Brilliant Biology and Workbook by JK Smith

With over 30 years of teaching science experience, Jeff K Smith wrote Brilliant Biology to address the ever-increasing need for a suitable textbook to go along with teachings of biology as a subject at school as well as to fill the void of an easily understandable, well-written and enjoyable textbook on the subject.

Even though the book is written at the level of UK Key Stage 3, that means students aged between 11 – 14 years, Jeff's 30 years of teaching experience has empirically demonstrated that students struggling at higher levels, such as GCSEs (aged between 14 – 16 years) and A-Level (aged between 16 – 18 years), are unable to grasp the materials at their level without understanding of lower-level material.

The concept is simple, how can one understand the advanced materials of a subject without first understanding the basics of the subject?

Brilliant Biology is a 406-pages, full-coloured textbook with a unique twist: all key biology words are fully defined including their Greek, Latin or Arabic roots. Add to this a comprehensive glossary. Moreover, the book comes with a 90-pages workbook which takes the student through the textbook step by step. The workbook includes extensive exercises and fun drills for the student to do to ensure he or she has a full grasp of the subject.

Because the textbook and its accompanying workbook are laid out perfectly for self-study, it is a perfect combination for homeschooling, and the book is not limited by age. For example, if your child is only 8 or 9 but can easily get through the workbook, then there is no limit! Conversely, the same applies for older children or even adults. Age is not a limit and should not be used for comparison. What is important is achieving a full understanding of the subject, no matter the age, child or adult!

This is a digital download in PDF format. You are able to print for your own use only e.g. printing the workbook to sign off each step, but not for distribution or resale.

Topics covered in the book include:

Part 1: Signs of Life

Part 2: Microorganisms

Part 3: Plants

Part 4: The Human Body

Part 5: Variation and Ecology

The workbook will guide you carefully through Brilliant Biology to achieve a thorough understanding of the valuable information it contains so that you can use it in your life.

In Part 1, you will be learning:

(i)   Eight characteristics that show that something is alive

(ii)   How to use a microscope

(iii)   What basic “building blocks” living things use to make bodies or forms of various types

In Part 2, you will be learning:

(i)   The different types micro-organisms and their qualities

(ii)   How to avoid the harmful effects that can be created by certain types of micro-organisms

(iii)   How micro-organisms can used in a positive way

In Part 3, you will be learning:

(i)   What plants are

(ii)   Their main parts

(iii)   The ideal qualities of soil for optimum plant growth

(iv)   How plants produce their own food,

(v)   How they transport their food and water to their different parts

(vi)   What movements they can perform

(vii)  How they influence the atmosphere

(viii)  How they reproduce 

In Part 4, you will be learning:

(i)   The main part of the human body

(ii)   How it gets the energy it needs to move around and keep all of its parts together and working properly

(iii)   What waste materials it produces (and how it gets rid of them)

(iv)   How new bodies are created so that old ones can be replaced

(v)   How the sensitivity and control systems of the body work

In Part 5, you will be learning:

(i)   The types of variation

(ii)   How certain physical characteristics are passed on from one generation to the next

(iii)   Some ideas about how living organisms evolved

(iv)   How organisms are classified and how they interact with each other

(v)   How man influences the environment