Over the past several years, the Schoolhouse Review Crew has reviewed several products from Apologia Educational Ministries. Homeschool parents found useful information in The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling and Educating the Wholehearted Child. They were encouraged and challenged by the books How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids and Read for the Heart.
In terms of curriculum, Crew members have studied Biblical Worldview with their children. Elementary children used the What We Believe series — Who is God?, Who am I?, and Who is My Neighbor?, while older students studied I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist.
Apologia is known in homeschooling circles as a leader for science curriculum, and crew members have most recently been using their elementary science materials. All of the elementary materials are suitable for Kindergarten through sixth grade students. The textbook for each elementary program costs $39.
In addition, Apologia offers two levels of Notebooking Journals for each curriculum. The Regular Notebooking Journal is designed for upper elementary students and requires that the child has mastered handwriting and can take notes on the materials. It provides supplementary reading materials, additional experiments, and a place for the child to complete the assignments found in the text. The Notebooking Journal for each topic costs $24.
The Junior Notebooking Journal is designed for lower elementary students. It has assignments that are less writing-intense, easier vocabulary assignments, and coloring pages. Like the Regular Notebooking Journal, the Junior version includes extra experiments and supplementary materials. A Junior Notebooking Journal costs $24.
Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day
“In this God-honoring study of birds, Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day teaches your child about the glorious design and characteristics of flying creatures, including physical characteristics, nesting habits, flight patterns, and more! Your children will learn how to attract various bird species to your yard and identify them by looking at their special physical characteristics, diverse nests, and interesting domestic practices.” (description taken from the Apologia website)
Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day
“God filled the Earth’s waters with animals great and small. Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day covers swimming creatures from the microscopic to the massive. No matter how near or far you live from the ocean, you and your students will wonder at God’s designs in the amazing aquatic animals He formed. Apologia’s second zoology book will take you and your family on a delightful exploration into the wonders of the swimming creatures.” (description taken from the Apologia website)
Exploring Creation with Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day
“This third book in the zoology series takes students on a safari through jungles, deserts, forests, farms, and even their own backyard to explore, examine and enjoy the enchanting creatures God designed to inhabit the terrain. Exploring Creation with Zoology 3: Land Creatures of the Sixth Day will have your Family snuggling together as you discover amazing animals from primates to parasites, kangaroos to caimans, and turtles to the terrifying T-Rex!” (description taken from the Apologia website)
Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology
“Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology is an elementary level Anatomy and Physiology book that gives glory to God as children discover all that goes on in their bodies from their heads to the nails on their toes! Beginning with a brief history of medicine and a peek into cells and DNA, your students will voyage through fourteen lessons covering many subjects, such as the body systems: skeletal, muscular, respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, nervous and more!” (description taken from the Apologia website)
In addition to Notebooking Journals to correspond with Human Anatomy and Physiology, Apologia also offers MP3 Audio CDs which contain a complete recording of the course materials read by the author.
MP3 Audio CD($29)
A big thank you to Cristi of Through the Calm and Through the Storm for writing this introductory post.