Homeschool Review Crew - A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks of Apologia Astronomy

My daughter loves lapbooks, and she is currently using Apologia's Astronomy as her science curriculum, so it couldn't have been more perfect when I got a chance to review the Exploring Creation With Astronomy 2nd Edition lapbook from A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks that I was able to select from the Apologia Curriculum page on the A Journey Through Learning site.

Other members of the Crew got a chance to review:

Classical Conversations Cycle 3 JUNIOR Activity Book Grades K-2

Classical Conversations Cycle 3 Activity Book Grades 3-6

Other Apologia Elementary titles found at the Apologia Curriculum page. (Most for Grades 2-7). Current titles include:

• Apologia Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day Lapbook
• Apologia Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day Lapbook
• Apologia Land Animals of the Sixth Day Lapbook
• Apologia Exploring Creation with Botany Lapbook
• Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy (1st Edition) Lapbook
• Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy (2nd Edition) Lapbook
• Apologia Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology Lapbook

An Overview of the 20th Century and Study Guide Grades 2-7

The Greatest Inventors  and Study Guide Grades 2-8

What is A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks Apologia Astronomy?

Lapbooks use file folders to create books filled with mini-books and other interactive components that provide a hands-on, interactive learning tool for unit studies and to correspond with some popular homeschooling curriculum. A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks provides instruction and everything you need in one handy, easy-to-follow packet. What sets A Journey Through Learning above other lapbooks is in the way it is designed to flow well as you work. There is not jumping around trying to figure out where you left off or what section you use next. It all goes in order, provides an answer key along with some other extras like book lists and report forms at the end of the lapbook.

The Apologia curriculum corresponding lapbooks are available for purchase pre-printed or as a pdf download. If you choose a download, you can choose either full color or a format that can be colored by your student. For the review, I received a download pdf format with full-color illustrations. The Astronomy download corresponds with the lesson modules and includes a file folder lapbook for each chapter in Jeannie Fulbright's Apologia Our Exploring Creating with Astronomy text. It even has a lesson plan built-in which lists the pages to read each day as you build your lapbooks. The directions are included at the top of each mini-booklet page. To complete the entire course, you will need 14 file folders and some common school supplies, such as glue, scissors, and crayons, pen or pencil. The lapbook is 158 pages and includes everything you need to complete each section including: Mini-booklets with Instructions Lesson Plan Answer Key Website and Book Suggestions Enrichment Pages Book Log Planet Book Report Page Narration Form for Younger Students Narration Form for Older Students Other Products From A Journey Through Learning

All we needed to get started was to follow the Materials List:

How Did We Use It?

I have a 10-year old who is EXTREMELY hands-on in her learning. She is a little artist and always wants to keep her hands busy, so this was right up our alley. Why use only worksheets or workbooks alone when you can make the entire lesson interactive.  This was PERFECT TIMING for us because this is the exact curriculum we are using for science this year. My daughter loves lapbooks, so adding this to her science curriculum to go along with her learning was absolutely wonderful!

I downloaded the full-color version of the lapbook, and then we headed out of town for a couple weeks, so when I went to print it, the hotel's printer only had black ink. So, my loves-to-color daughter added her own color to the pages. As much as I love the full-color illustrations that are included on the download, I was very pleased with the added artistic touch of her being able to color the images. She loved this too!

What Did We Think?

Lapbooks are a fun hands-on way for students to expand their learning on a topic. The booklets are easy to assemble using file folders and other materials you probably already have in your schooling items around the house such as cardstock, glue, scissors, crayons stapler, etc. Each portion of the lapbooks include miniature booklets, display notes sections, and other interactive components that the student assembles and attaches to the lapbook file folders. Once all of the pieces are completed and attached to the file folder lapbook, the project is complete.

I loved the way the lapbook is laid out. I've used other lapbooks, and this one really is easier to follow. I appreciated the answer key and extra pages, but I had a little trouble accessing some of the websites. Maybe my antivirus program was just working overtime to block everything, but I couldn't access the extra website recommendations directly from the pdf. Mostly, I was able to find the information by doing a Google search using the website but not always. Other than that, the actual lapbook has been and will continue to be a supplemental addition to my daughter's science curriculum that will help reinforce her learning of astronomy.

FIND A JOURNEY THROUGH LEARNING ON SOCIAL MEDIA @:

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Read what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought by clicking on the picture below:

TOS Review - Apologia Astronomy, 2nd Edition

Sometimes, a review comes along that is just so exciting that it has me jumping up and down with joy! This is one of those. I love Apologia Educational Ministries materials I have used in the past, and was excited to see this one as well. Needless to say, I was thrilled to get a chance to review Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition from Apologia Educational Ministries.

What is Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition from Apologia Educational Ministries?

I received the complete set:

• Hardcover Student Text
• Paperback, Large Spiral-Ring Notebooking Journal (for Grades 3/4 or Older)
• Paperback, Large Spiral-Ring Jr. Notebooking Journal (for Grades K-2/3)
• Audio CD with mp3 Files

The text presents the material. The notebooking journal serves as a sort of lab manual or findings sheet, with the choice to use the Jr. Notebooking Journal for younger kids to keep it on the proper learning level. An addition that pleasantly surprised me was the mp3 audio book files. These are so perfect for learning on the go. You can even transfer them to your child's iPod for convenience. Also referenced in the material is the Field Trip Journal, which I had the privilege of previously reviewing as did the entire TOS Crew review of the Field Trip Journal. 

The Journal provides a suggested daily schedule that outlines 4 to 7 assignments per lesson, so if you work at a pace of 2 daily assignments each week, the course takes a complete year to finish.
 

Jeannie Fulbright is the author of this biblical worldview science book about astronomy. She partnered with NASA engineer, Damian Ludwiczak. In this 2nd Edition of the curriculum, Jeannie Fulbright uses an immersion approach to explore God's creation in space and the wonders of our solar system. The curriculum presents hands-on activities, a text, and an mp3 audio book. The 14 lessons cover:

Sun Planets Asteroid Belt Dwarf Planets Kuiper Belt Galaxies Nebulae Black Holes New color-coordinated schedule for the text, notebooking journals and lab kit Fresh activities layouts in the textbook All new full-color illustrations Plenty of space to journal each textbook and notebook activity

We ended up using the Jr. Notebooking, but I wanted to show a side-by-side comparison of a couple examples of how they differ. Basically, they both provide fun and colorful activities, but the one has higher elementary/middle school level lines for the copywork and other fill-in writing pages. The Notebooking Journal also seems to dive slightly deeper in the lessons while the Jr. one is a perfect fit for the younger set.

How Did We Use It?

 

My daughter used the Jr. Notebook, but a side by side comparison shows one of the differences in the two Notebooking Journals is the size of lines for copywork. Both journals offer cursive and print options.

First, I inserted the CD to my daughter's laptop to gain access to the mp3 files. I then, looked over the materials to decide whether or not I would use the Jr. Notebooking with one daughter and the other Notebooking Journal with my older daughter or just how I would approach it. Turns out that my younger daughter is on the borderline between the Jr. and the regular Notebooking Journal. So, I started her with the Jr. Notebooking Journal and decided that it would work well for me to look over each lesson's assignments and decide which one would best meet her needs.

What Did We Think?

Apologia has never let me down when it comes to solid, Christian biblical worldview curriculum. This Astronomy course is no exception. Our family is a Christian-based homeschool and believe in creation science. To us, science and our faith are not separate components. We firmly believe that science is explained and understood better when you understand the creator who designed it. That's why I so much appreciate Apologia and their Astronomy curriculum.

FIND Apologia Educational Ministries ON SOCIAL MEDIA @:

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Read what other members of the TOS Review Crew thought by clicking on the picture below:

Book Review: 'Star Chronicles: A Bible-Based Study of the Stars' by Dawnita Fogelman

I am excited to be part of this week-long Launch Party introducing a brand new book.  I was asked to review the book, Star Chronicles: A Bible-Based Study of the Stars, by Dawnita Fogelman, in exchange only for my honest opinion. So, here it is:

TO SUM IT UP:  THIS BOOK TAKES AWAY THE MYSTICAL PART OF THE MYSTERIES IN THE SKIES WHILE ADDING INTRIGUE AND A THIRST TO LEARNING GOD'S INTENT WHEN HE CREATED THE STARS.

This book is an awesome resource tool for teaching and learning about:

• Science Astronomy
• Religious Studies
• Art (through scrapbooking)
• Handwriting and Notetaking (through Notebooking pages)

The book continuously points back all the scientific information of the skies - which has been carefully researched - toward the Creator, God, and connects the dots between star-related scriptures like this one:

Isaiah 40:26 - Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.

   

WHAT THIS BOOK IS NOT;

As a Christian, I try to keep my thoughts pure and my ambitions and guidance within the Will of God.  This means that I steer clear of horoscopes, zodiac symbols and the like.  To let you in on the secret of how much I steer clear of these concepts, I will tell you that I don't even know what zodiac signs my children were born under, with the exception of one child's sign which I found out by accident.

So, the mention of a book about astrology doesn't sound like something I would get engulfed into reading for myself, and especially  not to share with  my children. So, I was happy and extremely excited to read within the book description that the book is not a book about zodiac, astrology, or horoscopes. The only references to these things are references to myths and legends for historical reasons only.

WHAT THE BOOK IS

The author's intent is to present a study of the stars through the use of Scriptures. It is a unit study about the constellations and biblical prophecy.  These constellations are presented throughout the book, in the order of how they appear in the sky, starting with the Jewish New Year.

The author began her study of tying the constellations with biblical prophecy and scriptures with her children. To make it more interesting, her children used the art of scrapbooking what they learned.

There are also notebooking pages included as a printable to use for older children.

The book is set up in a way that it can easily be studied with young children through adults, taking in as basic or as detailed information as each age level can understand.

The constellations each have chapters as follows:

• Virgo
• Libra
• Scorpio
• Sagitarius
• Capricorn
• Aquarius
• Pisces
• Aries
• Taurus
• Gemini
• Cancer
• Leo

Our Star Gazer light is not part of the book purchase, but I was so happy to discover that the constellations seemed to match the ones in the book.

Find out for yourself how amazing the book really is by clicking on the big pink happy star on the Star Chronicles site.

Please find a fascinating Author Interview at the Marriage Motherhood and Missions Blog.

Find the print version of the book at CreateSpace for $25
Or
Get the PDF for $12
Amazon as a printed book for $22.35

FOR A LIMITED TIME, RECEIVE 25% OFF WHEN YOU USE THE CODE: STARMOMS (Good through 4/20/14)

AUTHOR BIO:

Dawnita Fogleman is a fifth generation Oklahoma Panhandle Pioneer. She and her husband, Paul, have six amazing children. They have homeschooled from the start and now have two graduated and starting their own businesses. With the family business and their little farm every day is a surprise. Dawnita blogs about life on the “funny farm” at FoglemanForerunner.com.