Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics {A Review}

Apologia Educational Ministries sent us their homeschool science curriculum for Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics ($39.00), Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics Notebooking Journal ($24.00), and Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics Junior Notebooking Journal ($24.00) for ages K-6.

What is Included: 
Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics is a 280 page hard-backed book in the Young Explorers Series. Although it has a textbook appearance, it is written in a very lively style and "uses the Charlotte Mason methodology" to sound like a living book. 

There are 17 lessons in this course:

• Chemistry and Physics Matter
• Moving Matter
• Building Blocks of Creation
• Compound Matter
• Multitude of Mixtures
• Mechanics in Motion
• Dynamics of Motion
• Work in the World
• Sound of Energy
• Light of the World
• Thermal Energy
• Electrifying Our World
• Mysterious Magnetism
• Simple Machines

Each lesson has Try This! experiments and activities, Final Matters-connection to God, What do your Remember?-opportunity to answer questions over the reading, Notebooking Activities, and a Project and/or experiment.

Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics Notebooking Journal is for the older range of recommended ages about 4-6. In the beginning pages, there is a sample schedule for a 2 day week that is very helpful in sorting out which readings and sections to complete in the text and what sections to complete in the notebooking journal. 

The journal corresponds to the topics in the text and includes: 

• Fascinating Facts-blank boxes and lines of text allow the child to draw in the boxes and write on the lines the information from the readings that struck them as important.
• Notebooking Activity
• Vocabulary Crossword
• Scripture Copywork in both print and cursive
• Paste Page-a blank page is provided to add the sections from the back of the book
• Test it Out-more great projects, activities, and experiments to try with additional book suggestions
• Project Recording-pages with lines of text to document the projects, activities, and experiments completed
• What do you Remember?-Ask questions for the child to complete

 

Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics Junior Notebooking Journal is for the younger range of recommended ages about K-3. As in the other journal, there is a sample schedule for a 2 day week that is very helpful in sorting out which readings and sections to complete in the text and what sections to complete in the notebooking journal. 

The journal corresponds to the topics in the text and includes: 

• Coloring Pages-includes a Bible verse
• Fascinating Facts-blank boxes and lines of text allow the child to draw in the boxes and write on the lines the information from the readings that struck them as important.
• Notebooking Activity
• Vocabulary Crossword
• Scripture Copywork in both print and cursive
• Paste Page-a blank page is provided to add the sections from the back of the book
• Test it Out-more great projects, activities, and experiments to try with additional book suggestions
• Project Recording-pages with lines of text to document the projects, activities, and experiments completed

Additional Materials Required
If you want to complete the projects, activities, and experiments, check out the Chem and Phys Lab Supply List. Of course, we are all in when it comes to projects, activities, and experiments. For the first several lessons, we had what we needed on hand for the work the kids wanted to do.

Time Frame 
Most lessons will take you 1-2 days per week to complete. We spread ours out to 2 days. For children, K-3 I would recommend parents should reading the text and gather the materials for the projects. Those with children 4-6 could easily allow them to read and complete the projects themselves (there are many experiments that require adult supervision).

Each lesson with notebooking activities takes 1 hour or more. It makes for a great: science, reading, and writing lesson combination.

What we Like
We are all about hands-on experiments and while the readings are enjoyable and understandable for the girls, getting our hands dirty is still our favorite part. 

And as always, explaining scientific concepts within a Biblical framework really defines Apologia's work.

Wishing you homeschool blessings,


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