Geology for Kids- Review with a lot of Gushing!

 Sometimes we get reviews that are a good fit for our family.  Other times we get one that is just good timing.  And sometimes, like this past month, we get a review that is not only a good fit for our family, but the most perfect timing too!  Bonus!  Such is the case for Geology for Kids- A Biblical Approach to Earth Science and Earth History kit, by Partick Nurre from Northwest Treasures.

 As many of you know, we are in temporary housing, 8 weeks and counting, with a lot of time on our hands.  I brought a few school things with us to work on, but nothing significant.  In my defense, I had no idea we would be spending the summer as nomads.  I realized quickly we needed to start some school to not only stay busy, but to also just GET started with a new school year.  Problem is, all of our life to include school supplies and curriculum are in storage somewhere and to simply start over was going to be quite costly.  I have been trying to piece things together and this review fell into my lap!  My science for 6th grade problem was solved.  It doesn't hurt that it is Geology, which thrills Colby.

Let me start by telling you that Geology for Kids is a young Earth, creation based curriculum, as is all of the curriculum created by Northwest Treasures.  That is so important to me because of our family's beliefs.  While I enjoy teaching science, there have been times in the past that I have had to stop on numerous occasions and remind my kids that we do not adhere to the "millions of years" belief, and that we do not believe in evolution.  It is refreshing to know that the science we are studying is being taught by a believer that holds to the same beliefs we do.  It's just one less thing for me to have to worry about.

Geology for Kids is a 147 page, soft color science book about Geology, intended for 4th-8th grade students.  It is full color and dotted with many pictures and graphics.  Comprised of 6 sections is has 22 chapters and can be used for a semester of teaching.

Sections include-

• Introduction to Biblical Geology
• The Two Contrasting Views of Earth History
• The Rocks and Minerals of the Earth
• Fossils and Noah's Flood
• Dinosaurs and Noah's Flood
• The Ocean

The book also includes fossil card templates and rock groupings charts.  When you buy it as a kit, you will also receive a Journal for your child as well as several bags of rocks, minerals and fossils-60 total. (quite possibly Colby's favorite part, of course!)  A materials list is included in the book for additional materials you will need for activities presented as well as a "how to" section that encourages you to cover only about 2-5 pages a day, a few days a week.  While it can be done independently, the author encourages you as a parent to walk through the course with our child and I have to second that.  Some of the words are quite big and harder to pronounce and it is a great gateway to open Biblical worldview conversations with your children.

The pages in the book are quite interactive and often will ask personal questions as well a geology related questions, with room to write directly in the book.  The first section explains a biblical background to science and worldview and has you look up and memorize quite a bit of scripture.  Every so often Rock Man Pat  (a character version of the author), will ask a little "did you know" question or fact.

In addition to the questions sprinkled throughout the book, the journal has a corresponding section for each section in the book that has additional questions, much like a review or test.  There are also a few sections that are labeled quizzes, comprised of just a few questions, Periodically you will find projects that include doing additional research to write a paragraph about a new learned fact or drawing pictures to show what your child has learned.

How we have used this program and our thoughts-
(Beware, this is where the gushing comes in.)

Colby and I decided to work on science three days a week during the summer months.  Each of the 6 sections are divided into "parts" and so we do one part each lesson.  If you found that to be too much information for your child, you could most certainly break it down into smaller chunks.  I thought we might have it, but he loves this book and doesn't want to stop mid section.  If it gets to be a lot we have sometimes taken turns reading.

He has answer the questions himself in the book and where it asks you to memorize scripture, we have written that scripture in as well.  Some activities have called for more writing or drawing so we have done that one separate notebook paper.  We have since gotten a dedicated science notebook, (remember all my supplies are packed) and the rest of his work outside the journal will be done in it.

As for the journal, we now complete a section right after we read it.  We waited in the beginning, but it was too much for him to write (capable but not happy!) and required us trying to remember too much at once.  I have tried treating them like a mini quiz to challenge him to remember as much as he could before going back to the book to look up any answers he did not know.

We are just now getting around to the chapters that really begin to explore the rocks in the kits, but let me emphasize how important the first few sections are.  Listen to this-

"Why would people want to tell a different story from that of the Scriptures?  Realize that the debate over Scripture and Science is really not about science but about rebelling against our Maker." (p.30)  

Throughout Geology for Kids, author Patrick Nurre points us back to the Creator of Earth and His Word.   This is not an evolution bashing book, but it IS one that shows where evolution theories came from and how they work against what the Bible teaches us.  It speaks of Creation and the Flood and is unapologetic in its teachings.

It is refreshing!  And convicting!  And interesting!

And Colby loves it!  What more could you want from a science program?

Oh, I know, videos!  Got it!

In addition to the Geology for Kids Kit, we were also given access to a video series called Dinosaurs and the Bible also by Patrick.  We are currently working our way through Dinosaurs and the Bible, shown through a vimeo subscription, and loving it as well.  I mean, who doesn't love dinosaurs?  Colby and I had intended to watch alone, but now are going to include our family in our viewing time, knowing they will love them too!  There are 6 sessions to watch and each are about 16-21 minutes long. 

Our Crew was able to review several other courses to include Taking the Mystery Out of Geology, Dinosaurs and the Bible, and Geology and Apologetics.  Be sure to check out their reviews!

Be sure to check out Northwest Treasures on their website or on Facebook.  Science never looked so good!

Progeny Press Has Literature Guides for YOU!- REVIEW

I am going to let you in on a little secret about our family...we love to read.  I mean, like REALLY love to read.  All six of us.  We aren't too picky, just give us a book and we are content.  And probably with said book in a corner reading.  Which is why I love Progeny Press and having the opportunity to review new literature guides they offer.

This time up, we had the opportunity to use The Scavengers eGuide for grades 5-8th.  Because we are still in temporary quarters and have decided to begin our new school year early, the timing for this review was perfect.  I did a quick order of the book and downloaded the literature guide and we were ready to go.

Let me give you a real quick overview of the book.  The Scavengers, written by Michael Gilleland, is clearly a middle school book.  It tells the tale of a girl named Maggie and her family who are living as scavengers "outbubble."  Quickly you realize there is indeed an "underbubble" area as well, though details of that far off place are offered only sporadically.  Instead you mostly learn of the world that Maggie (who likes to refer to herself as Ford Falcon), her parents and little brother Henry (Dookie) live in.  Mystery and intrigue are prevalent in this book and our original two-chapters-a-day plan quickly went out the window.

Colby, age 11 and a new 6th grader, and I took turns at first reading a page at a time to each other, but quickly he decided that he wanted to read the whole chapter himself.  After that he would read a chapter to me, then I would read one to him, usually continuing until I called uncle.  We had a hard time stopping because of the suspense, especially towards the end of the book.


So about those literature guides...

Let's start with the fact that they are from a Christian perspective. Four different levels are available- Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High school. All e-guides offered by Progeny Press include basic information on the story and author, as well as suggested pre-reading activities, general comprehension questions, critical thinking questions, vocabulary, suggested additional reading, scripture references and more.  The Scavenger e-guide is 73 pages long and an answer key is provided.

You can choose to download and print out your study guide or you can now use the interactive eGuides that will download to Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 and just type your answers in and save them, depending on which way you prefer.  In the past when we have reviewed various levels we usually print out a copy since I am a hands on paper kind of person.  This time around, due to the fact that we are currently without a printer and Colby now enjoys typing on the computer, we used the interactive eGuide method.

The 59 book chapters are broken into 7 separate sections in the guide.  My original intent was to read the chapters for each section and then complete the corresponding section of the study guide.  That worked for the first two sections, but once we sped up our reading, I admit we did the guide a little behind.  The one danger I see is we had to backtrack and re-read a few sections to refresh our memory about some of the smaller details.

Each separate section follows the same pattern- vocabulary, basic factual questions, thinking about the story section, dig deeper questions and finally, optional activities.  The vocabulary is often a matching exercise but sometimes will have you write your definition and then look up what the dictionary says and write that as well, while the question sections offer short answer, multiple choice or longer answers.

Optional activities encourage you to research or try something that is discussed in the book.  In the case of The Scavengers, one of the suggested activities was to research and try your hand at Morse Code.  We spent some time doing just that and decided we stunk at that kind of communication and would have not been good at it at all!
 

Most of the additional activities offered at the end of the study guide are time and research intense so in our current living situation, we have decided to skip those for now.  However, Colby really wants to try to recreate the water telescope described to use on the pool.  Once we get settled into our new house I am going to put his father right on that project! ;)

Let me tell you why I love these guides!

• They make us slow down!  We all tend to devour books at a quick pace and move on, so these guides make us slow down a bit.

• They challenge our vocabulary.  It is one thing to think you know what a word means, but when you have to stop and actually TELL someone the definition, well, you get the point.

• They make us think!  Simple rote fact, comprehension questions my kids usually master.  But once you start to dig deeper, especially with my middle schooler, I am often surprised at concepts he doesn't quite get simply because we have never discussed them before.  These guides often teach him new things outside of just the basic what-did-you-read facts.

• They allow us to incorporate scripture into all aspects of our lives.  Several questions in each section require you to look up scripture and then apply it to the book and your lives.  It is a good reminder to our family that our Christian worldview does and should affect all aspects of our lives and how we process information. 

• They are easy to use.  Regardless of which format you choose to use them in, Progeny Press has made it easy to download and print or download and use these guides.  They are straight forward and while very thorough do not have a bunch of unneeded fluff!

 So do we love them?  Yes!  Do we recommend them!  Absolutely!

With so many to choose from and 4 levels to choose between, you are sure to find one to fit your studies and excite your children!

We are already gearing up for our next one!



Parent Warning- There are some intense scenes in this book, including Maggie's parents disappearing and her brother being injured.  There is talk of funny "creatures" called grey devils, as well as futuristic times of government takeover.  If you have a sensitive child, I would highly recommend you read the book first to determine if your child is ready for it.  Maggie is quite snarky at times and uses the word "butt" often, so we had to have a gentle reminder that was not an attitude or a word we used.

Novare Science & Math- Homeschool Review Crew Review

Have you noticed that Christian Science books are hard to find?  I have been doing this homeschooling thing for 19 years now, and really, it is one of the main subjects I have the hardest time finding curriculum for. Recently, we had the opportunity to review Novare Science & Math's science book, Earth Science: God's World, Our Home. 

Written by Kevin Nelstead and intended to be used by middle school age children, typically in 7th or 8th grade, this 501 page hard-back book packs a punch.  This is one of the most comprehensive science books I have seen in a long time.  It's 15 chapters cover-

• Earth in Space
• Visualizing Earth
• Thinking About Earth
• Matter and Minerals
• Rocks and the Rock Cycle
• Plate Tectonics and Mountain Building
• Volcanoes and Earthquakes
• Weathering, Erosion, and Soils
• Surface Water and Groundwater
• Landforms
• Unraveling Earth's History
• Oceanography
• The Atmosphere
• Weather
• Climate and Air Pollution

At the end you will find an extensive glossary as well as an appendix of minerals.

Also available is a Resource CD loaded with things you will find most helpful.  For the schedule-loving moms out there, (that's me) a 20 week, 5 day a week sample lesson schedule is provided.  Topics are listed as well as the text reading for the day, any learning checks to be completed, as well as quizzes and tests scheduled.   In line with the mastery based approach that Mr. Nelstead uses, beginning in week 3 there is a weekly Review Guide provided to make sure your student is remembering all they have learned so far. There is also a Learning Check guide for each chapter section that provides you as the teacher sample answers to the Learning Checks.  Short answer quizzes and answer keys are also on your Resource CD and are administered once a week, as well as chapter tests.

What is a chapter like?
Each chapter is set up basically the same.  The chapters begin with Objectives and a list of vocabulary words that will be learned.  The main chapter subject is broken up into smaller sections making for easier reading.  At the end of each chapter is a Learning Check.  These Learning Checks are usually 2-6 questions on the material just read and can be answered orally or on paper, depending on your preference.  At the end of each chapter is a more thorough question section called Exercises.  If your child can answer those questions well, they are prepared for the test for sure!  Chapters are generally about 20 pages in length and usually take a week to a week and a half to work through.

Sprinkled throughout each chapter are exquisite pictures, full color maps, and scientific charts to help break up the text and provide visual interest.  Also to be noted are the numerous Bible scriptures that are quoted and referenced.

Our thoughts and usage-
Normally, before we begin any program, review or not, I try to read through the first few chapters myself before I introduce my kids to the program.  Earth Science: God's World, Our Home was no exception. The preface for teachers is a very detailed conversation on how the author feels is best to use this book in teaching and is very informative.  Immediately I was impressed with his thoughts on Mastery teaching, integration and especially Kingdom perspectives.

"The study of Science provides us with unique ways of seeing God's creative presence in the world."

 Yes, and amen!

Unfortunately, and much to my disappointment, this is also where we parted ways in agreement.

"...we accept the mainstream scientific view the the universe is 13.77 billion years old and Earth is about 4.6 billion years old." (p. xvi)

No, we are not old earth believers.  And I do not ever want to make this a place for that argument.  Like Mr. Nelstead, I agree that this is not a thing that needs to divide believers.  Had his belief been mentioned and then moved on, I was very ready to continue the book in our school, even using it as a conversation with my boys about the differences in beliefs, Old Earth and New Earth in particular.  But after comments such as, "We find that according to the soundest principles of Biblical exegesis"  and "the generally accepted value for Earth's age at present is about 4.6 billion years," our family decided this was not a book we were comfortable having the boys use independently.  Ironically, Mr. Nelstead won't even touch the subject of evolution, which to me is no more controversial than the Big Bang theory he supports.

That being said, if you are an old earth believer, or do not have strong feelings one way or another on those teachings, this is a science book worth using.  I found all other information presented to be well laid out and easy to understand.   Even my youngest son (in 5th grade) and I have enjoyed reading several chapters together.  Since we recently had two tornadoes touch down in our area, the Weather chapter has been his favorite, followed by Earthquakes and Volcanoes.  What's with boys?!

You can see what my fellow Crew bloggers had to say about Novare Science & Math by clicking on the banner below.

Also available-
Introductory Physics
General Chemistry
Science for Every Teacher

 

Homeschool Christmas Giveaway- Middle School Bundle

Welcome back to the fun!  We have been blown away by the response to our first two giveaways, so we are thrilled to be able to offer one more just for grins.

Don't forget our Elementary Bundle Giveaway closes Monday Dec. 26th and our Highschool Bundle Giveaway closes Wednesday Dec. 28th so there is still time to enter!

Same rules as before-


There are TWO THREE different bundles you can win!

You can enter to win all, but we will make sure to award TWO THREE different people as the winners.

You supply your address, and I will ship it to you for FREE.  It is our gift to you!

We would love for you to share this post, and visit and like our Family, Faith and Fridays FB page, but none of that is mandatory.

This giveaway is open to US shipping address only!

If you leave a comment, PLEASE make sure you leave a way for us to reach you if you are the winner!!


Middle School Bundle-

FlipStir Puzzle- Level 1 and Level 2
Astronomy- Memoria Press
Math U See- Gamma Level
Heidi- Puffin Classics
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Literary Guide
Sentence Diagramming- The Critical Thinking Company

a Rafflecopter giveaway
  
Blessings,

Visual Learning Systems- Schoolhouse Crew Review

I am so excited to share this review with you!  And trust me when I say that it is a big deal, but because quite frankly, science is not always my favorite subject to teach.  Three cheers for a company that has changed my mind!

For the past 6 weeks, we have been blessed to review an online science program by Visual Learning Systems (VLS) called Digital Science Online: Elementary Edition (Grades K-5) and Digital Science Online: Secondary Edition (Grades 6-12).   VLS is an online program for ages K-12, and based on series of videos covering all aspects of Science.  Yes, Earth, Life, and Physical Science are all covered as well as Health and Biology, in hundreds of videos.   When you access a level, you then choose which area you would like to study, (physical, earth or life) and then which sub category under that.  The sky is the limit with hundreds of videos available.  Don't see a subject you are looking for?  No problem!  There is a search button for each level that will help you locate a specific subject quickly.
.

A little about the videos-

• For ease, the videos are grouped according to level- Primary, Elementary, and Middle/High School.
• Primary videos are about 10-11 minutes in length.  Elementary last about  14-15 minutes and the Middle/High School levels are about 20 minutes.
• Each video is broken down into shorter segments, so that you can watch them like "chapters."
• The videos are narrated by a female in a clear and easy to listen to voice.
• Each video begins with an overview, teaches a concept, reviews, and then ends with a video quiz.
• Throughout the videos are areas that allow you to pause the video to answer questions that are presented, or discuss a concept.
• The videos are mostly live action, but there are also animated sections as well, like how the digestive system works.
• In case it matters to you, this program does meet state science standards as well as Next Generation Science Standards.

When you are done with a video, you have only just begun!  On the side menu of each video are several other options.  One of those options is a student activity tab.  Here you will find numerous worksheets you can print off.  Worksheets include pre and post tests, experiments and other hands on materials, and activity worksheets like fill in the blank and puzzles.

A little about the worksheets-

• Just like the videos, the worksheets are age specific.  Worksheets for younger levels have larger writing and fewer questions.  Tests are the same.
• You will find more than several worksheets per video to print off.
• Activities encourage reading comprehension, writing skills and listening comprehension, as well as creativity.
• Other tabs on each side bar include animations of each video and still pictures.  I would assume these would get used more in a public school setting, but we did look at them in a few cases.
• Worksheet answer keys, as well as full teacher guides are available in a separate teacher's account.

So, how did we use this program?
We are currently in the middle of  2nd grade science so I went into this review thinking this would be "just" an extra fun bonus program.  Plans change, right?  (oh, the glory of homeschooling!)  As soon as we watched ONE of the videos we were hooked!  For the first two weeks, we chose a video to watch one day and then picked several corresponding worksheets to do the following day as a review. We did not do the pre tests, but we did choose to do the post tests to see how much CJ was comprehending.  He scored 100% every time!  Because we had just finished studying animals we used those two weeks to watch as many animal based videos as we could, both at the primary AND secondary levels.
After two weeks, I decided I should move on with our full time curriculum so we changed things up a bit.  You will be surprised at what happened.  Instead of doing less with Visual Learning Systems, we ended up doing more.  After our regularly scheduled science EACH day, we would use the search button to find videos on what we had just learned.  My son and I would sit together and watch the video, with his 7th grade brother even joining us occasionally.  After that I printed out the post test and at least one other worksheet to do.  Yes, it added more work for him. No, not ONCE did he ever complain.  I stand amazed!

What did we think?
We clearly love Visual Learning System's online program.  It is a perfect fit for our son who loves to use the computer in his school day.  While he is not an auditory learner per se, the reinforcement that he is getting each day with a different mode of teaching is helping to solidify the information he is learning,  The videos, of course, just make it more fun.  I would highly recommend this program if you have auditory or visual learners, for sure!

While we found that yes, you can see and hear a difference in the first two levels, CJ, as a 2nd grader had no trouble or preference watching either level.  He did however prefer the worksheets for the primary level, due often to less writing  requirements.  He IS a 7 year old boy, remember!

The activities have made it fun as well.  Our third week we began a unit on the human body and he loved the assignment of tracing his body and drawing in the organs he had learned about that day.  Since we already had a set of x-rays, it was a perfect tie in to our other science.  If your child likes hands on activities, you will find lots to choose from to keep them busy!

For those of you who do not love worksheets, not to worry,  They are comprehensive, but not too much to take up tons of time.  You also of course, can choose not to use any of them if so you desire. The videos can stand alone.  The advantage, of course, to using the worksheets offered is that I believe, you could use this as a complete science program, particularly at the two lower levels.  We did watch a few of the highschool level videos but did not do any of those worksheets, for obvious reasons.

A note to you- Visual Learning Systems is not presented from a Christian point of view.  I think I heard one reference (in 6 weeks worth of usage) about the age of fossils that I did not agree with, coming from a young earth perspective. While at this time, that would not deter me from using this program, you should be aware of that if it would bother you.

Would I change anything?
The only thing I think homeschooling moms would LOVE is if there was a checklist of sorts so you can easily see which of the videos you had already viewed.  We are type A bunch of gals you know! There is a catalog you can access which will show you all of the videos available for each of the levels.

Where do we go from here?
Continuing on, just like the past few weeks!  I am so thrilled to have been introduced to this amazing online Science program.  Already I have seen my son's knowledge grow by leaps and bounds, and my anxiety in teaching science diminish.  Can you believe it- science is actually fun!

Visual Learning Systems has a free preview you can sign up for to see what you think.  The homeschool edition can be purchased for $99.00.

Middlebury Interactive Languages- TOS Review

It is no secret that we love foreign languages in our house.  Well, Spanish in particular.  Our youngest was born in Guatemala and came home speaking only Spanish at 21 months.  Since then we have worked to keep him exposed to his native language and to keep his sibling familiar with the language as well.   (They all need at least two years of a foreign language to graduate from high school anyway, right?) When one does not have a bilingual background it can be quite difficult to do so, but hey, I am determined to try.

Which is why I was so excited to get to try and review Middlebury Interactive Languages. We were given a semester's worth of classes from any one of the available courses, so naturally we chose a  Spanish Course.  Because CJ is currently in the middle of a very busy semester we decided to try the middle school program for our 7th grader.  Lucky for you, you can use Middlebury for ages K-12th grade! Here what is available!

This self-paced program is pretty amazing.  The K-2nd grade program consists of 35 lessons for a semester and the 3rd-5th grade program has 45 lessons per semester.  Middlebury recommends that you cover one lesson for 2-3 days per week.  The middle school and high school programs both have 90 lessons per semester, allowing you to cover a lesson a day for 18 weeks.   Since the program is self paced, you can slow down if needed, which is what we had to do several times.  Some days are pretty heavy in vocabulary and I wanted to make sure my son was retaining the information presented rather than just checking off lessons.  After sitting with him for the first week and following along, he was able to continue the program on his own.

One of the things that attracted me to Middlebury Interactive Languages was the audio and visual content.  Since two of my kiddos learn best with those mediums, I knew this would be a good fit for them.  The content is visual pleasing and yet stimulating and the sound is good quality.  I especially appreciate the use of videos to show real life interactions.  After traveling to Guatemala several years ago, we realized that you can know all the vocabulary in the world and still not be able to communicate effectively.  By exposing ourselves to more natural settings and conversations, we hope to better be able to function in a Spanish speaking country.

Some of the things I like about Middlebury-

• The lessons are broken down into sections that are less intimidating chunks of information.  Each lesson follows a similar pattern but with enough variation to not produce monotony and boredom day after day.
• There is a little fun sprinkled in between some more challenging sections.  Let's face it, matching is a lot less intimidating than writing.  I think Middlebury has done a good job of finding that balance.

• There is a recording function!  Phrases were said and then my son could record himself and play it back to see how he sounded compared to the native speaker.  Love it!

• Once a section has been completed, the title gets checked off to indicate it has been done, making it easy to keep up with where you are when accessing from the table of contents.
• There is automatic grading which is then recorded in a gradebook you can access in the sidebar.  Here you can see not only the grades of your student, but go back to view the items graded as well if you desire to see where exactly they are having problems.

Some challenges we encountered.

• Typing in words and sentences.  This just may be my son, but these sections discouraged him.   It is hard enough to type and spell in your native language, but when trying to do so in one you are just learning, it can be frustrating.  Through a necessary evil I guess.
• There is a calendar with assigned lessons listed that put a lot of pressure on my son to keep up.  We eventually stopped using that calendar and accessed the next lesson in a different sidebar area.  Again, there were a few times we felt the need to repeat a lesson and the calendar was making him crazy!

  Hmmm, that really is about it.  Overall, we really are enjoying using Middlebury Interactive Languages and will continue to do so.  By completing a lesson a day, we are well on our way to better comprehension and speaking.  Maybe even a step closer to a trip back to Guatemala!  I am actually eager to add CJ to an account in the spring semester, as after doing some more research on the younger levels, I think he will really enjoy it as well.  It is a user-friendly program that kids should have no problem using.  You can purchase Middlebury Interactive Languages for $119.00 per semester without a teacher (self paced). Connect with Middlebury- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Middlebury-Interactive-Languages/141015515949753 Twitter: http://twitter.com/MiddInteractive Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/middinteractive/ Google +: https://plus.google.com/b/110371351490550861545/110371351490550861545/posts