Christian Kids Explore Chemistry
Review
Review by Cathy Duffy.Suggested for children in grade four through eight, this is more than a simple introduction to chemistry. In 384 pages, the authors cover the basics of chemistry, including some topics often reserved for a high school course. But they do so in a way that really is understandable for younger students. They use a conversational style and lots of familiar examples to which children can relate. While you might occasionally find topics like "covalent bonds" that are beyond your fourth or fifth grader, most of the presentation is so clear and so concrete in the way its taught that most students will understand AND enjoy the lessons. You might even use this if you've got a high schooler who struggles with chemistry.
The book begins with lessons on matter, measurement, elements, mixtures, compounds, atoms, molecules, the periodic table, mass and atomic number. Then it advances into chemical bonds, formulas, names of compounds, acids, bases, and chemical reactions. The next section deals with states of matter, and the final section gets into organic chemistry.
Lesson presentation will depend upon the age and abilities of your child(ren). While older students might read the lessons directly from the book on their own, you will want to at least read the lessons to younger students, perhaps paraphrasing or skipping difficult sections as needed. Following the lesson information is a "Review It" with fill-in-the blanks questions that depend only upon listening and comprehension at this point. You should photocopy these pages as well as those for unit reviews, worksheets, and coloring pages.
Some sort of hands-on activity is used to reinforce or help teach each lesson. These are frequently experiments but sometimes they are things like building models of molecules, creating cards for elements of the periodic table, completing observation forms, doing word searches, or coloring the coloring pages.
"Think About It" questions that come next in the lesson might be used for either written work or discussion. These challenge students to understand and apply some creative thought to the lessons. Each of the five units concludes with a "Unit Wrap-Up" test. Answers are at the back of the book.
To make things easier for parents/teachers, at the beginning of each unit you will find a list of objectives, vocabulary words, and materials needed for all activities for the unit. Materials are mostly common household items, with the exception of things like styrofoam balls, Alka Seltzer, and safety glasses.
Appendices include the periodic table, a list of elements and their symbols, extensive resource lists, recommended biographies, and a list of notable chemists to research. There's also an index.
The book contains a total of thirty lessons. Each lesson should probably be covered over two days (lessons twice a week). Plan to spend from one to one and a half hours per day. Doing so, you will complete the book in one school year.
While parents/teachers will need to do some lesson preparation, it really is minimal. Lessons are laid out so clearly that this course should be very easy to use.
Although the book is intended for a Christian audience, the only references I found were about God as Creator in the introduction for four of the five units and at the beginning to of the first lesson, plus in regard to a few items in the resource section. The references are so generic they would be fine for any family who shares the belief in God as Creator. It would be very easy for parents or teachers with other beliefs to use this book with very minimal adaptation.
Also read Cathy's reviews of The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide, The Mystery of History, and Christian Kids Explore Biology.
Product Review by Kris Price, Assistant to the Publishers, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC
I reviewed Christian Kids Explore Biology (CKEB) not too long ago and Bright Ideas Press sent me Christian Kids Explore Chemistry (CKEC) to review, too! I'm so excited about this series. To be honest, I never found the "perfect" Biology, Chemistry or Physics curriculum until this year, too late to use with my daughter unfortunately. However, she is a smart girl and I'm sure the Apologia series will be just fine for her. I feel very blessed to have been sent CKEB, CKEC and the Noeo Physics curriculum to review because I now have my son's 5th-7th grade years all lined up!
If you have used or like CKEB, then you'll also like Christian Kids Explore Chemistry because it's set up in a similar manner. First, there is the Teaching Time (text w/vocabulary words defined in the sidebar) followed by a hands-on simple experiment. Lessons also include Review It and Think About It sections which include thinking questions for the child to answer. Sidebar areas include space for additional notes as well as Scriptures to read and/or memorize and special little notes of interest in the Discovery Zones spaces. At the end of each unit, there are Show What You Know! questions for the child to answer. I would use these as a unit test.
At the beginning of each unit, the parent is given a list of items that are needed for the experiments in that unit as well as a list of goals for the student to accomplish by the time they reach the end of the unit. In the back of the text, after all of the lessons, is a complete Glossary and reproducible coloring pages for keeping those hands busy while Mom is reading! Appendix A contains the Element Tables as well as a Periodic Table. Appendix B is a Resource List which contains recommended books to read and/or videos to watch during each lesson. Appendix C contains a nice list of biographies to consider reading about and notable scientists to research. The final section of the book is the Answer Key for the Unit tests. All in all, there are 30 lessons in the text of CKEC.
Maggie Hogan, the owner of Bright Ideas Press, has told me there is a 3rd book in the series coming out this summer about Earth and Space. You can get a sneak peek at the Table of Contents here. If it is as good as these first 2 books, then it's bound to be a winner, too! Maybe I'll be lucky enough to get a copy of Earth and Space to review ... hey, Maggie!!! LOL!
Christian Kids Explore Chemistry
Authors: Robert W. Ridlon, Jr. and Elizabeth J. Ridlon
Bright Ideas Press, 2006
384 Pages – Grades 5-8*
5 Units- 30 Lessons
Glossary
Detailed Coloring Pages
Element Tables
Biographical Appendix
Optional Resource List
Unit Tests & Answer Keys
In this latest addition to the Christian Kids Explore science series,
serious effort has been made to make the principles of chemistry easy to
understand. Each of the 5 units contains from 5-8 lessons. Each unit
begins by listing the learning objectives, vocabulary, and a materials
list. Each lesson explains one concept at a time, followed by a "Review
It" section and a hands-on experiment or activity. There are 30 lessons,
allowing one lesson per week. The authors recommend teaching twice a
week, allowing 60-90 minutes per lesson. The important foundational
concepts of each lesson are represented by the "Review It" discussion
questions at the end of each lesson. By focusing on them and patiently
taking ample time to read and comprehend the material, your student can
master the basics of chemistry.
Concepts covered include the following: defining and measuring matter,
examining mixtures and compounds, making a set of element cards and
learning to read the periodic table; atoms and molecules, including
building models of both; chemical bonds, compounds, and reactions;
acids, bases, salts, solids, liquids and gases; hydrocarbons.
Each lesson also includes a few "Think About It" questions. These
questions are intended to challenge the student to understand and apply
the concepts taught. Each unit ends with a multiple choice test, answer
key included in the appendices.
A variety of hands-on activities are used to reinforce each lesson.
These are frequently experiments but sometimes they are things like
building models of molecules, creating cards for elements of the
periodic table, completing observation forms, doing word searches, or
coloring the coloring pages. Throughout the text, God is given
credit as the creator of the universe. Each lesson includes a Scripture
verse for contemplation.
Materials needed for hands-on activities and experiments can be found in
almost any household. They include items such as coffee filters, salt
and sugar, cereal bowls, aluminum pie plates, and plastic margarine
tubs. Two items that may not be commonly found are adhesive labels and
an optional freezer thermometer. Wanting your student to take seriously
their role as a young scientist, and to provide a safe learning
environment, safety glasses or goggles and a protective smock are
recommended for use during experiments. Scientists use the metric scale,
so an ordinary household measuring cup marked in milliliters or a
graduated cylinder is required. To make the chemical models, Styrofoam
balls of varying sizes, tempera paint, straws, and toothpicks are
needed. 3x5 index cards are used for element cards. Coloring pages can
be colored using crayon, colored pencil, or markers.
The Biographical Appendix has a list of both optional books and a name
list of over a hundred notable chemists to research.
The Resource List includes titles from Usborne and Eyewitness Science.
The authors have attempted to note the difficulty of some of the book
references by listing age appropriateness. Due to a lack of explicitly
Christian resources on chemistry topics, the authors make it clear that
their book references may address topics such as evolution and thoughts
contrary to Biblical thought so that parents can use their own
discretion in the use of the materials. There are references on
experiments/science fairs and educational and chemistry kits. DVD and
other optional resources can be found by going to the publisher’s
website
www.brightideaspress.com.
The authors (both college professors and authors of Creation Science
books) enjoy chemistry. It is obvious by their conversational teaching
style, fun use of alliteration, and their choice of simple and fun-to-do
experiments and activities. By building concept upon concept and with
constant review, they attempt to build in student success.
*While you might occasionally find topics like “covalent bonds” that are
beyond your fourth or fifth grader, most of the presentation is so clear
in the way it’s taught that most students will understand and enjoy the
lessons. This would even be an excellent course for a high school
student who struggles with chemistry.
Review by Linda Shipman
Homeschooling Consultant
Former Homeschool Librarian