Birds of North America Teaching Cards 4-6

Items listed in this section tend to be complete science programs with a teacher and student component, requiring few supplements besides science supplies.

Instilling an academically solid, God-centered understanding of all branches of science from the early elementary years through high school is the mission of this traditional curriculum. Uniquely, Abeka focuses on mastery of the sciences from a young age through two pathways. First, the science curriculum follows a spiral approach to learning, which means students review previously learned concepts each year, expanding on known concepts and learning new material. The second path, if you chose to use Abeka curriculum in other subjects, is the integration of the grade level scope and sequence, which takes the material taught in science and reinforces it in other subjects like language arts and reading comprehension. While this approach is helpful for mastery, it is not necessary to use other Abeka courses to gain a thorough understanding of the sciences. Scripture references are KJV.

Following a traditional philosophy of education, the basic components include a student text and a teacher edition and/or answer key. Student textbooks are full color and written at a level that each learner can read and understand. Teacher edition content will vary depending on the grade. At all grade levels, Abeka science is teacher led and not designed for independent student work, although at the higher levels, students may be able to do some reading and related activities independently. The K-2 teacher guides include all the information needed to teach science successfully from the scope and sequence and lesson plans with teaching notes, to the activity suggestions and answers (except kindergarten). Beginning in Grade 3 through the high school courses, teacher resources have been divided into separate categories. While this may seem overwhelming, targeted teacher resources help parents and teachers find what they need quickly. Additional supplemental resources may be available. Student and teacher books are not reproducible. See individual descriptions for more information. ~Deanne

At the kindergarten level, Abeka prioritizes the 3 Rs: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. Families wishing to introduce science in kindergarten have the option to do so using the God's World course. Designed as an interactive course, children read aloud (or co-read with a parent) the lessons from the consumable softcover textbook, which also includes coloring or activity pages. At this level, early learners will focus on familiar topics to inspire their curiosity. Topics include health and the human body, weather, seasons, seeds and plants, animals, and the seashore. The teacher edition includes smaller formatted student pages, discussion questions, simple demonstrations, and hands-on activities to reinforce the lesson. Parents will also find teaching notes, a scope and sequence and brief lesson plans. It is recommended that science begins after the (also optional) social studies material at this level. There are 29 lessons, with a recommended 3 lessons per week, 20 minutes per lesson schedule. Under this plan, students would finish the curriculum in roughly 10 weeks. I appreciate the instinctive flexibility the number of lessons provides which allows parents to prioritize their child's learning needs and family schedule. Student and teacher material is not reproducible.

Beginning in first grade, science and health are separate, complementary courses. Families may choose to do one or both courses. Science in Grades 1-3 introduces children to God the Master Designer and guides them into understanding God's plan for creation. At this level, student textbooks are consumable. Building upon the foundation of God the Master Designer, the upper elementary levels, grades 4-6, teach foundational scientific principles as well as the process. Glorifying God for His magnificent creation is a central theme, as children learn more about God's orderly, law-abiding creation and refute the man-made idea of evolution. Textbooks are no longer consumable at this level, and families will want to purchase the separate activity books and/or test and quiz books. Worth mentioning, Abeka streamlined the 1st and 2nd grade curriculum lesson plans to help homeschool parents of little ones. At this level, lesson plans cover health, science and history, with single subject teacher guides sold separately. Grades 3-6 curriculum lessons plans (sold separately) combine health and science with history. Teacher guides for Grades 1-6 contain reduced-size student pages with the correct answers, margin teaching notes with reading assignments, discussion/explanatory notes, comprehension questions, activities, exercises, and more. Grade K-2 materials are sold individually. Grade 3-6 materials are sold individually or in the Student Kit and Parent Kit at a kit discount. Both the student and parent kits are necessary to teach one student.

Investigating God's World continues to teach important scientific concepts within the context of what children can see and know, while glorifying God as the sustainer and upholder of His creation. Topics include insects and plants, mammals, vertebrates, geology, oceanography, energy (light), energy and engines, astronomy, and weather. Short biographical information about Christian scientists is also included. Following the Abeka spiral philosophy, previously learned concepts are reviewed as new material is learned. Serving as a helpful refresher, this enables former and new-to Abeka students to have a foundational understanding before moving onto advanced topics. Suggested hands-on activities vary, for example: creating oral reports on mammals, space, and birds, making a bird feeder, growing a crystal garden, collecting and analyzing rocks and minerals, etc. You will need to provide rocks/minerals, a penlight or flashlight, a prism, magnifying glass, Erlenmeyer flask and glass tube (or barometer) and other easily sourced items. Softcover, the textbook provides the readings, hands-on activity suggestions, comprehension checks, and chapter check up questions. Space to record answers is not included, so students will need a separate notebook. Answers to these questions are found in the Investigating God's World Answer Key. The Homeschool Science and Health 5 Curriculum and Lesson Plans provides detailed, day-by-day lesson plans, teaching tips, homework suggestions, games, bible memorization and other enrichment ideas for a 27-week study of Science, and 8-week study of health. It is expected parents will spend 20 minutes per day, 5 days per week teaching science or health, although some children may need longer to complete the readings and activities.

Additional resources include the quiz and worksheet book, test book, and their companion but separate answer keys. The quiz book contains 25 quizzes and 24 worksheets (no answers). Answers are found in the quiz and worksheet answer key. The test book contains 6-unit tests, 2 nine-weeks examinations, and 1 semester examination (no answers). Answers are found in the test book answer key. The test book and the quiz and worksheet book are not reproducible, each student will need their own book. Suggested resources include the Homeschool Science Grades 4-6 Teaching Charts (highly recommended), Birds of North America Teaching Cards and the Flowers and Field Study Cards.

Also available are the Grade 5 Science and Health Parent and Child Kits. Both are recommended for successful teaching. The parent kit includes the Homeschool Science and Health 5 Curriculum Lesson Plans, Investigating God's World Answer Key, Test Key, Quiz and Worksheet Key, the Enjoying Good Health Answer Key, and the Quiz, Test, and Worksheet Key. The child kit includes the Investigating God's World textbook, Test Book, Quiz and Worksheet Book and the Enjoying Good Health text and Quiz, Test, and Worksheet Book.