Science is a favorite subject for Lydia and Joey enjoys it a lot too. They love doing experiments, they are very hands-on for Science. We have used other Apologia Science books, so I was very excited to get the opportunity from Apologia Educational Ministries to try out Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics by Jeannie Fulbright.
This Homeschool Science Curriculum was created for ages K through sixth grade, Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics is a Christian based elementary level program. Topics that are introduced to students include atoms, molecules, states of matter, periodic table of elements, kinds of energy, mechanics in motion, crystallization, thermal energy, magnetism and much more. All topics are approached with a creation based side, showing them that God made everything in the Universe.
We received a hardcover copy of Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics ($39.00)
and copies of the Junior Notebooking Journal ($24.00) for Joey and Lydia.
Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics was developed to help introduce students to the building blocks of science. It really does show them the building blocks, literally. I think one of the kids favorite chapters so far was reading how atoms are like LEGOs and build the matter that is all around us. Joey's eyes about popped out of his head when he turned the page and saw the pictures of LEGOs in his textbook.
We usually do science three times per week. With our kids short attention spans, I work to keep them on task for many different time periods. Apologia made this so much easier for me with plenty of science experiments to help them with hands-on learning.
Lessons could last anywhere from 20 minutes to up to an hour depending on the amount of experiments and activities that we would complete for science class. If you like to have your lesson plan laid out for you, the Junior Notebooking Journal for Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics had everything laid out for us.
The amount of "recommended" information covered in each day was a bit daunting for the kids. After the first attempt at trying to pack all that information in during our science lesson, I gave up. I knew that if I forced that much into each lesson, I would have kids that would be revolting and hating this material. So we did not complete the "recommended" material in the same time frame. I went through and "created" a lesson out of the material. Which basically means because our kids are not heavy readers, I need to go through and actually pre-read the lesson and give it to them lecture style and do the experiments during our "lecture" time.
Because I do need to pre-read the material and present it "lecture" style, I am very grateful for the amount of information that Jeannie Fulbright packs into each lesson. I don't have to worry about looking up information to include or wonder if I am covering all the bases. I only have to worry about how to approach it with the kids, because she has provided an excess of wonderful knowledge for all of us.
This leads me to the second thing I really LOVE about using Apologia products. You can adjust them to your child's needs. We need to cover less material in a class than some other kids might cover, and I was able to do that with Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics. I used the material provided and adjusted it to each of our kids needs. Joey doesn't enjoy coloring, but Lydia does. So while presenting our Science Lecture, Joey can fill in the vocabulary terms in his journal with pictures and Lydia who enjoys coloring can work on the coloring pages provided.
The third thing that I truly love about using Apologia homeschool science products, the cost. Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics is only $39.00 for a hardcover textbook. One book will work for a family to share. I do not need to pay that per child. I really do like that I can save some money and yet still get a homeschool science curriculum that exceeds anything I ever got while attending public school. The Junior Notebooking Journal is also reasonably priced at $24.00. That is per student, but it includes lapbook pieces, copywork, coloring pages, and many other worksheet activities. If I was to figure the cost of paper and ink to create my own lapbook pages, copywork, etc, I am sure I spend more than $24.00 per student on science printouts in our home. So to have all that work done for me is wonderful!
Another thing that I love and so did the kids were the experiments that we have done so far. One of their favorites was the lava lamps.
These simple ingredients created many hours of fun.
There is an experiment for almost every concept throughout the book.
So we have been kept busy each week with hands-on activities. This even drew Brayden in to want to do science with us, instead of on his own.
I know there are many homeschool science curriculums out there to chose from. But I have to say that Apologia Educational Ministries has topped my list yet again. Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics has been very easy to use and the amount of information that is provided makes my life as the lesson planner a lot easier. I am able to use one curriculum for multi-level teaching, which also cuts down on the amount of work I have when teaching so many age groups. Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics Junior Notebooking Journal also saves me time and money. The "worksheets" and lapbook pages are already created and ready to go. I just need to determine what time during the week we are using that lesson they will use their notebooking journals.
I do admit that because of our kid's unique needs, we do not use every page in the Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics Junior Notebooking Journal for every lesson. Some days I write their answers for them in their journals, and they attempt the copywork pages. The Notebooking Journal is not required to use Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics, but it definitely does have an added benefit with all pages ready for the kids.
If you are not sure, please take some time to visit the Apologia site and go through the sample chapters and materials so that you can check and see if Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics will be a fit for your family.
Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics
Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics Junior Notebooking Journal (younger students)
Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics Notebooking Journal (older students)
We will continue to use Apologia Educational Ministry Science products. I can't wait to start science again this week and keep chugging along through Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics !!!
Several members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew were given the opportunity to try Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics with both the Junior Notebooking Journal and Notebooking Journal (for older students). Check out how they used it with their families and what worked and may not have worked for them.
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