Secular · NGSS-aligned · 1 Semester Course
Biology 1: Microbiology
Middle-School Biology that is one price for the whole family
41 self-paced video lessons with comic-style notes, quiz shows, and hands-on projects
What is included?
One purchase covers every child in your home, with long-term access.
41 video lessons
45 minute lessons with a suggested pace of 3 lessons per week
Comic-style fill-in notes
Printable fill-in notes that make concepts stick with answer keys included
Interactive quiz shows
Students check what they know and attempt to defeat Math Dad
10 hands-on projects
From building a DIY laser microscope to extracting real DNA at home
Learn on your schedule
Self-paced videos with poll questions built in, and access that doesn't expire
One price, whole family
Buy once, then rewatch or re-use the course with younger siblings
How each lesson works
A simple rhythm your student can follow on their own.
Press play
A short video lesson, full of humor and real-life examples
Complete the fill-in Notes
Comic-style, guided notes that make ideas stick
Check understanding
Poll questions and Quiz Shows, with answer keys to review
Get hands-on
10 projects along the way, from a DIY microscope to extracting DNA
A closer look at the notes
- Beautifully designed notes for every lesson
- Informative comics and engaging illustrations
- Space for students to write and interact with the material
- Full answer key included
- PDF can be printed and bound
What you'll learn
Five units take students from the basics of cells all the way to how modern medicine fights disease, including a hands-on project and a quiz show in every unit.
41 lessons · 5 units · 5 hands-on projects · one-semester
Cells
Lessons 1–5What makes something alive and how cells function. Build a DIY laser microscope along the way.
Biomolecules
Lessons 6–13Osmosis, enzymes, cell division, and the molecules of life: proteins, carbohydrates, and DNA. Extract DNA from fruit in a hands-on project.
Diversity of Life
Lessons 14–21Plants, microbes, and how living things get and use energy: photosynthesis and respiration. Culture microorganisms in DIY petri dishes.
Human Anatomy
Lessons 22–32How the body's systems work together: blood, breathing, nerves, digestion, and immunity. Complete a hands-on anatomy art project.
Microbiology
Lessons 33–41How microbes cause disease and the history of medicine. Research a disease-causing microbe and create a wanted poster.
The Curriculum
- 22. Systems of the Body (25:48)
- 23. What is blood? (31:44)
- 24. Why We Need To Breathe (38:25)
- 25. How Nerves Work (31:19)
- 26. Digestive System (34:51)
- 27. Immune System (34:23)
- 28. Antibodies and Antigens (35:16)
- 29. Autoimmune and Allergies (35:08)
- 30. What makes things poisonous? (32:07)
- 31. Anatomy Art Project (25:19)
- 32. Anatomy Quiz Show (28:29)
- 33. Most Wanted Microbes (36:32)
- 34. Pre-Industrial Medicine (28:29)
- 35. Scurvy and Trials (33:24)
- 36. Smallpox (34:19)
- 37. The Problem with Polio (41:01)
- 38. Elementary Epidemiology (40:30)
- 39. Penicillin and the Discovery of Antibiotics (28:02)
- 40. MRSA and Antibiotic Resistance (17:35)
- 41. Biology Final Quiz Show (35:14)
Is Biology 1 right for your family?
A great fit if…
- ✓You want secular science that welcomes families from all backgrounds
- ✓You're teaching one child or several; one price covers your whole family
- ✓Your student is about 10–13 (younger, curious learners do great too)
- ✓You'd rather press play on an open-and-go course than build lessons yourself
- ✓You want middle-school NGSS life-science standards covered
Probably not for you if…
- ✕You're looking for a faith-based curriculum
- ✕You want a text-only course with no videos or projects
- ✕You need high-school-level depth; the course is targeted at middle school standards
- ✕You want live, scheduled classes; this course is self-paced
- ✕You need a letter grade; no grades are assigned
My 5th grader scored in the 98th percentile nationally in science on the Stanford 10 — thanks to Science Mom. As a homeschooler, he took chemistry, earth science, and Biology 1 & 2, with no additional formal science instruction.
One price for your whole family
- 41 video lessons across 5 units
- Printable Fill-in notes + answer keys for every lesson
- 5 hands-on projects, from a DIY microscope to DNA extraction
- A quiz show to review every unit
- Long-term access that doesn't expire
- Every child in your family included — no per-student fees
One-time — or 4 monthly payments of $37.50
Patrons receive an additional $25 off registration
See purchasing options →Backed by our full-refund guarantee if it's not the right fit.
Meet your teachers
Science Mom & Math Dad
Science Mom has an M.S. in Plant Science from Utah State University. Math Dad has a Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University.
We are proud parents of three kids and two affectionate dogs, Kaladin and Lopen. Together, we run the Science Mom YouTube channel. We're passionate about teaching science and math, and we're thrilled to have you learning with us.
What families say
"I appreciated that the courses were completely secular, and accurately handled the material. The doodle notes were excellent. We would 100% recommend these courses."
"I loved that the price was per family, not per student. My son works independently with his class and hasn't complained once! My #1 top homeschool recommendation."
"This was my 13-year-old's favorite class, and mine too. The guided notes were fun and engaging, and I was amazed at how much he learned and retained."
"We're secular homeschoolers, and finding secular science is a challenge, so I was thankful to find this. My kids learned a ton, and it was one thing off my plate."
"Even though I'm a science educator myself, I don't have time to develop sophisticated courses like this from scratch. It was well thought out and used the latest research."
"Your courses aren't just about knowledge, they're something my son and I bond over. The passion you have for your subjects is evident and contagious."
Frequently asked questions
Try it with confidence
If Biology 2 isn't the right fit for your family, just let us know for a full refund. We want this to be right for you.
Give your kids science they'll look forward to
$150 for your whole family — or 4 payments of $37.50. Long-term access.
See purchasing options →Course Bundles
Get our courses at a discount by purchasing them in a multi-course bundle. Whether you are looking to cover the standards for middle school Life Science, Earth and Space Science, or Physical Science, we have a bundle for you.
