Our middle school boys adore science. It’s an extra-special passion for our youngest–I’m sure he’s headed for some sort of math or science career.
Middle School Science
This past year we used Master Books’ Concepts of Mathematics & Concepts of Physics as a part of our curriculum. The boys loved both Exploring the World of Mathematics: From Ancient Record Keeping to the Latest Advances in Computers and Exploring the World of Physics: From Simple Machines to Nuclear Energy. In fact, they were often the first books they chose to read from their assignment list each week.
(Note: This post was written in 2016.)
For the coming year (7th and 8th grade), I let the boys choose a new “Exploring” pack. Honestly, I don’t think the books will make it to our fall schedule. I’ve had to wrestle both away from my young scientists so I could read them and finish this post.
Ecology and Astronomy
Exploring the World Around You by Gary Parker
The subtitle of this text is A Look at Nature from Tropics to Tundra. This is 140-page, 16 chapter ecology text. There is black and white photos and/or artwork on every page, and discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
The author does a great job of covering the subject, and doing it from a Christian Creationist perspective. There isn’t a lot of commentary on the evolutionary perspective, but when there is, it’s respectful. I appreciate that. I also appreciate the fact that stewardship of the earth is taken seriously. Ecological issues are hot topics as worldview really impacts how scientists and the general population apply the knowledge we have. I want my kids to study ecology through the lens of Scripture stewardship and the theological concept of Imago Dei–humans are created in the image of God.
The text is interesting, the narrative moves quickly, and while it covers a wide swath of information it doesn’t oversimplify the facts. I know my boys will love it.
Chapters cover:
- Building the Right Foundation; Seeing the 4 Cs (The Gospel and Science)
- Ecosystems and Biogeography
- Biomes
- Aquatic Ecosystems
- Light and the Rhythms of Life
- Temperature, Water, and Minerals
- Food
- Energy Flow
- Population Balance
- Population Growth and Control
- Succession
- Niches, Habitats, and Adaptations
- Symbiosis
- Pollution
- Energy Problems
- Preservation and Human Population
The World of Astonomy by John Hudson Tiner
This 172-page volume has 13 chapters. John Hudson Tiner covers each topic in a narrative manner with lots of black and white artwork, sidebars, and a one-page quiz section and research suggestions at the end. Along with plenty of scientific facts, John Hudson Tiner includes history throughout his books. My boys have really enjoyed that aspect of his work. The stories of the scientists involved in astronomical discoveries are engaging and add depth to the study of the scientific discipline.
Chapters cover:
- Exploring the Moon
- Mars
- Terrestrial Planets
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Jovian Planets
- Plutoids and Denizens of Space
- Telescopes
- Breakthroughs in Astronomy
- Deep Sky Wonders
- Stars
- Extrasolar Planets
- Starlighted Nights
Purchase The World of Astronomy and The World Around You
More Books in the Exploring Series
Books Make Great Gifts!
Teach Your Kids the Bible with Bible Road Trip™
Bible Road Trip™ is a three-year Bible survey curriculum. Take your family through the Bible five times from preschool to high school.
To help you get the most out of your studies, Bible Road Trip™ has an array of coordinating weekly activities:
- Researching the section of the Bible you’re studying
- Reading and discussing the Bible
- Memorizing Scripture
- Notebooking about your studies
- Praying for the nations
- Suggestions for further study
- Crafting about what you’ve learned
- For your older students: A project to share what they’ve learned
- Bible Road Trip™ also has some great tools you can use along with it, such as:
- Notebooking Journals for grades 1-9. Want a structured notebooking journal for high school? Don’t hesitate to use the Dialectic journal (grades 7-9).
- Bible Memory Card Sets for all five levels of study, preschool to high school. These are available in both ESV and KJV.
Grab your Bible Road Trip™ Year One Sample Pack. You’ll get:
- The Bible Road Trip™ Parent / Teacher Guide.
- The first three weeks of the curriculum for all five learning levels. Week Three is where we really dive into the Bible and begin to our systematic study. Week Three will give you a good feel for the rest of the curriculum.
- The first three weeks of the Bible Memory Card sets for all five levels, in ESV and KJV.
- The first three weeks of each of the three leveled Notebooking Journals.
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Disciple your kids by taking your family through the Bible together in a meaningful way!
Bible Road Trip™ Curriculum
Take a look inside the Bible Road Trip™ curriculum! Let me show you around:
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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