Course Length: Full academic year (30 weeks)
This Year's Schedule: Click here to view
Overview of Dreaming Spires Science Courses
All our science courses use a unique approach to scientific study -- instead of boring, dry textbooks, students are drawn into the subject through reading modern, award-winning books like The Hidden Life of Trees for Biology, or Elements of Murder for the forensics unit in Chemistry.
We focus on not just scientific facts, concepts, and principles, but often looking at the ethics of a topic and how the issue applies to our modern world. Think, for example, how our unit on viruses (where we read The Hot Zone about ebola) is entering a student's discourse with the rise of Covid-19.
The ultimate aim of the Dreaming Spires Science courses is to obtain a working and applicable knowledge of the principles of science, to engage students in an active and enjoyable way, and to encourage them to see how science is something real and concrete and seen all around them.
Aims of the Anatomy and Physiology Course
In Anatomy and Physiology, we will be discovering how we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We will systematically explore the human body beginning with common vernacular and a review of basic chemistry, cells, and tissues. We then explore both anatomy and physiology by organ systems. We begin with integumentary and proceed through skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, circulatory, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, urinary, digestive ending with the reproductive system. Be prepared to discuss, diagram, and draw. This course requires collaboration with your peers. Please be prepared to have a means of discussion access. Options include (but not limited to) “classroom” meeting, exchanging email, and Discord.
How It Works
Homework in this class varies by week. Each organ system consists of a 3-week rotation. In week one the students attend an in-depth lecture regarding the organ system. Their homework includes completion of anatomy coloring pages and related physiology charts. In the second week of the organ system, I introduce 3-5 system related medical cases. In assigned groups, the students collaborate on choosing and solving a case to present the following week. In the 3rd week of the system, student groups present in a “grand rounds” fashion explaining their case diagnosis and why they chose that diagnosis. At the end of the course, students will have completed a digital or hard copy anatomy and physiology notebook.
How It Supports Your Child's Education
For students who wish to pursue any type of medical degree in higher education, this course is an invaluable step of preparation. Information learned will be beneficial in both Biology and PE exams. Those pursuing completion of high school transcripts, this course provides an honors level credit in high school science.
Who Teaches Anatomy and Physiology?
Kimberly Jones holds a BSN from the University of Texas at Austin and an MEd in Secondary Education from Texas State University. She is currently working on a second master’s degree in Educational Technology with plans to complete her doctorate once her youngest graduates. Kimberly served in the military as a medic and behavioral health specialist before taking posts in pediatric and post-partum nursing. Since 2001, she has been teaching science in homeschool co-ops while homeschooling her own children -- one of whom attended university, another of whom served in the military, and two more of whom are still at home.See all courses taught by Kim