Animal Science — Complete High School Lab-Based Science Course

The Science of the Animal Body, from Cell to Herd

A complete secular, college-preparatory Animal Science course for grades 9–12

If your student loves animals and wants to understand the science behind how animals function, reproduce, grow, stay healthy, behave, and interact with humans, this course goes far beyond basic animal facts.

Animal Science is a full-year, one-credit laboratory science course that combines biology, anatomy and physiology, agriculture, nutrition, genetics, reproduction, animal health, behavior, welfare, and animal industries into one comprehensive high school course.

Designed for the mostly independent homeschool student, every day of the course tells the student exactly what to read, watch, investigate, and complete—with clickable resources and step-by-step instructions. Parents do not need a science background to teach the course.

What Your Student Will Study

Over 36 weeks, students progress through eight major units:

Unit 1 — Introduction to Animal Science

• What is animal science?
• Animal diversity and classification
• Cells and tissues
• Homeostasis
• Domestication and animal husbandry
• Animal science careers

Unit 2 — Support, Movement & Digestion

• The skeletal system
• The muscular system
• Monogastric digestion
• Ruminant digestion
• Comparative digestion
• Feedstuffs

Unit 3 — Internal Systems

• Circulatory system and blood
• Respiratory system
• Urinary system and water balance
• Nervous system and senses
• Endocrine system

Unit 4 — Reproduction & Development

• Male reproductive anatomy
• Female reproductive anatomy
• The estrous cycle
• Fertilization
• Gestation and birth
• Artificial insemination
• Estrus synchronization
• Pregnancy detection
• Embryo transfer
• Lactation and the mammary system

Unit 5 — Genetics & Animal Breeding

• Basic genetics and inheritance
• Punnett squares
• Selection and heritability
• Inbreeding and crossbreeding
• Hybrid vigor
• EPDs
• Genomics
• Modern breeding technologies

Unit 6 — Animal Nutrition

• Nutrients and their functions
• Feeds and feedstuffs
• Feed sampling and label reading
• Balancing rations using the Pearson Square
• Feeding throughout the life cycle
• Digestive and metabolic disorders

Unit 7 — Health, Behavior & Welfare

• Animal health
• The immune system
• Disease
• Parasites
• Biosecurity
• Animal behavior
• Animal handling
• Animal welfare
• Animal ethics

Unit 8 — Animals, Industry & Society

• Livestock industries
• Animal products
• Food systems
• Sustainability
• Animal science careers
• A culminating capstone project

A REAL LAB EVERY WEEK

This isn't a course filled with crafts disguised as science.

Students complete 36 laboratory investigations—one every week. Labs involve observation, experimentation, data collection, analysis, modeling, investigation, and application.

Examples include:

• Building and testing an animal behavior ethogram
• Constructing a dichotomous key
• Osmosis using a “naked egg” cell model
• Measuring the body's response to exercise
• Chicken wing bone and joint investigation
• Chicken wing muscle and movement investigation
• Enzyme activity investigation
• Building a four-compartment rumen model
• Feedstuff investigations
• Heart anatomy
• Lung modeling and lung-capacity investigation
• Kidney investigation
• Reaction-time and reflex testing
• Genetics probability experiments
• Punnett-square investigations
• Breeding simulations
• EPD-based sire selection
• Feed nutrient testing
• Ration balancing
• Animal health assessments
• Biosecurity audits
• Flight-zone investigations
• Animal welfare assessments
• Animal product evaluation
• A final capstone project

Dissections are OPTIONAL

Several labs offer optional hands-on dissections using inexpensive grocery-store or butcher-shop specimens, including chicken wings, heart, kidney, fish, and eye.

Every dissection has a free virtual alternative, so students can complete the course without performing dissections.

BUILT FOR INDEPENDENT HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS

The course follows a predictable four-day-per-week schedule:

Days 1–3:
Read, watch, investigate, and answer questions.

Day 4:
Complete the weekly laboratory investigation.

Each week also includes:

• 1 laboratory
• 1 worksheet
• 1 mini-project
• 3 discussion questions

The course includes complete instructions, materials lists, safety information, procedures, analysis questions, and clickable resources.

36 MINI-PROJECTS

Students don't just memorize animal-science vocabulary.

Each week includes a short research, design, building, or application project that requires students to use what they've learned.

Projects include activities such as:

• Species profile cards
• Breed comparison projects
• Organ-system infographics
• Working anatomical models
• Genetics and breeding investigations
• Feeding plans
• Career research
• Ethical analysis
• Debate briefs
• Industry investigations

The year concludes with a capstone project requiring research, credible sources, scientific accuracy, application, analysis, presentation, and reflection.

NO EXPENSIVE TEXTBOOK REQUIRED

One of the best features for homeschool families: you don't have to purchase a textbook to use this course.

The course uses free, open educational resources, including open textbooks, government resources, professional organizations, videos, and virtual laboratories.

Most laboratory materials are inexpensive household or kitchen items, and specialty specimens are optional because virtual alternatives are provided.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

This 223-page digital course includes:

• Complete 36-week, day-by-day course plan
• 36 weekly laboratory investigations
• Complete Lab Booklet
• 36 weekly worksheets
• Complete Worksheet Booklet
• 36 weekly mini-projects
• Complete Mini-Project Booklet
• Worksheet Answer Key
• Weekly discussion questions
• Suggested grading rubrics
• Suggested one-credit course grading system
• Master Materials List
• Master Resource List
• Clickable links to readings, videos, data, and virtual labs
• Final capstone project

SECULAR & EVIDENCE-BASED

Animal Science is written from a secular, scientific perspective and uses authoritative resources including open university textbooks, government agencies, professional organizations, and peer-reviewed science.

The course also treats controversial subjects—including animal welfare and the use of animals—from multiple credible perspectives. Students are encouraged to examine evidence, consider competing viewpoints, and form their own conclusions.

WHAT WILL STUDENTS LEARN?

By the end of this course, students will have a working foundation in:

Animal Biology • Anatomy • Physiology • Taxonomy • Animal Behavior • Husbandry • Digestion • Nutrition • Genetics • Breeding • Reproduction • Biotechnology • Animal Health • Disease • Biosecurity • Animal Welfare • Animal Products • Agriculture • Food Systems • Sustainability • Animal Science Careers

The course connects these subjects rather than treating them as isolated topics—helping students understand how biology translates into real-world animal care, agriculture, veterinary science, food production, and animal-related careers.

COURSE DETAILS

Course: Animal Science
Grade Level: 9–12
Length: 36 weeks
Schedule: 4 days per week
Credit: 1 high school science credit
Format: Digital PDF
Labs: 36
Mini-Projects: 36
Worksheets: 36
Dissections: Optional
Virtual Lab Alternatives: Yes
Textbook Purchase Required: No
Edition: 2026, Second Edition

Perfect for students interested in:

🐄 Agriculture and livestock
🐎 Horses and equine science
🐕 Companion animals
🧬 Genetics and animal breeding
🩺 Veterinary medicine
🌱 Agriculture and food systems
🔬 Biology and life sciences
🐖 Animal production
🐑 Animal welfare
🌎 Sustainability and environmental issues
🎓 Animal science or veterinary-related careers

⚠️ PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING

This is a high school science course that covers animal biology honestly and comprehensively. Topics include animal anatomy and physiology, reproductive biology, artificial insemination and other reproductive technologies, genetics and breeding, animal disease, animal welfare, slaughter, and animal products.

These subjects are presented scientifically and age-appropriately, but families should review the course disclaimer to determine whether the content is appropriate for their individual student.

DIGITAL PRODUCT — PLEASE NOTE

This is a digital download. No physical textbook or printed curriculum will be shipped.

Because this product is a digital download, all sales are final and no refunds are available.

The course PDF is licensed for use by one family or one classroom. It may not be resold, redistributed, publicly posted, or uploaded to file-sharing sites or outside learning-management systems. Co-ops and schools requiring multi-family use need a separate license.

Animal Science: The Science of the Animal Body, from Cell to Herd

36 weeks. 36 labs. 36 projects. One complete high school science credit.

Stop memorizing animal facts. Start understanding the science behind the animals.