Guest Hollow’s High School Biology

The curriculum provides rigorous biology content knowledge following a typical biology course outline from cellular level through various kingdoms. Content is described as rigorous but manageable for average students, covering biochemistry, genetics, DNA, RNA, and human inheritance.

Review states 'The content is rigorous but should be manageable for average students' and details comprehensive coverage including 'introductory matter and a few weeks on chemistry, then proceeds from the cellular level up through the various kingdoms'

The curriculum offers extensive lab options with two main approaches, allowing adaptation to different budgets and goals. Lab activities range from sophisticated equipment-based experiments to simpler activities using minimal materials.

Two lab options provided: 'Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments' requiring $250 kit, and 'Guest Hollow Labs' with minimal equipment needs. Includes microscope activities and lab writeup templates.

The curriculum explicitly supports vocabulary development through added definitions at chapter beginnings and Latin/Greek word root alerts. The modified textbook enhances vocabulary features beyond the original CK-12 version.

Guest Hollow added 'definitions of vocabulary words at the beginning of each chapter' and 'Latin and Greek word root alerts' to the original textbook

The curriculum explicitly removes evolution content and promotes creationist perspectives, which conflicts with NGSS standards that include evolution as a core disciplinary idea. The modified approach undermines scientific consensus-based standards alignment.

Review states Guest Hollow 'removed references to evolution' and adds 'creationist resources' while the original CK-12 textbook 'presents solid coverage of biology from an evolutionary point of view'

Limited teacher support is provided, though the original CK-12 teacher's guide remains accessible. The curriculum design assumes parent supervision rather than formal teacher preparation.

Review mentions 'there are tests for the original textbook' and 'you can access' the free CK-12 teacher's manual, but Guest Hollow doesn't provide dedicated teacher training materials

The curriculum relies primarily on textbook reading and workbook assignments rather than explicit teacher-led instruction. While content is structured, there's limited guidance for direct instructional delivery.

Review indicates 'students should be able to work through the lesson material and videos on their own' with parents supervising labs and checking work, suggesting independent learning model

The curriculum includes workbook questions in various formats and end-of-chapter questions, though systematic retrieval practice across units is not clearly emphasized. Some quizzes are available through user groups.

Workbook has 'questions in various formats, critical reading, and writing assignments' and 'free quizzes created by parents are available in the biology curriculum users group'