In theory, I like the idea of homeschooling. But, since science has never been one of my better subjects, I’ve always wondered how I’d handle lab work once my son hit the junior high and high school years.
The Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture makes me feel like I might actually be able to pull it off. This is a nicely organized text covering basic biology concepts in language the average person can understand along with plenty of helpful illustrations and review questions.
As a mom, I like that this book contains lots of tips about how to keep your costs down without sacrificing the quality of the educational experience. I’m on a tight budget and wouldn’t be able to spend thousands of dollars on a science lab no matter how good my intentions were.
The safety tips, artfully set apart from the rest of the text, are also much appreciated since I only vaguely remember that stuff from my own days in biology class.
My son, while not really old enough to understand any of the featured experiments, does already show a strong interest in science. He asked for a microscope last year and was disappointed by the one I picked out.
After reading the introductory chapters of this book, I think I understand where I went wrong with the purchase. We’ll be trying again this year and using this book’s instructions for how to prepare our own slides.
Even if my son ends up staying in public school, I’m thinking The Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments will be helpful as a reference so I don’t look completely clueless when he needs help with his homework.
Disclaimer: A copy of The Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture was provided by the publisher for the purpose of preparing this review.
Photo credit: O’Reilly
