Our family is having a great time reviewing Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition from Apologia Educational Ministries!

We were sent the Astronomy textbook, the Notebooking Journal (Being used by David, age 11) and the Junior Notebooking Journal (Being used by Daniel, age 6).  We also received the Audio CD.

I used this curriculum with both boys together. I try to combine subjects when possible, but with the boys being five years apart, this is not always possible. Since Daniel is still in the “learning to read” stage, I sat at the table with both boys and read the book aloud. Then, they would complete projects and pages in their notebooking journals. The textbook can be saved and used for Rebecca when she is a little older, but the workbooks are consumable and can be used by one student.  David was picking up everything quickly, and I realized he needed very little help from me. Daniel, however is proving to be a different student than the rest. He was not absorbing much from the reading. I found he was not able to tell me back the things we had JUST learned. However, when the book called for an experiment or workbook page he seemed very interested in doing it with us. Often, after completing a project or notebooking page, he had learned more than he did in the lesson. If he did not enjoy the workbook and experiments so much, I would probably shelve it and wait another year or two, but since David is doing it, I am going to let Daniel continue with us as long as he remains happily engaged.

The “Junior” version of the workbook has a few differences. The paper is lined with lines and dots like a younger student would use.  The copywork in both journals includes the work in print and cursive. The younger version has a beautiful coloring sheet which reinforces the lesson, and the regular version has a “What do you remember?” section with questions and spaces for the student to answer. Also, there are crossword puzzles in the book and the younger version has letter clues written onto the puzzle to make it easier for the younger students. There may be other differences that I missed.

After we completed the first chapter, I decided to try the audio CD to read the book to the children. I am not sure if I was using it wrong, but I put it in the computer, and I had to click it to move through each paragraph or section of the book. I wish this were made differently. It’s been my experience with my children that they love to listen to CDs like this at bedtime, often listening to them over and over, memorizing them. Because this was used on the computer and I had to click it to advance it, I know the boys won’t be able to use it alone. However, the reader’s voice was absolutely engaging and the boys liked it very much!

In addition to the program, I bought some magnet planets they put on inside door of our house. We then used the book to talk about how close and far the planets are to one another and to the sun. This has been a lot of fun and made it easy to add in another opportunity to talk about what they learned. When they walk past it, they almost always end up touching it and rearranging things and talking about it.

My opinion of the curriculum? It’s wonderful. It has breathtaking pictures, fun and engaging reading, and the activities are great for kinestheic learners. It also agrees with our biblical worldview, having scriptures all throughout the book to reinforce the lessons being taught. I love that these are naturally interwoven through the whole book, because that’s how it should be in our whole life.  This book was probably a little too advanced for Daniel (6) as explained above, but I think it would be perfect for a student 8 and up. In addition to being biblically accurate, I also found that it was scientifically top notch. This is not just an illustrated version of Genesis, this was a full astronomy curriculum, that in my opinion is better than any other I have seen. The level of detail  is astounding and the boys are really enjoying all they are learning. We have used Apologia for many years and this book was the same quality I have come to expect from Apologia.

 

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