Description
Recorded Classes are available for this subject. The classes are taught by Mrs. McKeeman. There are two recordings per chapter of the the textbook.
This laboratory-based, junior high science course covers a wide range of topics that are of interest to modern scientists. It starts by describing our current understanding of atoms, molecules, the chemicals that are necessary for life, DNA, and cells. These topics are all discussed in the context of history, explaining how specific scientific advances led to the scientific explanations that the students are being taught. This allows students to learn not only the current scientific understanding of these topics, but also how scientists reached that understanding.
The course then uses what the student has learned to describe the living world. It discusses the levels of organization found in creation and spends time discussing topics at each level. As a result, students learn how cells work together to make tissues, how tissues come together to make organs, how organs form organ systems, how those organ systems produce organisms, and how those organisms relate to one another in populations and communities. The student then learns how those communities interact with the physical environment to form ecosystems, which then form biomes. Along the way, students learn about fascinating new discoveries such as the function of the human appendix, the human microbiome, and soft tissue found in dinosaur fossils. Throughout the course, God’s design in nature is highlighted, and topics in the creation/evolution debate are discussed.
This course is focused on learning through experiments and other hands-on activities. While students will not do an experiment or activity every day they do science, they will have more days with an experiment or activity than days without one. Experiments and activities use household items or things that are sold in supermarkets, drug stores, or hardware stores. The course is laid out so that the student knows what to cover each day, and most students will need to work an average of about 30-45 minutes every day of the week to cover the course in a year.
This product is a set consisting of the textbook and the answer key & tests book.
Barbie B. (verified owner) –
My 8th grader is using this curriculum this year for Science. We purchased this set along with the accompanying audio recordings of the lessons.
The lessons are a great length, long enough that my child can learn the material, without it being wordy or taking too long. They are interesting and the experiments do a great job of reinforcing the subject. All the necessary items for the experiments have been found in our home. The lesson format with daily learning followed by a comprehension check is effective. My favorite aspect of this curriculum is that it relies on note-taking rather than fill-in-the-blank worksheets. The lessons work well with the Cornell Notes method.
Angela –
My daughter suddenly loves science! I was worried that this level up from 6th grade would be intimidating but she has been doing the lessons without needing reminded! I love the personal style of writing that Dr. Wile uses and the to the point, easy to follow presentation of material. I am so thankful for this Biblically, logically and scientifically sound curriculum!