RSO Biology 1 is a year-long, secular homeschool biology curriculum.

The unifying concepts found in RSO Biology 1 are the cell theory, the theory of evolution, genetics, and the processes used to define and describe the concept of an organism.

RSO Biology 1 begins by explaining the characteristics that non-viral organisms share. Later in the course, anatomy and physiology are taught through the lens of these characteristics.

For example, in the chapter covering how all organisms respond to their environment, students explore how those with a nervous system—like people and tardigrades—and those without one—like plants and unicellular microbes—respond to their surroundings. Connections are made, such as when students build side-by-side models of a human nervous system and a tardigrade nervous system, and differences are explained.

Age-appropriate math and labs are woven throughout the course, providing students with many opportunities to apply the scientific method and reinforce their knowledge.

The course guides elementary-age learners as they Read, Explore, Absorb, and Learn life science:

• Read – Fun, engaging readings introduce big ideas and key details for each chapter. The text is designed to be read aloud, fostering questions and discussion.
  
• Explore – Carefully crafted, hands-on experiments demonstrate science concepts. Students observe and record the subtle patterns of nature throughout the course.
  
• Absorb – REAL Science Odyssey engages visual, auditory, and tactile/kinesthetic learners to help every student understand and retain key concepts.
  
• Learn – With RSO Biology Level 1, you don’t just learn about our amazing natural world—you get your hands dirty and learn how science is done!
  

What REAL Science Odyssey Is Not

This curriculum is not:

• A random selection of labs. It’s a fully developed, incremental homeschool science curriculum. Children will learn real life science, in the real world, using the real scientific method.
  
• Dry or boring. Children will get their hands dirty! They’ll play, sing, dig, and explore outdoors, bringing concepts from the page to life.
  
• Influenced by religion. All REAL Science Odyssey courses are secular and based on valid, empirical science.
  

Who can use RSO Biology 1?

RSO Biology 1 is an elementary science curriculum designed for grades 2–5, though it’s flexible enough to be used with middle school students.

Elementary learners are at the perfect age to explore the connectedness of life. The facts they learn at this stage form the foundation for future scientific knowledge. The connections they make support higher-level understanding through a process called metacognition.

With this in mind, RSO Biology 1 was developed around biology’s unifying theme: evolution. The goal is to provide explanations for the similarities that connect all life while also teaching about the differences between groups of organisms—and within them.

You don’t need a science background to use this homeschool curriculum! All materials are written with the science novice in mind, so you can teach confidently without extra research or preparation.