Apologia Review: Exploring Creation with Zoology 1

     This is our family's second experience with Apologia.  Last time my oldest son had a great experience with Apologia's I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist.  This time it was my youngest son's turn.  He is really enjoying his new Apologia Elementary science curriculum: Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day.  My son loves birds and insects, so this is a great curriculum for him. 

     Whenever I introduce a new curriculum to my kids I always get a little nervous--wondering what they'll think.  I have to tell you.  My son really enjoys this science curriculum.  In fact, the first day or two we had it, he hid away in his room and skipped ahead to read a chapter or two on insects.  He then walked up to me and proceeded to tell me everything he learned.  What's so funny is that without realizing it, he was "narrating" to me what he had read.  "Narrating" is always an assignment given to the child after he finishes reading a section in the book.  He was completing an assignment without even knowing it!  (Even now that he knows that the narrations are required, he still enjoys telling me all he read about.)
     I usually try to avoid "boring" textbooks, but this textbook seems a lot more friendly.  It has totally engaged my 11-year-old.  Besides readings, the text also includes notebooking assignments, experiments and project directions.

    

    

 

     The thing that grabbed my attention about this curriculum was seeing the "Notebooking Journal" pages on Apologia's website.  The pages are so creatively done.  They seemed that they would make you want to fill it out!  We were not disappointed when we received them in the mail.  My son loves writing and drawing in his notebook.  The Notebooking Journal goes right along with what is in the text.  Each lesson your child will have a few pages where they write what they've learned about and illustrate with pictures. (My son loves the drawing aspect!)  There will be pages to record data from experiments, review questions, Bible verse copywork, crossword puzzles, mini books (think lapbooking) and more.  I think the variety is what makes this so appealing to my child.  (*Note: it is not absolutely required to purchase the Notebooking Journal.  There are instructions in the text for how to make your own. There is a "Junior" version for children approximately Kindergarten-3rd grade.  My son is in 6th grade, so we use the regular Notebooking Journal, which is recommended for 3rd-6th or 4th-6th grades.)

 

 

 

     As you can tell, we are crazy about this curriculum.  We plan to use it for the remainder of the school year.  (We've already looked ahead and planned our shopping list for the next experiment.)  Who wouldn't like it?  If you really love textbooks with easy-to-grade questions at the end of the chapter, then this is probably not for you.  Apologia's Zoology is very dynamic, but it does take time to prepare and gather materials.  We think it's well worth the extra effort.  

Cost of Product:  Text: $39/Notebooking Journal: $24

Also available from Apologia: Zoology 2: Exploring Creation Swimming Creatures
Zoology 3 Exploring Creation with Land Animals
Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology

Go here to see more review from my friends at TOS crew:
http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/apologia-science-review/

 



 

Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.   All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.