Berean Builders provides homeschool Christian science curriculum for K-12 learners designed to encourage critical thinking.
{I received a copy of Science in the Atomic Age for free and was compensated for my time in writing this review. All views are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.}
About Berean Builders Christian Homeschool Science
Berean Builders strives to create quality materials that will enrich the homeschool experience. They offer rich textbooks, online and self-paced classes, an extensive resource links page for each book, as well as answer keys and tests.
You may have noticed I didn’t mention workbooks in that list. It is true, there are no workbooks, but I think you’ll really like the reason why.
Why no workbook? “Copying a question causes the brain to store information in a more effective manner as well as requiring the student to think about the question as they’re copying it prior to answering. A blank notebook allows them the freedom to write as much or as little as they want (or make a drawing as big or as little as they want) rather than being constrained by a preprinted box or number of lines or feeling inadequate because they didn’t use all the space available.”
Elementary Science
Berean Builders offers 5 elementary level science options:
- Science in the Beginning – the first book in a hands-on, multilevel elementary science series that introduces scientific concepts using history as its guide. Because each lesson is built around an activity or experiment, it is engaging for all K-6 students.
- Science in the Ancient World – This course covers the scientific work of natural philosophers who lived from about 600 BC to the early AD 1500s. It concentrates mostly on what these ancient scientists got right, but it does spend some time discussing what they got wrong, because even the mistakes that scientists make can sometimes advance our understanding of the natural world.
- Science in the Scientific Revolution – Because the course covers science as it was developed, it discusses a wide range of topics including astronomy, human anatomy, medicine, botany, zoology, heliocentrism, geocentrism, gases, pressure, electricity, fossils, microbiology, binary numbers, gravity, conservation laws, and the laws of motion. Throughout the course, the student learns that most of the great natural philosophers who lived during this time were devout Christians who were studying the world around them to learn more about the nature of God.
- Science in the Age of Reason – covers the scientific works of natural philosophers from the early 1600s to the early 1800s. Students learn not only the science that was being discovered at the time, but also the beliefs of the natural philosophers who were discovering it. As a result, students can see how a person’s worldview affects his or her scientific conclusions.
- Science in the Industrial Age – covers the scientific advances made from the early 1800s to the early 1900s. Because the course covers science as it was developed, it discusses a wide range of topics including medicine, human physiology, cell biology, evolution, chemistry, geology, electricity, magnetism, heat, light waves, sound waves, radioactivity, and conservation laws.
Middle School Science
Berean Builders offers 2 middle school level science options:
- Science in the Atomic Age – This laboratory-based, junior high science course covers a wide range of topics that are of interest to modern scientists. It starts by describing our current understanding of atoms, molecules, the chemicals that are necessary for life, DNA, and cells. These topics are all discussed in the context of history, explaining how specific scientific advances led to the scientific explanations that the students are being taught. This course is focused on learning through experiments and other hands-on activities. While students will not do an experiment or activity every day they do science, they will have more days with an experiment or activity than days without one.
- Discovering Design with Earth Science – This laboratory-based earth science course can be used for either eighth or ninth grade. This course covers the general properties of the earth’s geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
High School Science
Berean Builders offers 4 high school level science options:
Discovering Design with Earth Science – This laboratory-based earth science course can be used for either eighth or ninth grade. Even if it is completed during the 8th grade year it can be counted as a high school science credit.
Discovering Design with Biology – is a laboratory-based high school biology course that is the first biology course a college-bound student should take. It gives the student an introduction to how living organisms are designed, how they interact with one another, and how they interact with their physical environment. This course consists of 180 hours of instruction, 40 of which involve hands-on experiments.
Discovering Design with Chemistry – a high school chemistry course designed for students who have completed Algebra 1. This independent-study, college-preparatory course covers fundamental aspects of chemistry such as the classification of matter, atomic structure, spectroscopy, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, physical change, chemical change, stoichiometry, solutions, ideal gases, acid/base chemistry, reduction/oxidation reactions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, and chemical equilibrium. Weaving together concepts and their mathematical applications, the course teaches students how to think as a chemist so they can analyze the major changes that occur in matter.
Discovering Design with Physics – This laboratory-based high school physics course is the first physics course a college-bound student should take. It gives the student an introduction to the basics, such as Newton’s Laws of Motion, Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, work, energy, and power, waves, sound, and light, electrical potential, electric fields, circuits, resistance, and current, magnetism, and magnetic fields. Requires geometry and knowledge of sine, cosine, and tangent.
A Note About Choosing the Order of High School Science Courses: “A student’s mathematics level is the key factor for his or her success or failure in the high school sciences. If you make sure that your child is well prepared mathematically for the science course he or she will take, you will have gone a long way toward assuring your student’s academic success.”
Using Berean Builders Science in the Atomic Age
Berean Builders Science in the Atomic Age is a Christian, laboratory-based middle school level science curriculum. If you have a kid that loves to be hands-on, this curriculum is it! There are more days of hands-on activities than not!
Topics Covered In Science in the Atomic Age
- The Scientific Method and Experimentation
- Our Model of the Atom
- Elements and Compounds
- Covalent Compounds
- Chemistry in Living Things
- The Cell
- More on Prokaryotic Cells
- Plants
- Tissues
- Skin and Bones
- Muscles and Blood
- The Respiratory and Lymphatic Systems
- The Digestive and Renal Systems
- The Nervous and Endocrine Systems
- Organism, Population, and Community
- Ecosystem, biome, Biosphere
One of the ways Berean Builders science curriculum is different is in their ordering of science. Instead of working through science by topic, they do it chronologically (see the elementary series). This book is a continuation of what was done in the elementary years of Berean Builders science. It covers some of the scientific concepts we have learned since the beginning of the 20th century.
“Science studies the works of the Lord, and as you will learn in this course, they are truly magnificent!”
Components of Science in the Atomic Age
- Textbook
- Answer Key & Tests
- Optional Items: Audio Book, Online Class
At first glance this would seem like your typical curriculum set up. But there are hidden gems within, that make this curriculum so much more!
Special Features of Berean Builders Science Curriculum
1. Course Website
There is a website that goes along with course. It contains specific resources per chapter. It includes helpful videos (LOTS OF VIDEOS) and links to articles with more information. I am finding this to be a great enhancement to the text as the videos give visual learners the much need visual input and each video is full of pertinent information to each topic being studied!
2. Question/Answer Service
Every homeschool parent, at one point another, would love to have a teacher in their corner. Sometimes we just don’t know it all and could use some help. Berean Builders have given that to us with their Question/Answer Service! So have no fear, help is near!
There is an entire archive of previously asked (and answered) questions, all broken down by chapter. You can also search for something specific in the search bar. You can view this portion without registering. If you want to ask your own questions all you have to do is register (it’s FREE)!
I have reviewed and used a ton of different science curricula. Both as part of our homeschool as well as through reviewing. I can honestly say I am a little blown away by the depth of well thought out resources within this curriculum. If you are looking for a comprehensive, Christian science curriculum for any grade level, I definitely recommend checking Berean Builders out!
More Homeschool Science Resources
The Ultimate Guide to Homeschool Science – Looking for homeschool science options? Then look no further than this Ultimate Guide to Homeschool Science! Full curriculum options, supplemental resources and more! Both secular and Christian options as well!
Sonlight Discover & Do Science F – Are you looking for a quality open and go science program for your homeschool? Sonlight offers complete and easy-to-use hands-on science programs from kindergarten to college-level lab sciences.
Using Home Science Tools in Your Homeschool – We are so excited to be sharing these 3 extensive chemistry lessons for high school using Home Science Tools in your homeschool!
Using the Magic School Bus Books for Homeschool Science – The classic series consists of 10 books covering topics from the 5 senses to bees, space to dinosaurs. Note: The books are not from a Christian viewpoint, and as such you will come across references to ‘millions of years’, but these information packed books provide a great opportunity to discuss your beliefs with your children on such topics when you feel they are ready.
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