new design, this book features over 70 activities to fool all five senses. Each illusion is followed by a fascinating “Why You’re Fooled” section that explains the science and history behind the “magic.”” | |
She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer “When she was just two years old, Laura Bridgman lost her sight, her hearing, and most of her senses of smell and taste. At the time, no one believed a child with such severe disabilities could be taught to communicate, much less lead a full and productive life. But then a progressive doctor, who had just opened the country’s first school for the blind in Boston, took her in. Laura learned to communicate, read, and write—and eventually even to teach. By the age of 12, she was world famous.” | |
The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses My son always loved the Magic School Bus books. They are fun and informative. | |
The Circulatory Story “Simple, humorous text and comic illustrations explain the basics of the circulatory system–the systemic, pulmonary, and coronary circuits. Readers follow a red blood cell on its journey through the body, and in the process learn how the body combats disease, performs gas exchanges, and fights plaque.” | |
Note: There is a section that talks about the Egyptian plagues where the water turned to blood. This book takes a secular viewpoint of that event and says that scientists think it could have been volcanic ash or red algae. | The Book of Blood: From Legends and Leeches to Vampires and Veins “HP Newquist takes young readers on an engaging tour of the world of blood, from ancient history to modern science—with an occasional trip to the very strange side of the most important tissue in our bodies. Oddly enough, scientists began to understand this fascinating fluid only within the past one hundred years and how its microscopic components nourish the entire body. Whether the tales of vampires, medieval medical practices, and Mayan sacrificial rites captivate or terrify, this comprehensive investigation into blood’s past and present will surely enthrall. And if this account is a little bloodcurdling, well, that’s half the fun!” |
This kit is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s High School Curriculum. | Sheep Heart Dissection Kit “Learn how the heart works as you locate the internal parts with this complete dissection set.” |
Eldoncard Blood Type Test Kit We enjoyed this kit! Please note: You do have to prick your skin to get a drop of blood. The lancet is so sharp that we hardly felt it. If you have a squeamish kid, you’ll probably want to skip this activity. “This single-use blood type test kit contains everything needed to perform a complete blood test at home for ABO and Rh. It’s a quick way to identify your blood type.” | |
Kids Discover: Lungs This is a nice magazine. My kids had a few issues and really liked them. You can preview some of the pages at the link above. Sometimes you can find used issues on Amazon for less money. | |
Choose 1 of the following 2 books: | |
Book 1: The Quest to Digest We checked this book out from the library multiple times when we were homeschooling! “Humorous text and illustrations follow an apple’s journey through the human digestive system. Discover why mucus is so important to your body and how food particles are absorbed by the small intestine and turned into energy. Readers also learn why we burp, vomit, and pass gas.” | Book 2: It Takes Guts: How Your Body Turns Food Into Fuel (and Poop) Note: I like the ” information in this book that mentions “new” research about the gut biome, etc. This book has a few brief mentions of evolution on pages Winner of the 2023 AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books An illustrated book about the digestive system and microbiome for young readers, from famous (and funny) scientist Dr. Jennifer Gardy. Everybody eats, and everybody poops. Pretty ordinary stuff, right? But what happens in between is far from ordinary! That’s where your digestive system—also known as your gut—works its magic. It Takes Guts is an excellent, science-based resource for classroom learning and home-schooling for kids age 9 to 13, with information about: The surprising role that food and digestion play in your mood and immune system. The amazing tools your body uses to break down food including acids, which do their thing without burning a hole in your stomach! The incredible truth that not all bacteria is bad! Billions of “helpful bacteria” belong in your gut. And so much more! |
Poop Happened “History finally comes out of the water-closet in this exploration of how people’s need to relieve themselves shaped human development from ancient times to the present. Throughout time, the most successful civilizations were the ones who realized that everyone poops, and they had better figure out how to get rid of it! From the world’s first flushing toilet invented by ancient Minoan plumbers to castle moats in the middle ages that used more than just water to repel enemies, Sarah Albee traces human civilization using one revolting yet fascinating theme.” | |
This book is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s High School Curriculum. This is a middle school add-on. | Chew On This: Everything You Don’t Want to Know About Fast Food “When Eric Schlosser’s best-selling book, Fast Food Nation, was published for adults in 2001, many called for his groundbreaking insight to be shared with young people. Now Schlosser, along with co-writer Charles Wilson, has investigated the subject further, uncovering new facts children need to know. In Chew On This, they share with kids the fascinating and sometimes frightening truth about what lurks between those sesame seed buns, what a chicken ‘nugget’ really is, and how the fast food industry has been feeding off children for generations.” |
Note: You’ll want to preview this book to see if it matches your family’s beliefs about nutrition. It also mentions “boy boobs” in a humorous way as the author relates his childhood, so be aware of that. This is a very easy to understand book and explains a lot of science behind nutrition (at least the current understanding of it). I wish I had it back when I was teaching my kids. | Fat Head Kids: Stuff About Diet and Health I Wish I Knew When I Was Your Age “Fat Head Kids explains what kids need to know about diet and health by taking them on a journey aboard a biological starship. By seeing how the crew members are programmed to respond to foods, kids learn what makes us fat (and no, it’s not just about calories), how bad food makes “boy boobs,” why food sets our mood, and why industrial food causes health problems ranging from diabetes to ADHD. Finally, kids learn how their biological starship was programmed to thrive on the Planet of Real Foods.” |
Janice VanCleave’s Food and Nutrition for Every Kid: Easy Activities That Make Learning Science Fun “To the delight of children, parents, and teachers everywhere, America’s favorite science teacher brings a welcome addition to the popular Science for Every Kid series. Through fun, safe, and easy-to-do experiments, Janice VanCleave teaches kids ages eight to twelve all about food and nutrition. Kids can learn about leavening agents by mixing baking soda with vinegar. They’ll explore why different sweeteners vary in sweetness, how to use natural food dyes to dye a T-shirt, and what the food pyramid is-plus much more. Each experiment is broken down into a purpose, list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and explanations that kids can understand. Every project has been tested and can be performed safely and inexpensively using ordinary household materials.” | |
It’s Disgusting and We Ate It! True Food Facts from Around the World and Throughout History This was one of my son’s all-time favorite books. He must have read it a million times. I kept it for the grandkids when I culled old homeschool books from our shelf. “How about a nice dish of Colonial Squirrel Pie with a side of milkweed shoots? If that doesn’t grab you, you might think about trying some Garbage Stew, just like they made in medieval England. But if you’re feeling a little tired and need a boost, your best bet is roasted spiders. They’ve got three times the protein of cooked beef. (Is your mouth watering yet?) Illustrated by the wildly-creative Eric Brace, It’s Disgusting — and We Ate It! is a fascinating look at culinary creations from all over the world!” | |
Sheep Kidney Dissection Kit “With a Sheep Kidney Dissection, learn how kidneys work as you locate the internal parts. Get all you need for a dissection lab: preserved sheep kidney, illustrated dissection guide, #22 scalpel, and dissecting tray.” | |
The Exciting Endocrine System: How Do My Glands Work? Here’s a Google preview of an older edition of this book. “Squirt may be a tiny gland, but young readers will learn just how important he is. This title explains the powerful effects of the pineal, pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands. The roles of the hypothalamus and pancreas will also be explored along with the function of hormones. There are sections on glandular problems, scientific discoveries, and amazing facts. “ | |
Ed Emberley’s Complete Funprint Drawing Book Celebrate your child’s uniqueness by focusing on fingerprints! This is a fun way to incorporate some art into your human body study. | |
Choose a fingerprint art set or a set of ink pads. This is optional to use with the book above. | |
This is a middle school add-on. | Help! What’s Eating My Flesh? My son enjoyed this series of books. |
Kids Discover: Skin This is a nice magazine. My kids had a few issues and really liked them. You can preview some of the pages at the link above. | |
This kit (as well as a 2nd kit option) is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s High School Curriculum. | The Magic School Bus: The World of Germs Kit We used this kit in our homeschool. It has quite a few fun activities. |
Glo-Germ Mini Handwashing Kit I used this to teach my kids about germs and how they are transmitted. It’s a memorable activity! | |
Pasteur’s Fight Against Microbes “In 1856, when Louis Pasteur first began studying microbes in rotten sugarbeet juice, he put into motion a chain of events that saved France’s wine industry, and revolutionized medicine and biology.” | |
Achoo!: The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read about Germs “In the fifth Mysterious You book, Achoo!, kids probe the secrets of illness and sniff out what germs are, why they sometimes make us sick, how our bodies battle them and how vaccines protect us against them. This unique series explores the mysteries of the human body using a mix of thoroughly researched factual information, amazing anecdotes and surprising try-it activities.” | |
Science Comics: Plagues: The Microscopic Battlefield “This useful introduction to the topic of disease and immunity is recommended for graphic novel enthusiasts or as a companion text in science classes.”―School Library Journal “Writer/illustrator Falynn Koch’s Science Comics: Plagues takes readers across the microscopic battlefield to get to know the critters behind history’s worst diseases. We delve into the biology and mechanisms of infections, diseases, and immunity, and also the incredible effect that technology and medical science have had on humanity’s ability to contain and treat disease.” | |
This is a middle school add-on. It’s also appropriate for upper elementary students who are interested in the topic. | Outbreak! Plagues That Changed History “Did the Black Death destroy medieval Europe? Did cholera pave the way for modern Manhattan? Did yellow fever help end the slave trade? Remarkably, the answer to all of these questions is yes. Time and again, diseases have impacted the course of human history in surprisingly powerful ways. From influenza to smallpox, from tuberculosis to yellow fever, Bryn Barnard describes the symptoms and paths of the world’s worst diseases—and how the epidemics they spawned have changed history forever. Filled with fascinating, often gory details about disease and history, Outbreak! is a wonderful combination of science and history.” |
This is a middle school add-on. It’s also appropriate for upper elementary students who are interested in the topic. | Belly-Busting Worm Invasions!: Parasites That Love Your Insides! “Discover parasites and the people who fight them with real life cases.” |
An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 “1793, Philadelphia. The nation’s capital and the largest city in North America is devastated by an apparently incurable disease, cause unknown . . . In a powerful, dramatic narrative, critically acclaimed author Jim Murphy describes the illness known as yellow fever and the toll it took on the city’s residents, relating the epidemic to the major social and political events of the day and to 18th-century medical beliefs and practices.” | |
Note: The beginning of this book mentions evolution. | Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure “This is the story of a killer that has been striking people down for thousands of years: tuberculosis. After centuries of ineffective treatments, the microorganism that causes TB was identified, and the cure was thought to be within reach—but drug-resistant varieties continue to plague and panic the human race. The “biography” of this deadly germ, an account of the diagnosis, treatment, and “cure” of the disease over time, and the social history of an illness that could strike anywhere but was most prevalent among the poor are woven together in an engrossing, carefully researched narrative. |
Basher Science: Microbiology “This latest book from the Basher Science series investigates the unseen world of microbes. Basher’s distinctive style presents key microbes as characters with their own voice and personality. Microbiology investigates the “teensy tykes” such as algae and bacteria that are all around us in the living world, as well as a range of so-called “minibeasts”, but these are not the usual creepy-crawlies that you might think of. These near-invisible creatures range from the zooplankton “good guys” to the unpleasant tapeworm and fluke. Yuck!” | |
Germ Zappers (Enjoy Your Cells) “Planet Earth can be a dangerous place for all living creatures, including you. You can usually escape from erupting volcanoes and floods. You can protect your body from the blazing Sun and freezing snow. But wherever you live and whatever the weather, you cannot escape GERMS! Enjoy Your Cells is a series of children’s books from the acclaimed creative partnership of scientist/author Fran Balkwill and illustrator Mic Rolph.” | |
Straight Talk: Drugs and Alcohol They are colorful, informative and engaging books. “Readers are given helpful information about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, including narcotics, hallucinogens, and prescription medications in this nonfiction book. Through detailed images, diagrams, informational text, an index, a glossary of terms, and a list of websites that provide additional information, readers are given the tools and information they need to educate themselves about addiction, drug abuse, the health and social issues that drugs and alcohol can cause, and how to say no to peer pressure.” | |
Straight Talk: Smoking (Time for Kids Nonfiction Readers) “Inform readers of the dangers of smoking with this fact-filled nonfiction title. Through helpful diagrams, detailed images, and truthful facts, readers are given the tools and information to educate themselves about smoking, tobacco, addiction, and the health problems that smoking can cause. With informational text, an index, glossary of terms, and list of websites, children are encouraged to say no to smoking, to peer pressure, and learn what steps they can take to help prevent others from starting. | |
Choose one of the following (for students 9 years and up): | |
The Ultimate Girls’ Body Book: Not-So-Silly Questions About Your Body “Girls’ bodies do the craziest things! They can kick soccer balls and spin perfect pirouettes, or they can trip up the stairs and break out in zits. As you grow and your body goes through some pretty wild changes, you might be wondering things like: Why don’t I look like her? I have to use that? Is this normal? And, Why is this happening to me? The Ultimate Body Book for Girls answers all those awkward questions you’d rather not ask your mom—at least out loud. Mixing fun with great advice, you’ll learn about bras, boys, periods, pimples, and so much more. Most importantly, you’ll learn that God made you exactly the way he wants you—no matter how weird growing up can be.” | The Ultimate Guys’ Body Book: Not-So-Stupid Questions About Your Body “Everything a boy should know, but won’t ask—from a Christian perspective! Finally, everything you wanted to know about your body, but you’ve just been too chicken to ask. Ultimate Guys’ Body Book is the first book for boys that gives honest answers to real questions about your body from a biblical perspective. No, you’re not falling apart—you’re just growing up! But there’s no need to fear, when God is near. He’s your personal guide to understanding your body. With information about everything from steroid use to body parts, there’s not a question we won’t answer. These aren’t questions some adult made up, but they’re real questions asked by real boys just like you. You want to know the truth? Now you can, because Ultimate Guys’ Body Book gives you the facts—no holds barred!” |
Dude, That’s Rude!: (Get Some Manners) | |
Choose one of the following: | |
Option 1 (for middle school): The Survival Handbook: Essential Skills for Outdoor Adventure This book is appropriate for younger kids to browse through, too. I haven’t assigned specific pages. Instead, your kids can browse through the book and read the parts that interest them. | Option 2 (for younger students): What Would You Do? My son loved this book and read it over and over. He learned a lot from it too! It covers a lot of practical situations like: ★ What would you do if you got home and forgot your keys? ★ What do you do if you are home alone and smell gas? ★ What do you do if you find a hurt animal? The scenarios are great discussion topics and practical knowledge your kids should know. |
Note: p. 84-89 is outdated info about landline politeness. | Dude, That’s Rude!: (Get Some Manners) This is a cute book with a lot of great tips. It does have an outdated section about landline phones (starting on p. 84) and p. 101 has an outdated website url where it says “To find chat rooms for kids and teens, try www.kidzworld.com/chat). We are not proponents of chat rooms for kids, so depending on what your family believes about this issue – you may want to deal with that page (it mentions a bit of online safety, which I think is good to discuss no matter what your family rules are – in case your kid finds his/her way to one despite any prohibitions). The two sections mentioned above are not scheduled in. Despite the above-mentioned issues, this is a fun book that discusses manners of all sorts and situations in a friendly manner that I think is worthwhile. It’s hard to find a book for this age group about manners, but this one works! 🙂 |
Eddie Eagle program No matter what your stance on firearms is, it’s VERY important to teach your children gun safety. The Eddy Eagle program teaches your kids to do the following if they see a firearm: ★ Stop ★ Don’t touch ★ Leave the area ★ Tell an adult Program materials are very inexpensive and effective. We used this program with our children. | |
BrainPOP I’ve linked to a variety of BrainPOP videos in the schedule. Our family used BrainPOP for years. It’s expensive, so you may want to try their free trial (if they currently have one). Less expensive subscriptions can be obtained through the Homeschool Buyers Club. Some libraries also offer a free subscription, so check yours if you are interested. Don’t worry if you can’t afford a subscription! We’ve linked to lots of videos on the same topics via YouTube. ? | |
The Miracle Worker “Helen Keller comes under the tutelage of an amazing teacher.” | |
Thames & Kosmos Genetics and DNA Kit Learn the basics of genetics and DNA with this optional kit. The kit comes with several experiments, a 48-page full color experiment manual, and a DNA model you can build. View the manual here. | |
Unscheduled videos | |
Note: We did NOT watch all the episodes as a family. The Common Sense Media parent reviews mention some objectionable material (hence the TV 14 rating). The ones we watched were family-friendly, so I am not sure which episodes may be questionable. Proceed with caution for younger students. | Brain Games Streaming on Amazon My son loved the Brain Games series. They are a lot of fun and very interesting. The best part? You get to be a participant in some of the experiments as you watch! Our family has had a lot of fun with this show. Watch whatever you’d like from the following: DVD’s: Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 |