Last spring Elijah and I started discussing some options for summer learning.
Ecology was at the top of his list, but options for a homeschool ecology class for a high school student didn’t really exist.
After a bit of searching, I found a multi-age textbook I determined could be a spine. I started pulling resources together and asking Elijah what he’d like to do for research projects. Together, we created this homeschool ecology course (equivalent to one semester).
This post is sponsored by Water Testing Kits. I was compensated for the time I invested in this post. All opinions are mine and truthful.
Resources Used for Homeschool Ecology
- The Ecology Book by Tom Hennigan and Jean Lightner
This book is written with the perspective that God is the creator and that humans should be responsible stewards of His creation.Elijah read each chapter, kept a notebook with all the terms and their definitions, and copied the quotable quote found at the beginning of each chapter. Since the text is only 83 pages, we added a variety of relevant field trips, activities, research projects, and labs. Elijah also spent 20+ hours completing ID hikes at ten different state parks and local nature preserves.In addition to the main text, I highly recommend these resources: - Water Testing Kit
- Soil Testing Kit
- a variety of pocket field guides for ID hikes
Homeschool Ecology Course Outline
Chapter 1: Harmony in Creation
| o Read the Chapter | o Define Words to Know | o Copy the Quote |
Research Project: Biomes
Research the different biomes on Earth. Include botany (plant life), zoology (animal life), meteorology (weather), and geography (landmarks and features) for each biome.
Chapter 2: Ecology: The Study of “Our House”
| o Read the Chapter | o Define Words to Know | o Copy the Quote |
Research Project: Cycles in Nature
Choose a cycle or process in nature such as the hydrologic cycle or the nitrogen cycle. Complete your research and determine how you will present it.
Activity: Estimating Population Size & Random Sampling
Activity: Biodiversity in a Wetland Ecosystem
Chapter 3: The Dominion Mandate
| o Read the Chapter | o Define Words to Know | o Copy the Quote |
Research Project: Recycling Plan
Pretend you are moving to a different city. Do some research and find out what the recycling policies are. Create a plan for what your family will recycle and how it will be accomplished. Include what you need to purchase (if anything) and how much it will cost.
Activity: Examine the Stages in Ecological Succession
Field Trip: Owls of Indiana
We learned about the owls in our state and how to locate and ID them; we also learned about owl adaptations.
Chapter 4: What’s on the Menu?
| o Read the Chapter | o Define Words to Know | o Copy the Quote |
Activity: Complete Predator Prey Graph
Activity: View the Wolves of Yellowstone
View the documentary by National Geographic. Write a response which includes a summary of the documentary as well as your own reaction. Your writing should demonstrate your understanding of food chains.
Chapter 5: Taking a Liking to Lichens
| o Read the Chapter | o Define Words to Know | o Copy the Quote |
LAB: Lichens on Tree Trunks
For this lab, Elijah had to observe three trees and determine which direction lichens and moss were growing on the trees. Comparing the results helped Elijah to understand the conditions lichens and mosses need to grow and thrive.
Activity: Learn more about Symbiotic Relationships
Chapter 6: A Fungus Among Us
| o Read the Chapter | o Define Words to Know | o Copy the Quote |
Activity: Coral Reef Succession
Field Trip: Water Filtration Plant Tour
Elijah learned how one city in our area takes water from a river and cleans it for home use.
LAB: Water Testing
The kit from Water Testing Kits made testing water easy-breezy. The kit came with all the materials, instructions, and even a log book to record results.
Elijah collected four water samples from our tap, a river, a pond, and a stream. Then he tested each one for chlorine, copper, nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, alkalinity, iron, and hardness as well as the PH level.
Analyzing each sample was interesting. Elijah hypothesized why the water from different sources had different qualities. Additionally, he was able to determine if the water was drinkable by comparing each sample to a chart provided in the kit.
Chapter 7: The Plant-Bacteria Connection
| o Read the Chapter | o Define Words to Know | o Copy the Quotes |
Activity: Interview a Farmer
Interview a farmer who practices sustainable agriculture. Compose 6-10 questions to ask during the interview. Consider topics such as fertilizer, compost, rotating crops, pest control, and sustainable agriculture vs. conventional agriculture.
Compile the interview information into a one page report.
LAB: Soil Testing
Everything you need to understand healthy soil is included in this soil testing kit.
Elijah worked in his grandpa’s garden and volunteered at a community garden throughout the summer, and this test helped him understand the importance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels in the soil. It also includes PH testing and a chart of acceptable PH levels for 100 flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
Chapter 8: Of Bacteria, Cattle, and Men
| o Read the Chapter | o Define Words to Know | o Copy the Quote |
Research Project: Ecologist Biography
Your text highlights many ecologists such as Ernst Haeckel, William Derham, Eugene Odum, and Simon Schwendener. Write a biography for an ecologist (300 word minimum).
Chapter 9: To the Root of the Matter
| o Read the Chapter | o Define Words to Know | o Copy the Quote |
Field Trip: Prescribed Burns Workshop
This workshop taught us the importance of prescribed burns, how the fires are managed, and the equipment used to conduct the burn. Fascinating.
Chapter 10: Doing Ecology in God’s Creation
| o Read the Chapter | o Define Words to Know | o Copy the Quote |
Research Project: Invasive Species in Your State
Create a project detailing invasive species in your state. Choose from plants, invertebrates, and water/land vertebrates. Consider including the following information for each species: history, how it spreads, impact, risks, and management.
Field Trip: Host Plants for Butterflies and Monarch Migration
We learned about native host plants and why they are significant for the butterfly population. We also had the opportunity to learn the cycle of monarch migration and watch the release of tagged, fourth generation monarchs who were headed to Mexico.
Additional Ideas for a Homeschool Ecology Course
Obviously, you can add or subtract whatever you’d like from our basic course plan. I suggest allowing the student to have as much input as possible when it comes to research topics and projects as well as field trip opportunities.
Additional Research Projects & Labs
- Create a Pocket Guide
Create a Field Guide for wildflowers, trees, reptiles, fish, birds, etc. in your area. - Endangered Plants and Animals
- Research a specific endangered plant or animal in your area. What can be done so that the species doesn’t go extinct? Create an action plan.
- Native Plants
Research the benefits of cultivating the native plants in your area. Write a letter to a local garden/park explaining why they should consider planting more native plants, or design a landscape for your home which only includes native plants. - Pollinators
Bees get all the buzz when it comes to pollination, but what other animals are responsible for this big job? Create a project based on your research. - Write a cause and effect essay after viewing the Wolves of Yellowstone documentary.
- Additional Ecology Labs can be found at this website.
Additional Ecology Field Trip Ideas
- Worm Composting Farm
- State Park Programs
Our state parks offer amazing opportunities from “Learn How to Use a Field Guide” to “Create Your Own Ecosystem.” They also offer a Master Naturalist program. This would be a fantastic addition to your study of ecology. - Nature Preserves
Local nature preserves are also a treasure trove of ecology opportunities for your student. - Explore Ecosystems
Visit a local garden, a pond, a forest, marsh, or drive to the closest beach. Take field guides and work on your student’s life list (see Chapter 10, page 80 in the text). - Recycling Facility
- Water Treatment Plant
- Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count (usually in February; this would be a great corresponding activity for Chapter 3)
I hope this course is helpful for someone else who is searching for a high school homeschool ecology class. Please let me know if you have any questions or resource suggestions!
Hi!! Do you have a printable version of the course? Thanks!
This is perfect! Thank you so much for sharing this. I have been trying to find a high school ecology course for this year.
I’d love to know if you’ve come across in your studies any Environmental Science books or curriculum that teach from a Biblical worldview. Thank you for this post!
The textbook mentioned in this post is from a Biblical worldview. 🙂