Once students have learned all about the creatures of the air and the basics of zoology, they can take a trip into the depths and discover all the strange and unique creatures of the sea, lakes, and rivers. They’ll learn about the special features of swimming creatures, the different watery environments they live in, what their lifestyles are like, and the special circumstances they deal with. Then they take a closer look at specific groups of swimming creatures, including whales, seals, sea cows, sea turtles, sea snakes, sea frogs and toads, primeval reptiles (like plesiosaurs), fish, sharks, rays, crustaceans, cephalopods, echinoderms, cnidarians, sponges, leeches, and more. As they study these creatures, they’ll create replicas of them to add to an ongoing “Ocean Box,” and conduct neat experiments like discovering the insulating power of fat, investigating how electrical current travels through salt water vs. fresh water, and determining how much of a role temperature plays in tadpole development. They’ll also add to their notebooks by drawing the animals in them, comparing and contrasting animals, and much more. Whether the ocean is a familiar place to your children or not, they’ll be equally fascinated by learning about the unique creatures beneath the water.

Customer Reviews

 
Kelly P. from Florida wrote the following on 06/14/2007:
If you are looking for a thorough science curriculum to use with a variety of ages (K-8) with little prep time, this is the curriculum for YOU!!! Author Jeannie Fulbright is a homeschooling mom solving the same issues we face every day. Here she has made a thorough science curriculum that is fun and meaningful. My two daughters (K and 4th) loved building the light hut and growing plants and all of the various experiments we did. The thing we loved the most was that everything we grew we used for another experiment later on in the book. The cost is extremely low compared to other science curriculum and the supplies needed for each lesson are listed in detail. I've used her courses in a co-op setting and had fabulous reviews from the children and parents there as well. As a former middle school science teacher with a Masters in Curriculum I say this is a tremendous course for any elementary or middle school child.

 
Mindy O. from Quad Cities, IL wrote the following on 06/14/2009:
The Apologia Elementary Science books have been just what I have always wanted. We participated in a Co-op this past year where they used Zoology 2 for the 1st - 6th graders. All of my children learned things I had never known. We were so excited about it that we are doing another volume with a smaller group over the summer. The children don't mind doing summer work when it is this interesting and fun!

 
Erika H. from California wrote the following on 01/21/2007:
My older daughter does not love studying science, but she loves botany. As a sixth-grader, she used Apologia Elementary Botany independently, and it is one of the best homeschool courses we've encountered. She learned and retained so much, and her interest spilled over into creating botanical watercolor and photography as well. The Apologia course requires little prep beyond gathering materials for projects and experiments. Guided notebooking and art activities make it extremely easy to use. It's both scientifically sound and biblically solid. It is ideal for Charlotte Mason learners and those who want to take that extra step beyond simple nature study.

 
Colleen Y. from Ohio wrote the following on 04/13/2007:
I didn't get much of a chance to use this book for "school" because my 12 year old picked it up and devoured it without my prompting! He walked around all the while he was reading it spewing out facts about the solar system that I didn't know myself. We enjoy all of Jeannie Fulbright\'s books.

 
Stephanie M. from GA wrote the following on 08/28/2007:
My 9 year old daughter LOVES the Apologia Elementary books, she loves the activities, the straight-forward (not dumbed down) and very detailed presentation of all the topics. She literally BEGS to do science now thanks to Apologia. All of these books are very well rounded Science texts, they include very thorough and up to date scientific information on each subject. They are suitable as a read aloud to younger children or as independent reading for children ages 6+ who are able to read very well on their own. There are many projects throughout each text for you to do with your child (teens may be able to do them independently). Instead of tests your child works on notebook pages and with frequent review (looking at their own work) the concepts really sink in far better than testing. Throughout the text your child will be introduced to the false evolutionary concepts and then given scientific facts which refute that theory and reinforce the fact that God is THE awesome Creator. I HIGHLY recommend all of the elementary Apologia books.

 
Heidi G. from New London, WI wrote the following on 05/09/2008:
What a wonderful Christian resource! This was the first time we've used this "series"...wish we had done so a year or two earlier. Our 9 and 11 year olds went through it and I believe it has enough depth to span up to 8th grade, just require appropriate responses on the notebook pages.(Even at the 6th grade level our son gave more information than there was room for on the supplied pages.) I enjoyed it and the kids both have really wonderful botany notebooks and a story/book they each wrote that we will long cherish! Gratefully, Heidi

 
Alissa R. from Lexington, NE wrote the following on 06/16/2008:
I did Zoology 1 with our 7 year old this last year and he really enjoyed it. He often can remember the facts we cover better than I do. If my husband is nearby when we are doing science he joins us as he finds these books so interesting. Yet the language and format are simple enough for young children to enjoy also. Even my 3 year old loves to sit down and leaf through the book just to see all the wonderful pictures. She asks many questions about the photos. I know she is learning too. I only had one child formally using Zoology 1, but my children ages 3 and 5 enjoyed being involved with the projects. I love the fact that the projects are simple and the supplies are inexpensive (often they are items we already have). This curriculum has really given my son a good foundation in science as well as a desire to continue to learn more. My sons will be 8 and 6 soon and I am looking forward to using Zoology 2 with both of them next year.

 
Rachel S. from Oklahoma wrote the following on 07/19/2008:
As not only a homeschooling mother, but as someone who was homeschooled herself, I must say I truly wish these books would have been around back when I was a child. Not only do my children (4-9 yrs old) ALL love this book, but I do as well. It is well written, simple enough even my 4 yr old enjoys reading, and is learning, yet solid and in-depth enough I am learning along with them. And best of all we are ALL enjoying it! The free notebooking pages are great, and the yahoo group (where you can ask questions and view messages from other users as well as the author herself) is a valuable resource for the entire series. My boys are already looking forward to the rest of the books, and I must admit so am I !!! I plan to use them all, at least once, and most likely will revisit them at a later date with at least my younger two. If you want a solid, and God honoring, basis for science on an elementary level this series is the best I have ever seen or heard about! ~Rachel (Homeschooling 3 boys, and loving learning with them!)

 
Michelle B. from MN wrote the following on 08/20/2008:
I love this series. We used Astronomy last year. I did try to use it with my Kindergartner, but she only would listen on some of the lessons. Even so, she picked up alot more than most books because of the projects and notebooking activities. My 3rd Grader read alot of it herself and I helped her with the projects. Some of the projects, like the one at the end, was a bit much for our family (space, supplies, etc) but the other projects were do-able. We loved spending the entire year learning the planets. I would highly recommend this product! We have used others, like BJU, but came away disappointed with not being able to truly learn about subjects in depth. The price is affordable and the learning is lifelong. My kids still talk about this book a year later.

 
Therese W. from Hingham wrote the following on 09/15/2008:
We are loving the Astronomy book and plan on using the rest of the Apologia Elementary Science Books. The lapbooks & lesson plans are great tools with this book, I can't wait to start 3rd grade with Exploring Creation with Botany.

 
Wendy P. from United States wrote the following on 01/16/2009:
Let me just say my daughter LOVES the astronomy book! If it was up to her we would probably be finished by now because she just wants to keep going. I love that it is presented from a biblical view, the notebooking and projects are easy to do and add to the whole learning experience. This is our first year HSing and we were blessed to find this book! Oh, by the way my son who is a junior in public school read it too!!

 
Toni F. from White Marsh MD 21162 wrote the following on 02/26/2009:
We have used other programs by these folks and have learned a lot. We've just begun this one and have really enjoyed it. It can be made meaty enough for older kids and it can be followed by my youngest as well. I love these type of programs where the whole family is learning together

 
Heather D. from Mississippi wrote the following on 03/28/2009:
I have often joked over the last few years that I needed a very special science curriculum. Not only did I need one that was scientifically accurate and presented from a Christian perspective, but I also needed one that would be suitable for us to do as a family... AND... one that would either teach for me or motivate me enough to actually include science in our routine! I know, I know... my husband is a Biology/ General Science teacher! How could I not like science? Why do you think we got married? He helped me in the sciences, and I wrote his papers for him! :) Just kidding! (sort of!) I don't think I ever had a science teacher who spoke the ENGLISH language... they all spoke some unfamiliar tongue that I did NOT understand! Consequently, I have had a lack of motivation, interest, whatever... in the area of teaching science. This is not something I am proud of, especially since all four (3 youngest, esp.) of my children LOVE anything having to do with science. This year, we started using Jeannie Fulbright's Exploring Creation series. EUREKA! WE'VE GOT IT! All four of my qualifications have been met... I am actually doing science... and understanding it! :) The lessons are manageable, and there are corresponding notebook activities with each section. Students do narrations, nature study activities, and experiments (which are very simply laid out using household materials). Also, the book is very affordable (you only need one per family). I won't ramble forever, but I do want to give an example. I have never understood the concept of photosynthesis... I knew it involved some series of letters and numbers... Csomething + H2O, etc... However, thanks to Ms. Fulbright, the kids and I can have a discussion about the way a plant makes food! I asked the girls to write a paragraph explaining photosynthesis in their own words. Here is what they wrote: Sarah- "Photosynthesis is a process where the plant makes food. It pulls in CO2 and water and makes sugar and lets air out." Hannah- "Photosynthesis is a process in which the plants' leaves make food for the plant. The plant takes light, water, and CO2 to make sugar to feed the plant. when it does this, it also makes oxygen for us to breathe."

 
Kirsten B. from Levan, UT wrote the following on 07/27/2009:
Our whole family loves the Apologia Science books! They are so easy to use, very little teacher prep, the text is written like the author is right there speaking to us. The lessons are packed with fun information, colorful pictures and drawings to illustrate the concepts. Lab/experiment supplies are conveniently listed for each Lesson, which makes assessing the "need to gets" and "already haves" quick and easy. The elementary level books do not have unit tests, so for my kids that like to test, we review the narrative questions(answers are in the back of the book)and play games with the vocabulary words from the unit. The activities are fun and engaging for all ages, my children have beautiful journals, and scrapbooks from every book we have completed to show off to grandparents when they visit. Skeptical grandparents (one is retired from public education) have been very impressed with the hands on learning and the in depth understanding my children have gained from these books. We love Apologia Science!