How To Build High School Environmental Science Homeschool Curriculum

Let’s look at what it takes to build a high school environmental science homeschool curriculum on your own or using a box curriculum as your base. And look at my page How to Choose the Right Homeschool High School Science for more fun teen ideas.

When I first started researching this topic, I thought environmental science and ecology were the same thing.

While they do share many similarities and can be part of an interdisciplinary study, they are, in fact, two distinct fields.

Here is a simple breakdown of what each cover.

Ecology is the study of how living organisms interact with each other and with their environment, relationships within ecosystems (plants, animals, microbes, habitats).

Ecology is a branch of biology. It is narrower, focusing primarily on natural systems and interactions.

Environmental science is the interdisciplinary study of the environment, combining biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and social sciences to understand both natural systems and human impacts.

How humans interact with the environment, including resource use, pollution, energy, and sustainability. 

Environmental science is broader, it includes ecology, but also looks at economics, policy, technology, and ethics.

MORE HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HOMESCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE

7 STEPS TO BUILDING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM

Now that we have broken down the difference, here are some wonderful resources like books, documentaries, labs, and more to get you on the path to creating a customized environmental science homeschool curriculum.

1. DEFINE YOUR GOALS

Before choosing books or writing lesson plans, decide…

• What is the purpose of this course?  Is it preparing for college, instilling stewardship, or understanding current environmental issues?
• Will this count as a lab science credit?
• How in-depth should it be? Standard or Honors level
• You may also want to align with your state’s homeschool graduation requirements.

2. CHOOSE A SPINE OR CORE RESOURCE

• Oak Meadow Environmental Science For A Changing World Course Package, Second Edition.
• MasterBooks: Survey of Earth and Environment
• BJU Press: Environmental Science
• CK-12 Environmental Science (free online)
• Environmental Science For Dummies
• Environmental Science Sustaining Your World
• EPA Resources

You can also piece together your own using documentaries, living books, and field experiences if your student prefers a non-textbook approach.

 I will give you plenty of hands on ideas, living books, and documentaries to round it out.

3. INCLUDE LABS AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

To count as a full science credit, include lab work.

• Soil testing kits
• Water quality testing (local ponds, streams, or tap water)
• Composting and biodegradability experiments
• Weather tracking and data collection
• Leaf/plant/animal biodiversity surveys
• Simulated population ecology with beans or dice
• You can also use: Home Science Tools or Cornerstone Educational Supply for homeschool lab kits.
• Virtual labs from websites like Gizmo.

4. ORGANIZE TOPICS FOR EACH SEMESTER

Create your Scope & Sequence. Here is a sample that you can use to formulate one or use it as is.

Semester 1:

• Introduction to Environmental Science
• Ecology & Ecosystems
• Populations and Communities
• Biomes and Biodiversity
• Water Resources & Pollution
• Air Quality & Climate

Semester 2:

• Soil, Land Use, and Agriculture
• Energy Resources (renewable & nonrenewable)
• Waste Management & Recycling
• Environmental Policy and Ethics
• Human Population Growth
• Sustainability and Stewardship

5. ADD BOOKS AND DOCUMENTARIES

• Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
• Tracking Trash by Loree Griffin Burns
• Planet Earth and Our Planet (Netflix)
• The Biggest Little Farm
• Planet Earth (BBC)
• Our Planet (Netflix)
• The Story of Stuff (YouTube)
• Play the “Tragedy of the Commons” game to teach resource management.

6. PROJECTS, FIELD WORK, AND CITIZEN SCIENCE

• Make it fun with these environmental science crosswords.
• Start a nature journal to sketch, record data, document local biodiversity, or write reflections.
• Create an environmental action plan. How could your student help your community be more sustainable? Start local and grow globally.
• Volunteer with a local cleanup, wildlife center, or community garden.
• Visit a local recycling center, botanical garden, nature preserve, or farm.
• Start a backyard garden and study soil, compost, and pollinators.
• Build birdhouses or bat boxes and track inhabitants.
• Set up a home energy audit and implement eco-friendly changes.
• Attend a city council meeting on zoning or environmental issues.
• Volunteer for a river cleanup, wildlife rescue, or community garden.
• iNaturalist
• Globe Observer
• eBird
• Test water quality from different sources.
• Build a simple solar oven.
• Create a mini-ecosystem in a jar or aquarium.
• Compost food waste and observe decomposition.
• Choose a current issue like coral bleaching and present what they find in a report or video.
• Interview a local environmentalist or park ranger.
• Make a presentation on environmental heroes – John Muir, Rachel Carson, Wangari Maathai.

7. EVALUATION & RECORD KEEPING

• Unit tests or quizzes
• Lab reports
• Written essays or reports
• Project rubrics
• Reading logs

In a portfolio or binder keep the following documentation:

• A syllabus
• Completed assignments
• Lab documentation
• Photos of projects/field work

This helps with transcripts and potential college applications

8. CUSTOMIZE TO YOUR CHILD

Take what you have gathered and with your child’s input put together a study designed for them.

• Make it interest-led: Does your student love animals? Focus more on ecology and conservation.
• Turn it into a unit study or integrate it with geography, economics, or writing.
• Allow independent research projects, encourage specific passions.