Homeschool Review: Apologia's Health and Nutrition #hsreviews #apologiascience #homeschool #HighSchoolHealth #HealthandNutrition

You know that feeling when the absolute perfect curriculum comes your way and your child lights up every.single.time she sits down to work through it?  THAT is exactly what has happened at our house with the arrival of Exploring Creation with Health and Nutrition by Dr. Laura Chase from Apologia Educational Ministries.  I cannot even begin to tell you how much my girl loves this set and how much she is learning.  When a science curriculum opens up daily conversations and "hey, mom, listen to this," you know you've found exactly what you have always wanted.  THIS is what homeschooling is all about in my book -- delight-directed learning that meets a need.  And when it is a required need, that's even better.

We received the Health and Nutrition Basic Set which consists of a hardcover Textbook (441-pages) and a spiral-bound Student Notebok (366-pages).  The Student Notebook is an essential part of this program and you will want one copy for each of your students.  It offers space for notetaking as you read the modules in your textbook (there are 15 modules) and contains all of the information needed to complete the research projects throughout the curriculum.  It also has the Study Guides for each module test (answers are found in the Book Extras online) and the tests themselves.  [You can download FAQs, a Textbook and Notebook sample, and the Table of Contents for both by visiting the website linked, and I encourage you to do so.  You are going to LOVE what you see.  I cannot recommend this curriculum highly enough.]

Written in a conversational tone directly to students, Health and Nutrition is perfect for my independent learner.  It is so hard for me to believe that my "baby" is a Senior, but I do appreciate that she can easily navigate through the curriculum on her own as she works to master the concepts presented.  The Suggested Daily Schedule made it easy for her to open the book and begin as soon as it arrived at our house.  It tells her exactly what to do each day and gives her ownership over the course.  There have already been tons of little "ah-ha" moments for her as she grasps a new understanding for WHY good health matters and how your physical well-being influences your mental health and stability.  As a direct result of studying Health and Nutrition, my girl is consciously making better choices for herself.  She has already implemented a more balanced diet plan AND has been the driving force behind our getting up early and heading to the gym each mornig to swim laps.

What I am happiest about though is that her study does not stop with the required reading from the textbook.  Instead, the book piques her interest and has her searching for more information and answers in indepedent research.  We are nearing the one-year mark of a very scary time when she suffered a migraine headache that led to a rather frightening seizure.  After a transfer via ambulance from our local hospital to a larger, teaching hospital in a bigger city and three days of in-house testing that produced vague results, we came home with little information and a new specialist.  For almost a year now, she has been afraid of a repeat and has guarded herself from social situations just in case.  She was excited to tell me that Module 2 had an entire section dedicated to the brain and seizure activity and she poured over it extensively.  She learned some new information about the origination of seizures and that they could be of all sizes -- not just the grand mal that she experienced.  That led her to further research and a better understanding of the process of a seizure and how to know if she's having another one.  What she doesn't know is that I have noticed a visible relaxation of the worry that was stealing the joy of my baby.  If that's not a win, then I don't know what is.

Because of the in-depth nature of the material in this curriculum, we have chosen to use this as a two-semester course.  That means my daughter sits down with Health and Nutrition three times a week.  She adds each set of readings and activities to her school planner and checks off as she finishes.  It is very hands-off for me, but she was hooked from the very beginning when she was asked to do a research project based on nature versus nurture.  Because of their Mississippi ties, she chose to examine the family line of Archie Manning's sons Cooper, Peyton, and Eli.  She concluded that though both nature and nurture are very important, the nurture of Archie and Olivia Manning has made the three boys successfull in all aspects of their lives.  It is her belief that nurture is what helps define success.  As for me and my house . . .

Honestly, Health and Nutrition touches on a LOT of topics that could really be considered a Psychology credit-- physical influences on thoughts and feelings. mental and emotional stability, interpersonal harmony (with great discussion of birth order and what that means for you), treasuring your senses and looking at how GOD created you to serve HIM.  It also shares career possibilities at the end of each module which is perfect for a high school senior exploring career options.  It discusses ALL of that BEFORE it ever gets to the "food science" of nutrition.

Learning about Eye Dominance

My daughter was delighted to learn that she has a Phlegmatic/Melancholic temperament and she says that the information she learned through that testing has helped her to better understand herself, her friends, and how they react and respond to one another.  She truly enjoys sitting down with Health and Nutrition each day and I often find her perusing through on the days that would normally be considered her "off" days.  In my opinion, Apologia has done everything right with this curriculum and I can't wait to see how much she learns when she reaches the later modules on micronutrients and macronutrients and delves into the physicality of health.  She has already made so many changes based on what she's learning and I'm looking forward to watching her continue finding her very best self in the months ahead.  I like that she will be offering accountability in her exercise routine and that she will be learning how to ward off illness, but I most appreciate that Health and Nutrition teaches her how to be joyful and content through JESUS.   Even more, I know that I can trust the discussion of sex (Module 15) as it relates to overall health and explains that the act of reproduction is a special gift from GOD to be treasured by married adults.  Although we have discussed this in great detail in our home, I like knowing that my daughter's heart is being treated with great respect as she learns.

In addition to all of this goodness, there is a 21-page supplemental pdf called Whole-Health:  GOD's Design for Your Body, Mind, and Soul that I printed and put in a binder for my daughter to utilize.   It is a neat book that enhances her learning experience and is truly the lagniappe of health.  The sections titled Who Are You? and What Is Whole Health? are complementary to the Health and Nutrition text.  Additional articles are Understanding Influences in Daily Life and In the Image of GOD.  They are great resources for any teenager as they wade through the issues of self-esteeem and try to find their place in this world.   There is also an interview with Dr. Laura Chase (the author of Health and Nutrition) included, as well as activity pages to heighten learning, snack recipes to make, taste, share and enjoy, and a word search to strengthen your knowledge of vocabulary words from the book.

Apologia has long been one of our family favorites -- from science curriculum to personal encouragement and devotions for mom, Apologia has you covered.  If you've been a part of the Apologia family, then I'm sure you are familiar with the Book Extras that are available for each of their textbooks.  My girl says they add such value to the Health and Nutrition curriculum and that every student will want to take advantage of them.  She likes that it is "one touch away" and she can check her answers on the Study Guide before she takes her tests.  

You can connect with Apologia and find out how they can best serve your family through the following Social Media links:

 Facebook 
Twitter 

Google+ 
Pinterest

Instagram
YouTube

I was given the opportunity to review Health and Nutrition Basic Set from Apologia Educational Ministries as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this high school science.

Pin It Now!

Homeschool Review: Geology and Apologetics (Northwest Treasures) #hsreviews #geology #dinosaurs #apologetics

"Can I trust the Bible?"
"Are the geneaologies and chronologies of Genesis accurate and reliable?"

These are the most debated questions that I hear and the very reason that I requested to review the Geology and Apologetics online course from Northwest Treasures.  We've been "rock collectors" for years, bringing home special rocks from places that we visit as a reminder of where we've been and we've also discussed the age of those rocks and what that means in correlation to what we know about GOD's Word.  I am a firm believer in Creation (and that it happened just like Genesis says it did), but not everyone that I know and love is.  It's what I have taught my children in our homeschool.  I've listened to debate on young versus old earth and "was there an actual Great Flood?" for as long as I remember, and I was interested in learning the science behind Scripture for myself.  Geology and Apologetics is a brand new, six-session course that is helping me understand in my head what I already understood in my heart.



As an extra bonus (and as a great way to lay some foundations before I started working through the class session for Geology and Apologetics), I first viewed Taking the Mystery Out of Geology.  This 20-minute class serves as a great introduction to the science of Geology by teaching from a Biblical viewpoint and explaining basic geological terminology.  This was most beneficial to me as I had no idea what the words vitrophyre, orogeny, or cirque actually meant.   Geology expert Patrick Nurre knows that we might find it easier to "learn some rock types and move on" instead of tackling the frontal assault on what we believe, but he challenges us to realize that Geology is the foundation of all science as noted in Genesis 1:1 -- In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth.  Mr. Nurre encourages us to teach our children Geology and Earth Science from a Biblical perspective, so that they will believe the Word of GOD for their entire lives and not deviate from it.  He says that this is the starting point for setting an unshakeable worldview.  I like this.

The online video lessons present as a series of moving slides (with some absolutely gorgeous pictures from Mr. Nurre's private collection of samples and items found during field study and photos of places he has been) intermingled with personal video.  All of the lessons are narrated by Mr. Nurre.  I find him to be knowledgeable and fascinating.  His lessons are both interesting and refreshing.  I had to continually pause the online lesson as I watched in order to make sure that I took good notes from his teaching.  You can tell from the notes I'm sharing below that I was writing fast and furiously.  Seriously, y'all -- he's good . . . very good -- and he backs up everything he says with Scripture.   His challenge to go deeper in your geology study and grow deeper in your FAITH inspires me to continue studying, digging, and visiting the marvelous places of GOD's beautiful design.  What a perfect introduction to understanding Geology from a Biblical perspective!

Once I completed the Taking the Mystery Out of Geology video, I felt better prepared to begin the Geology and Apologetics course.  The six-part course covers the following topics in lessons that range from 11 - 22 minutes each:

Lesson One --  Knowing the Scriptures in the Secular Geological Age -- The first step in developing apologetics is to know and master the Scriptures.  I LOVE that Scripture is the very basis for all of the teachings in this course.  As Christians, we can stand firmly on the foundation of GOD's Word without wavering.

Lesson Two -- Clarifying the Conflict between Science and the Bible --  Learning the meanings of the words science, history, and philosophy help us to clarify the misconceptions of modern geology.

Lesson Three -- The Genealogies and Chronologies of Genesis, Are They Accurate and Reliable? -- We need to read the genealogies of Genesis as though we have not been exposed to what modern science says about the age of the earth.   The Bible is the critical record of man and I really enjoyed the genealogical study presented in this lesson.  Don't you just love it when you can pull your Bible out to help you learn?

Lesson Four -- Revolutionary Gaps in the Fossil Record, How Serious Are They? --  Actual science can be observed, tested, and repeated.  Scientists must rely on the rocks and fossils that they have to determine the age of the earth.

Lesson Five -- Dinosaur-to-Bird Evolution, the Story that Never Seems to Die -- GOD did not need "transitional creatures" and HE left no "missing links."  Mr. Nurre shares interesting backstories and discusses important dates to clarify this debate.

Lesson Six -- Time and Chronology in the Secular Geological Age --  My favorite lesson of all, Lesson Six explains geochronology (the study of the earth's past history) and challenges me to conscientiously study our Christian chronology.  Without an accurate chronology, my JESUS is not rooted in history.  I want to make sure that I am able to faithfully demonstrate that HE is very real.

This course serves as SO MUCH MORE than just a "science" lesson.  It IS science, but there is a wonderful Bible study element as well that I am enjoying, too.  I appreciate the combination of science and faith.

Another thing that I like about this course is that each lesson ends with a series of questions to be pondered, answered, and discussed.  Many of the answers can be found within the video lesson itself, but some of the questions lead you to study your Bible to discover more.

Did you know that the field of Geology has universally affected every area of science beginning in the 1700s?  If I'm honest with you, I have to admit that I never really understood the importance of Geology before now, but now that I understand that it is foundational to EVERYTHING else, I want to go back and revisit the sciences I've studied to learn more.  My perspective has completely changed.  Mr. Nurre reminds us that "acceptance of an idea is not the same thing as science" and this is exactly what I've tried to convey when involved in the Creation versus Evolution discussions.  It is important that we are able to discern between science, history, and philosophy.  SCIENCE is knowledge.  It can be observed, tested, and repeated.  That "repeat" is key and marks the difference between secular geology and Biblically-based geology.  I stand with GOD's Word.

Now that I've had the opportunity to study through Geology and Apologetics for myself, I would love to share the Northwest Treasures Curriculum Project:  Building Faith for a Liftetime of Faith with my daughter.  This series consists of four semesters of Earth Science taught from a young earth perspective and includes everything you need for a comprehensive high school study -- activities, quizzes, rocks, minerals, fossils, and final exam.  I can't help but think about how fun it would be to add a fantastic field trip to this study, too.  A visit to Yellowstone is on my bucket list and touring GOD's beauty with a Biblically-based expert would be perfect.

Northwest Treasures offers educational kits and a multitude of curricula that are birthed from YEARS of real-life geological studies by Patrick Nurre.  He shares his knowledge and love of GOD through each lesson taught and his passion shines.  Much more than an opportunity to "look at rocks," Northwest Treasures allows us to begin to properly understand geology so that we can begin to fully understand biology, anthropology, earth science, and paleontology.  Mr. Nurre explains that an understanding of these sciences will help us to understand GOD's Word on a deeper, more intimate level.  That is exactly what I desire most for my family.


Do yourself a favor and sit down for a spell with Northwest Treasures.  We have collected rocks from places that we visit for years, but understanding the "why they are where they are" and "how they got there in the first place" questions fascinates us now that we've had the opportunity to delve into geology from an entirely different perspective.  I think you'll be just as fascinated as we are once you spend some time with Northwest Treasures.  You can find out more information by visiting the following Social Media sites:

Facebook

Pinterest

I know you'll be glad that you did!

I was given the opportunity to review the Geology and Apologetics online course 

from Northwest Treasures as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this course and others (or just click on the banner below.)

Pin It Now!

Homeschool Review: Apologia's Exploring Creation with Marine Biology #hsreviews #MarineBio #homeschoolBiology

What I love about homeschooling is that I have the opportunity to customize my children's education in such a way that they are "all in".  This high school thing is for real, y'all, and I just don't want to do it without the resources from Apologia Educational Ministries.  My daughter is enjoying studying through the Marine Biology 2nd Edition Advantage Set this year and I like that it fits so neatly into where she has been and where she is headed.  We've been using Apologia Science for just about as long as I can remember and the early days of Exploring Creation with Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day (Zoology 2) laid the perfect groundwork for Marine Biology in High School.

The Advantage Set makes it easy to "dive right in" (pun intended) as it includes the Textbook, the Tests-and-Solutions Manual, and the Student Notebook.  There is also a Tests Booklet included that allows my girl to take a test without having to tear it out of the Solutions Manual -- and it leaves me with a clean copy of all the tests right alongside the answer keys.  I love that my daughter is still "Exploring CREATION" in upper level science classes, and I cannot get over the fact that Apologia makes it so accessible.  The Marine Biology Advantage Set offers a GREAT science, and with one small addition, it is the PERFECT science.  Seriously, when you add the Marine Biology 2nd Edition Audio CD to the Textbook and Student Notebook, you've got the perfect science combination for students who want a college-prep, lab-based science that allows you to think out-of-the-box.  I don't know about yours, but this is EXACTLY what my daughter wants.

If you don't mind, I'd like to tell you a little more about each of the components of the Advantage Set and explain a bit how we are using it and the Audio CD here at Long Leaf Academy.  First, the Advantage Set includes:

1. Exploring Creation with Marine Biology 2nd Edition TEXTBOOK -- This textbook is massive.  It is a hardcover book with 557-pages, fully illustrated.  It is written directly to the student in a conversational tone and is broken down into 16 learning modules.  Students can complete each module in about 2 weeks time if they will devote 45 minutes to an hour in study and lab work.  Perfect for my independent learner, this comprehensive text begins with a study of the oceans and works through marine life and all that it entails.  From invertebrates and vertebrates found in the ocean to the environment of the deep blue, students are reminded that GOD created it all and we are to be good stewards of HIS world.  I love that GOD's Word is referenced throughout the text and that every word in the text is centered on CHRIST and bringing HIM glory .  There is so much to explore and learn in the depths of the seas and this text does a great job with it all.  The experiments and dissections make for a thorough lab credit and the study guides and summaries for each module prepare your high schooler for the tests to come.  My Junior handles this all on her own.  She follows the schedule provided in the Student Notebook and spends her time reading, answering, and researching.  She is LEARNING and I love this.

2. Solutions and Tests for Exploring Creation with Marine Biology 2nd Edition -- This softcover MANUAL has 212-pages and is designed with the homeschooling parent in mind.  I'm not a marine biology expert and it's been YEARS since I even studied the depths of the ocean.  Thankfully, Apologia has my back.  While the Textbook is written to my daughter, the MANUAL is written for me.  It explains to me what my child is learning and how the material is being presented to her so that I can come alongside her when she needs help.  All of the answers to the Study Guides she is using are compiled for me and the Tests are ready to be used as is.  The MANUAL tells me how to grade her work and how to assign points for the things that she completes.  The weighted coursework is explained and I feel confident that I will be able to assign her final grade by following the suggested grading scale.

3. Exploring Creation with Marine Biology 2nd Edition STUDENT NOTEBOOK -- Okay, y'all   . . . this is PHENOMENAL.  And my girl LOVES it because it makes her life so much easier.  The STUDENT NOTEBOOK is a coil-bound book that contains a whopping 505-pages.  The pages of the NOTEBOOK correspond with the 16 modules of study from the Textbook.  That means each and every section of questions found in the Textbook have a special place for her to put her answers in the NOTEBOOK.  In addition to that, she has the grading rubrics for all experiments, notetaking hints and helps, a detailed daily schedule that allows her to check off work once she's done, lined pages for taking notes in each module, lab sheets for experiments and their reports, AND extra summary work right at her fingertips.  It is the easy button of scientific notebooks and she thinks it is just perfect because it is 100% her customization.

As you can tell, we really like the Advantage Set and adding the Exploring Creation with Marine Biology 2nd Edition MP3 Audio Book is the icing on the cake for this high school science.   The CD is a COMPLETE reading of the TEXTBOOK and is my absolute favorite part of the course because my daughter will actually LISTEN to it as she follows along in her book.  The material is read by Marissa Leinart and is an easy listen.  My daughter says that it is absolutely NOT boring.  If it weren't for that CD, she'd be skimming the book JUST looking for the ANSWERS and wouldn't be totally immersed in the educational experience.  I snapped this picture when she first started working through the course and I just love all that it is.  Do you see the many facets of learning going on in her room?  My girl is soaking it all in.  There is the visual learning process as she reads the text combined with the complementary auditory component (check out those earbuds) that helps bring it all to life for her.  How perfect is this? Her STUDENT NOTEBOOK sits at the ready for jotting down important information.  She can see it, feel it, and hear it all and that means she is learning.  

And even more fun?  We'll be adding to this experience soon when we open up her Dissection Set and she begins dissecting the clam, sea star, and dogfish shark.  Although the Dissection Set isn't required to complete the course, we think it is well worth it to provide the hands-on lab component.  PLUS, my daughter enjoyed the dissection portions of the prerequisite Biology.

Apologia has long been one of our family favorites -- from science curriculum to personal encouragement and devotions for mom, Apologia has you covered.  If you've been a part of the Apologia family, then I'm sure you are familiar with the Book Extras that are available for each of their textbooks.  I want to encourage you to make use of those for Marine Biology.  The special website has even more material for your student and it's recently undergone a complete makeover to be more user-friendly.  You can also connect with Apologia and find out how they can best serve your family through the following Social Media links:

 Facebook 
Twitter 

Google+ 
Pinterest

Instagram

It's Homeschool Marine Biology from Apologia for the win at my house. Why don't you join us?

I was given the opportunity to review  Marine Biology 2nd Edition Advantage Set  from Apologia Educational Ministries as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this high school science.

Pin It Now!

Homeschool Review: Fascinating Biology #hsreviews #Homeschool #biology #highschool

I've shared with you before that it is my heart's desire that my children be completely fascinated with learning and we make every effort to share quality resources with them.  I recognize the importance of science and am always happy when we have opportunity to use and review the online Fascinating Education courses.  We have enjoyed both Fascinating Chemistry and Fascinating Physics and I'm happy to say that Fascinating Biology is just as good as the others.

Beginning with the statement that "religious views and scientific views differ," Fascinating Education founder, Dr. Sheldon Margulies, opens the door and invites students to step into an understanding of both viewpoints in order that they may better understand how to reconcile scientific opinions and Biblical pronouncements in the very first lesson "What is Life?".  I have absolutely no problem with this as it complements the differing views within my home.  My husband is an old-earther, I am a new-earther.  Fascinating Biology helps bridge the gap between the two.

Divided into 18 lessons, Fascinating Biology teaches students about living things and their chemical environments through an in-depth study of the seven requirements of life.  Each lesson is divided into sub-topics.  What I like about this course is that students can watch an interactive slide presentation (think PowerPoint with flair because there are moving pictures, cool videos, and graphs) narrated by Dr. Margulies (the Fascinator), read through the script for the slides, and take a test to make sure that they understand the material as presented.  Each of the lessons are fairly short (they take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour for my daughter to finish) and are designed to be completed in one week.  Students can work at their own pace through the topics and can watch and re-watch topics as often as they like.  The Lessons covered are as follows:

• What is Life?
• Chemistry Review
• The Cell Membrane
• Take in Nutrients
• Take in Energy (Parts 1 - 4)
• Grow
• Reproduce (Parts 1 - 3)
• Homeostasis (Parts 1 -2)
• Adapt (Parts 1 - 2)
• Prokaryotes, Protists, Animals and Fungi
• Plants

At our house, we watch a lesson in its entirety and then read through the script.  The script is in pdf format and can be printed to create a textbook of sorts and my daughter can use it to add notes, underline key phrases, and have a resource for additional study later.  Each of the pictures from the narrated slides are included in the script so it is easy to follow along and learn.  The lessons conclude with a "What You Know So Far" section that acts as a refresher/study guide before students are tested on the material presented.

There is a short test at the end of each lesson taken online.  (A printable option is currently provided for the first 16 lessons.)  The tests consists of 4 - 27 multiple choice questions that are graded for immediate feedback.  Upon completion, students can review the tests and even retake them, if they like.  This helps my daughter to completely grasp what she is supposed to be learning. I do want to point out that the Fascinating Education website does not keep records of individual grades, but that is no problem for us.  After my daughter finishes each test, we print the results and add it to her notebook.  When she completes the course, I will have a paper trail of all tests and be able to assign her final grade accordingly.



For more information about Fascinating Education (and to see how it will best fit your needs), I suggest reading through the FAQ page.  You'll find information about which grades each of these courses are best suited for (think middle and high school), the sequencing philosophy of Dr. Margulies (Chemistry first, then Biology), the teaching approach used for evolution and creation, links to the Scope and Sequence for each course, and more.  There is an online tutorial available that explains exactly how to use the website (but rest assured it is easy to maneuver) and there are samples and outlines for each course.  You can even download the Biology outline in pdf format and watch an entire lesson on Nutrients and take its test to get a hands-on feel for the curriculum.  I urge you to do just that.

My Eagle Scout was enamored with the Fascinating Education courses.  My Princess is finding them just as wonderful.  We recommend them to your family.

I was given the opportunity to review Fascinating Biology from Fascinating Education as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this fascinating science resource and other curriculum we reviewed (or just click on the banner below.)




Pin It Now!

Homeschool Review: Novare Science & Math -- Introductory Physics #hsreviews #Novare #NovareScience #physics

Way back in the day, when I was in high school, the sequence of science classes taught was Biology, Chemistry, Physics.  There has been a shift in thinking over the years and now there is a Physics first approach that better serves our students because they become familiar with the basic physical concepts of matter, energy, radiation, and heat transfer that they will need to understand biology and chemistry.  Following this new model, I was excited to offer my Sophomore the Introductory Physics course by Novare Science & Math.  New to the homeschooling family, Novare Science & Math offers a new approach to learning science through the Biblical account of creation.   Students combine study of science, math, and history as they closely examine the fingerprints of GOD in all creation.  The absolutely gorgeous text is a mastery-oriented curriculum perfect for grade-level students in 9th - 11th grades.  This simply means that students who are currently taking grade-level maths will be able to excel in their coursework.  It is perfectly fine for students to study Introductory Physics at the same time they are studying Algebra I.

This 376-page hardcover text is divided into 13 Chapters and includes exercises, study questions, and experiments, as well as a reference section.  (You can read over the exact breakdown of the text in the Table of Contents and look at Sample Pages.)  For purposes of review, I also received a download of the Student Resource CD, but you will receive a physical CD when you order.  The Student Resource CD includes a Course Overview and sample Schedule, Quizzes (28) and complete Answer Keys for each Quiz, Chapter Exercises with sample answers to verbal questions (30 pages), sample answers for all quizzes, sample answers for the final exams, and weekly Review Guides.  It provides everything you need to be ready to go.  Other companion resources available include books to help you teach so that students can best learn, books to help you conduct and understand experiments, a lab report handbook for students, and a solutions manual that covers every computational problem included in the text.

That's the nitty-gritty.  Now, how did we best utilize the text in the review period and will we continue to use it into the coming school year?  My daughter has just completed her sophomore year of high school and when I handed over a book called Introductory Physics, she was apprehensive to say the least.  "Physics, mom?  Really?"  But here's the deal.  This Physics text is written directly to students by a man who has spent 10 years researching methods of instruction that will engage students and draw them into learning.  Beginning with the Preface, she was hooked.  The very first sentence states that "this course is designed to challenge you, while bringing you to a solid level of mastery," but the introduction goes on to explain that students must have a sincere desire to learn and challenges them to be disciplined enough to study.  Furthermore, students are given permission to question the world around them and are encouraged to be organized and diligent to apply themselves to the task at hand.  Can I just tell you how wonderful it is for someone else to tell my girl this?  Students are given a study strategy that is solid -- and gives them to courage to jump in and tackle a tough subject.  The study techniques taught will be used throughout college and life.  I like it.  I like it a LOT.

Bonus "Did You Know?" sections share history alongside science and mathematical concepts.

This is a high school level class.  It is appropriate for high school credit.  As such, it is a rigorous curriculum of reading, studying, answering questions (complete sentences with correct grammar and spelling required), and experimenting, but this is well within the scope of what our children can do.  In my opinion, Introductory Physics sets the bar higher than many other science textbooks do and it expects our children to rise to the standard.  It presented a bit of a learning curve at my house because of this.  The chapters are not incredibly long, but they are incredibly detailed.  My daughter often had to read and re-read before she was able to complete the study questions.  Where she has sometimes taken the easy way out (incomplete thoughts and ideas written down), Novare requires her to truly read to understand and focus on the assigned tasks which meant that mom required the same before marking work as complete.  The Chapters are broken into smaller, more readable chunks of information with learning Objectives clearly defined at the beginning of each.  My daughter explains that she likes knowing what she will/should learn before she begins reading and likes being able to check herself at the end to see if she succeeded.

Full-color illustrations draw the eye and Objectives are laid out for each Chapter.

As with the majority of our high school courses, I expect my girl to be able to follow-through with expectations on her own, BUT I also require her to show me her work once she is done.  Introductory Physics gives us the opportunity to discuss more together and that's a good thing.  I am not leaving her completely solo on this subject and I would suggest that you be available for your students as they work through it as well.  All of that said, we will MOST DEFINITELY be continuing our usage of Introductory Physics for the school year ahead.  It is a yes, Yes, YES in my book.



You can find out more about all of the offerings of Novare Science & Math by visiting the following Social Media sites:FacebookPinterestInstagramI'm looking forward to my girl finishing the Introductory Physics course and moving into the advanced Physics text called Physics:  Modeling Nature and I'd love to get my hands on the Teaching Science So That Students Can Learn teacher resource.  This resource outlines the philosophy and teaching methods developed by author John Mays.  It looks amazing as it combines the three principles of Mastery (truly learn, master, and retain information), Integration (including the scientific process, basic epistemology, math, scientific history, AND correct usage of the English language in learning), and Kingdom Perspective (MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE of the principles as it shows students GOD's presence in the world).
I also want to recommend that you spend a bit of time and check out the newsletters that are available.  Published several times a year, they contain implementation tips for the different Novare textbooks, explanations on the how and why of the curriculum, share excellent information about grading written answers of your students in higher level science courses, and SO MUCH MORE.  I found the discussions on the age of the Earth in relation to the teachings of GOD's Word to be both refreshing and fascinating and they offered a balming bridge to the Bible vs. Science argument that we so often hear.  I am also super impressed that all things Novare are unashamedly Kingdom focused.  This is exactly what I welcome into my home.

I was given the opportunity to review Introductory Physics from Novare Science & Math as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this curriculum and other resources we reviewed (or just click on the banner below.)


Pin It Now!

Homeschool Review: Nature's Beautiful Order (Memoria Press) #hsreviews #memoriapress #classicalchristianeducation #classicalchristianhomeschooling

Memoria Press offers remarkable curriculum choices for those pursuing a classical Christian education and I am always blessed when the opportunity to review for them comes my way.  We were invited to use Nature's Beautiful Order:  An Introduction to the Study of Animals Taught by the Classic Naturalists and I hoped that my daughter would be excited.


Nature's Beautiful Order is a lovely set that reflects the wonder of GOD's creation through a deep study of the Animal Kingdom as taught from the works of classical naturalists such as John James Audubon, Jean-Henri Fabre, and St-George J. Mivart.  What this means for our students is that they begin to develop a love for animals and the world around them as they delve into nature looking through the eyes of Christian men and women who recognize that GOD knew just what HE was doing "in the beginning".  An introductory study, Nature's Beautiful Order can easily be used by middle school students (grades 6 - 8) as a stand alone science curriculum AND/OR as a biology supplement for high school age students.  My 10th grader has always loved all things animal and is most at peace when she is outside exploring.  As I hoped, she is delighted to be studying through the pages of this science resource.

Nature's Beautiful Order is divided into 18 Chapters.  Students study a variety of animals including cats, lobsters, bees, turtles, birds, farm friends, and more -- one chapter per animal -- and end with a study of the anatomy of man and a reminder that man was created to act as a steward of all animals.


The Nature's Beautiful Order set (pictured above) includes a Textbook, a Student Guide, and a Teacher Key.  Each student will need their own student guide book -- and once they have completed it, they will want to keep it for reference for years and years to come.

All three books are softcover and printed in black and white copy.  The 187-page Textbook is written directly to the student in a straightforward manner that shares fascinating facts about the animals being studied and offers in-depth insight for the reader.  It is minimally illustrated with black and white line drawings that share the beauty of GOD's creation.  My personal favorite chapters are the ones that discuss birds, migration, and the miracle of flight.  Growing up, my mother was a watcher of birds and she would share tidbits of information with me -- tidbits that I never really cared to hear.  Now, I find myself becoming my mother (please don't tell her I have admitted to this) and I enjoy feeding the birds that visit at my feeders and watching the flight patterns of a pair of buzzards that are nesting in my woods. I cannot even begin to explain how beautiful their flight is and how much I enjoy watching them careen through the air.  There is even a red-tailed hawk that has made my yard its home -- we caught video of it capturing dinner Sunday afternoon -- and Nature's Beautiful Order helps us to appreciate this "lord of the air" even more than we already did.  A perfect study tool, the Textbook also makes a great "outside" resource manual just for fun.

The 51-page Student Guide helps students develop skills of observation as they read and follow along in their Textbooks.  Students answer 17 questions from each chapter read (with the exception of Chapter 17 which only has 14 questions).  Although blanks are provided for answers, this is not a super easy fill-it-in workbook.  Students are required to read, think, observe, and understand.  After answering the questions in her Student Guide, my daughter checks her work against the Teacher Key (51-pages that correspond directly to the Student Guide).  She is able to make corrections as needed and add information that she may have left out of her answers.  Once completed, she will have a handy resource manual for outdoors.

As always, Memoria Press has given us a beautiful resource to encourage students to fall in love with GOD's gifts to us.  I love that the writings come from men with a heart to further the Kingdom and our appreciation of all that is in it.

You can find out even more about Memoria Press on the following Social Media sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram (@memoriapress)

LinkedIn

Pinterest 

Google+

YouTube

I was given the opportunity to review Nature's Beautiful Order from Memoria Press as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this curriculum and other resources we reviewed (or just click on the banner below.)

Pin It Now!