| When educating your children at home, you have | | | | a folderbook, and another including additional books |
| the freedom to teach them sound science that is | | | | and resources. We took the book to our local |
| presented from a Christian worldview. "Christian | | | | copy center and had them cut off the binding. |
| Kids Explore Earth and Space," geared at | | | | Then we separated the reproducible sheets and |
| elementary students, fits the bill very well. This | | | | had the text spiral-bound with all the glossaries |
| text is part of a series by Stephanie L. Redmond | | | | and appendices. |
| which include Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. I | | | | Altogether, I found this course to be a good core |
| enjoyed teaching from this text for a number of | | | | text for my second-grader that was easily |
| reasons including: it requires little to no teacher | | | | supplemented in a few areas. I will be using it |
| prep time; it is enjoyable to work through; being | | | | again with my younger kids when they hit second |
| from a Christian worldview, it is God-honoring; and | | | | grade. And although my second-grader and I |
| it is written in a conversational tone that is easy | | | | completed the entire course, we definitely |
| to read aloud and appeals to the younger | | | | amended and expanded it to be more in-depth. |
| audience. | | | | One example of this was finding all nine planets |
| The text has 24 lessons, 2 on the Earth in | | | | covered in one short chapter! I thought this was |
| general (including Creation); 5 covering the | | | | neglecting an opportunity to excite kids about |
| lithosphere; 4 covering the hydrosphere; 4 | | | | outer space, so we expanded on that section |
| covering the atmosphere; 5 covering weather; | | | | with outside materials. There is no chapter at all |
| and 4 covering all of outer space. The maps, | | | | about biomes, which I found startling, as there is |
| forms and coloring sheets are reproducible. An | | | | so much to intrigue children about the variety of |
| applicable scripture has been chosen for each | | | | habitats and temperature zones on this planet we |
| lesson. In addition, there is an appendix of recipes | | | | call home. Again, we supplemented the study of |
| and additional activities, another on how to make | | | | Earth with outside materials. |