The Young Explorer Series from Apologia
This wonderful
book uses the classical and Charlotte Mason methodology to give
elementary school students an introduction to our solar system and
the universe that contains it. Narration and notebooking are used
to encourage logical ordering, retention, and more. Each lesson in
the book is organized with a narrative, some notebook work, an
activity, and a project. Although designed to be read by the parent
to elementary students of various grade levels, it is possible for
students at a 4th grade level to read this book on their own.
The book
begins with a lesson on the nature of astronomy, and then it covers
the major structures of our solar system. Starting with the sun and
working towards Pluto, the student will learn details about all
nine planets (or is it eight? - your student will have to decide)
in the solar system. Along the way, the student will also learn
about earth’s moon, the asteroid belt, and the Kuiper belt. After
that, the student will move outside our solar system and learn
about the stars and galaxies that make up God’s incredible
universe. Finally, the student will learn about space travel and
what it takes to be an astronaut!
As you might
expect from a book that uses the Charlotte Mason approach, the
student notebook is emphasized in every lesson. Students are told
to make illustrations for each lesson and are given notebook
assignments to reinforce what they have learned. Notebook
assignments include making a mnemonic phrase to remember the order
of the planets in the solar system, making a comic strip called "A
Day on Venus," making a advertisement to sell the earth and
more.
The activities
and projects use easy-to-find household items and truly make the
lessons come alive! They include making a solar eclipse, making
craters like those found on Mercury, simulating the use of radar to
determine hidden landscape, keeping track of the phases of the
moon, making a telescope, making fog, and making an astrometer to
measure the brightness of a star.
Most
importantly, of course, a creationist world view is stressed
throughout. Time and time again, God is glorified as the Master
Creator of all that the students are studying. In addition,
sections entitled "Creation Confirmation" provide evidence for
young-earth creationism in the context of the topic that the
students are studying.
We recommend
that you spend the entire year covering this book, devoting
approximately two sessions per week to the course. The sessions
will be something like 30 minutes to an hour, depending on exactly
what you are doing on that day. Of course, if you want to cover the
book in less than a year, you will simply have to devote more time
to it.
