Our HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE studies are awesome!!!
Would you like to hear your kids say that? Then you might want to check into Apologia Educational Ministries homeschool science curriculums. Because they will engage and excite your students like you have not seen before.
We are using Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics by Apologia in our homeschool this fall and it is, hands down, the best homeschool science material I have seen. We have used and enjoyed lots of different curriculums, but this has to be the BEST!
Apologia Exploring Creation With Chemistry and Physics
Grades K-6th
Retail for $39.00
This wonderful homeschool science curriculum follows along the Charlotte Mason style of learning, and is very free flowing and hands on. It can be used as a read aloud for younger children or encourage the older children to read it for themselves. The curriculum is divided into 14 Lesson Chapters. It is recommended for you to complete 1 lesson every two weeks, so the program will last you about 28 weeks all together. You can download a copy of the Table Of Contents to get a very detailed explanation of what is included in each chapter. But here are the general lesson chapter headings.
14 Lesson Chapters:
Chemistry and Physics Matters
Moving Matter
Building Blocks Of Creation
Compound Chemistry
Multitude Of Mixtures
Mechanics In Motion
Dynamics of Motion
Work In The World
Exploring Creation
Light Of The World
Thermal Energy
Electrifying Our World
Mysterious Magnetism
Simple Machines
How We Used This In Our Homeschool:
We spent 1 hour (somedays much more) each day in our science studies this fall. All our kids from the youngest to the oldest participated. The oldest son read the text to the rest of the family, and sometimes I would read it again to the younger ones to help them comprehend the concepts. After reading, we tried out some of the “try this” and projects. Then we recorded our observations in our notebooks.
Each lesson chapter is approximately 10 pages to 20 pages long. Lessons are jam packed with information, vocabulary words, suggested experiments and activities called “Try This” and additional learning opportunities including notebooking pages, “What Do You Remember” questions, and “Projects” listed at the end of each lesson.
Here is an example of the fun learning from Lesson 1:
Chemistry and Physics Matter ………………..15
In the Beginning ………………………………………16
Forming the World …………………………………..16
Everything Matters …………………………………..17
Matter Matters …………………………………………18
Turn Up the Volume …………………………………18
Mass Matters …………………………………………..19
Density Matters ………………………………………..20
Buoyancy Basics ……………………………………..23
More on Matter ………………………………………..24
!e Golden Rule …………………………………………24
Luster Matters ………………………………………….24
Color May Matter ……………………………………..25
!e Shape of Matter ……………………………………25
Hardness Matters …………………………………….26
Smell Matters …………………………………………..27
More Properties Matter …………………………….27
Final Matters …………………………………………….28
What Do You Remember? ………………………..28
Notebooking Activities ………………………………28
Project: Lava Lamps …………………………………29
Try This!
There are lots of opportunities for hands on learning called “Try This”. These experiments are lots of fun. Here is a “Try This” from Lesson 1:
There is an extensive supply list made out for each lesson chapter. This makes gathering everything you need ahead of time very simple. Also most of the items are things you probably already have on hand. Here is an example of the supplies you will need to complete the learning activities, “Try This” experiments, and “Projects” in Lesson 1.
Lesson 1 Supply List:
• water
• graduated cylinder
• small, solid object that doesn’t absorb water (such
as a rock)
• safety goggles
• 2 glasses
• 2 eggs
• 2 clear plastic straws
• food coloring (red, yellow, blue, and green)
• 12 plastic cups
• measuring spoons
• 1½ cups salt
• tall, thin vase or glass
• 8 ounces honey
• 8 ounces corn syrup
• 8 ounces 100% pure maple syrup
• 8 ounces whole milk
• 8 ounces dish soap
• large bottle of vegetable oil
• 8 ounces rubbing alcohol
• turkey baster
• popcorn kernel
• die from a game
• cherry tomato
• bead
• ping-pong ball or marshmallow
• bowl to hold water
• small piece of wood
• cork
• piece of ice
• coins
• small plastic toys
• 25 pennies
• large glass pan to hold water
• aluminum foil
• damp paper towel
• strong magnet
• needle
• metal tack
• metal hair clip
• 3 tall, thin plastic bottles with caps (like a soda or
water bottle)
• box of Alka-Seltzer tablets
• vinegar
Notebooking Journals
We were also sent a Notebooking Journal, and a Junior Notebooking Journal to write out all our fun learning experiments, vocabulary crossword puzzles, research, and copywork. The Junior Notebooking Journal also has coloring pages and minibook cut and fold activities too.
Exploring Creation With Chemistry and Physics Notebooking Journal
Grades 3-6
Retail $ 24.00
Exploring Creation With Chemistry and Physics Junior Notebooking Journal
Grades K-2 or students who read and write at an early elementary learning level
Retail $ 24.00
In my opinion, these journals are a great benefit for this course! It makes keeping track of experiments, projects, vocabulary, and all of the great facts the kids have learned, in a neat organized spiral bound notebook, and makes it fun.
The younger kids especially enjoyed the additional coloring activities in the Junior Notebooking Journal.
I definately recommend Apologia Educational Ministries products. We have used several of their products over the years and they have been an important part of our homeschool adventure. We give Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics two thumbs up!
Be sure to check out what other homeschool families on the Schoolhouse Review Crew had to say about using this product in their homeschool.
