Biology Level 1 is a year-long, secular homeschool biology curriculum. If you were to distill Biology 1 into one statement, it would be “similar but different.” It holds true if you are studying individuals of the same species or species of organisms as different from each other as Amoeba proteus and Homo sapiens. That is because all organisms share fundamental characteristics and processes. The unifying concepts found in Biology Level 1 are the cell theory, the theory of evolution, genetics, and the processes used to define and describe the concept of organism. Building an elementary biology course around the theory of evolution with a focus on similar but different profoundly changed the presentation of topics. Like most biology courses, Biology Level 1 explains early in the course about the characteristics 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, the discussion covers how those with a nervous system, like people and tardigrades, and those without one, like plants and unicellular microbes, respond to their environment. Connections are made, such as when students work on side-by-side models of a human nervous system and the nervous system of a tardigrade, and differences are explained.

Age-appropriate math and labs are woven into 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: