Skip to main content

Christian Kids Explore Chemistry - TOS Review

Looking for  a science curriculum, make sure to read this review!



A couple of months ago I was given the chance to try Christian Kids Explore Chemistry, a science curriculum put out by Bright Ideas Press. It has been a hit at our house.


From the website: 
"This user-friendly, unabashedly Christian science curriculum includes teaching lessons, gorgeous coloring pages, hands-on time, review sheets, and an awesome supplemental book list! You can choose from Chemistry, Creation Science, Earth and Space, and Physics. Award winning, college professors-vetted, and parent approved!"

Christian Kids Explore Science is a very comprehensive and easy to use science curriculum. The curriculum is divided into 5 units, each in turn divided into 5 to 8 lessons. At the end of each lesson there are fill-in-the blank review questions, and at the end of each unit is a unit wrap-up.

Target grade: 4th - 8th graders. I think it fits the target age quite well, being perfect for upper elementary and lower middle school age kids. Since my boys are 1st and 3rd graders I slightly adjusted the way I taught it. I do not think they will retain lots of it but they are enjoying learning about it. We will get back to the subject matter anyway.

Price:  

 Christian Kids Explore Chemistry: $39.95
 Christian Kids Explore Biology: $34.95
 Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space: $34.95
 Christian Kids Explore Physics: $39.95

Each volume comes with a free resource CD.

You can see samples of the table of contents, lessons, supply list and review questions for each volume on their website.

Our thoughts:

As I mentioned earlier we received the chemistry volume for review. My boys love chemistry and physics so they were happy to start with this curriculum.
The way the curriculum works is that you read the lesson out loud or the student reads it for himself, then he answers the review questions at the end of of the lesson (we did this together). Then, on the next teaching day, or if you want on the same day, you do the hands-on activities, and vocabulary work.

What we liked:
  •  It is definitely christian, but not overly. It is primarily a science book but every lesson makes the point of recognizing God as the designer, that is, the one that caused and is behind the way things are and the laws of nature. There are Scripture verses (in the margins) praising God for his creation in each chapter.
  • It has easy to do hands-on that uses kitchen stuff and are easy to perform.
  • The text to read to the student is very well written and clear, and also of the right length.
  • It contains reviews questions that allows to recap what has been learned in the lesson, and subsequently in the unit.
  • An extra reading list to supplement the knowledge. I was able to get most of the books at my local library.
The volume I received, in PDF format (not yet available but upcoming), came with an extra download containing additional resources to use with the curriculum (which is included on a CD with every physical copy you buy). This is what you will find in this resource:
  • Reproducible review pages
  • A printable glossary of chemistry terms and vocabulary
  • Reproducible coloring pages 
  • Reproducible activity charts
  • A list of all the supplies needed sorted by lessons
  • Lesson plans
  • Bonus Literature Study Guide
  • A printable Periodic Table of Elements with a printable list of the corresponding elements to their symbols
In the past few weeks it has been a lot of fun to learn about what chemistry is, atoms, the Table of Elements, atomic number, atomic mass and weight.  The boys want to have chemistry every day!


In conclusion CKES has become one of my favorites. I have another science curriculum that I love, which I am planning to use next year, but I think I will definitely use this series as well in the near future.

For more thoughts and reviews of the Christian Kids Explore series make sure to visit the crew blog.


Photobucket


Disclaimer: I received a PDF format copy of Christian Kids Explore Chemistry in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Labels:

Comments

Kate said…
This review is great! (And your children are adorable!!) You have to get extra points for cuteness for SURE. :)

Thanks so much!

Warmly,
Kate
April 18, 2012 at 2:23 AM
Joelle said…
Thanks Kate. Can I bank these extra points for future use? -;)
April 18, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Kate said…
haha! Yes, absolutely! :D

Kate
April 18, 2012 at 11:57 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reformation Day Giveaway

We are approaching October 31, which is an important date for all protestants. This date commemorates Martin Luther’s nailing of his ninety-five theses to a church door on October 31, 1517 in Wittenburg, Germany, which in turn provoked a debate that resulted in what we now call the Protestant Reformation. As the “Father of the Reformation”, Martin Luther is a vital figure in Church History. His sacrifice and willingness to wage battle against the spiritual, religious, and political powers of his medieval world allowed Christians throughout time to embrace the following truths: salvation by grace alone , through faith alone,  and in Christ alone, along with the supremacy of Scripture, referred to as  Scripture alone, and all of it for God's Glory Alone. These being commonly called the Five Solas of the Reformation.  Danika Cooley, author and creator of the Bible curriculum Bible Road Trip ,  has recently written a book for young people recounting Luther's sto...
4 comments
Read more

Our Current Homeschool Routine - Virtual Homeschool Fair - Week 2

For week 2 of the Virtual Homeschool Fair, which is hosted by Homeschooling Hearts and Minds , we are talking method of homeschooling. When it comes to the how of homeschooling, and the method that we all follow, with the 20 plus blogger participating I can guarantee you, no method will be the same. Homeschooling is a lifestyle and a path unto a goal or toward a direction that each family sets for itself. For us, this encompasses academic rigor, as well as Christian values and depth of understanding of how to live in this world as Christians. To that end, earlier on we had settled on a classical education. 10 years into it, I cannot say we have been very good classical homeshooler. We did not follow the method and philosophy to a T but instead adapted it to our family's routine and rhythm. We became more relaxed classical homeschooler. I had good intentions with the Latin and Greek, but not enough discipline and it did not appeal to the boys; my oldest son did two years, the...
5 comments
Read more

When Lightning Struck - A Book review

Are you studying the Reformation? Do you love Historical Fictions? Do you love reading about the heros of the faith? Then read on... As a homeschooler I always encourage my fellow homeschoolers to include Historical fictions in their study of History as it helps students really enter the time period that they are studying and get a better picture of how people lived and what they felt. I recently had the privilege of reading a historical fiction titled When Lightning Struck: The Story of Martin Luther . If you have never heard of Martin Luther or read anything about him, you are missing out and here is your chance to learn who he was and what he did in an enjoyable way. When Lightning Struck is written for Middle and High schooler, but I could not put it down. If you love reading you will devourer this book. It would also work really well as a read-aloud for upper-elementary kids. It contains 23 chapters of average length that will keep you wanting to know more. When Lightni...
1 comment
Read more