Ecology and Astronomy

Introduce your kids to middle school science from a Christian perspective with overviews of ecology and astronomy from Master Books!

Our middle school boys adore science. It’s an extra-special passion for our youngest–I’m sure he’s headed for some sort of math or science career.

Middle School Science

This past year we used Master Books’ Concepts of Mathematics & Concepts of Physics as a part of our curriculum. The boys loved both Exploring the World of Mathematics: From Ancient Record Keeping to the Latest Advances in Computers and Exploring the World of Physics: From Simple Machines to Nuclear Energy. In fact, they were often the first books they chose to read from their assignment list each week.

(Note: This post was written in 2016.)

For the coming year (7th and 8th grade), I let the boys choose a new “Exploring” pack. Honestly, I don’t think the books will make it to our fall schedule. I’ve had to wrestle both away from my young scientists so I could read them and finish this post.

Exploring the World Around You by Gary Parker

The subtitle of this text is A Look at Nature from Tropics to Tundra. This is 140-page, 16 chapter ecology text. There is black and white photos and/or artwork on every page, and discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

The author does a great job of covering the subject, and doing it from a Christian Creationist perspective. There isn’t a lot of commentary on the evolutionary perspective, but when there is, it’s respectful. I appreciate that. I also appreciate the fact that stewardship of the earth is taken seriously. Ecological issues are hot topics as worldview really impacts how scientists and the general population apply the knowledge we have. I want my kids to study ecology through the lens of Scripture stewardship and the theological concept of Imago Dei–humans are created in the image of God.

The text is interesting, the narrative moves quickly, and while it covers a wide swath of information it doesn’t oversimplify the facts. I know my boys will love it.

Chapters cover:

Building the Right Foundation; Seeing the 4 Cs (The Gospel and Science)
Ecosystems and Biogeography
Biomes
Aquatic Ecosystems
Light and the Rhythms of Life
Temperature, Water, and Minerals
Food
Energy Flow
Population Balance
Population Growth and Control
Succession
Niches, Habitats, and Adaptations
Symbiosis
Pollution
Energy Problems
Preservation and Human Population

The World of Astonomy by John Hudson Tiner

This 172-page volume has 13 chapters. John Hudson Tiner covers each topic in a narrative manner with lots of black and white artwork, sidebars, and a one-page quiz section and research suggestions at the end. Along with plenty of scientific facts, John Hudson Tiner includes history throughout his books. My boys have really enjoyed that aspect of his work. The stories of the scientists involved in astronomical discoveries are engaging and add depth to the study of the scientific discipline.

Chapters cover:

Exploring the Moon
Mars
Terrestrial Planets
Jupiter
Saturn
Jovian Planets
Plutoids and Denizens of Space
Telescopes
Breakthroughs in Astronomy
Deep Sky Wonders
Stars
Extrasolar Planets
Starlighted Nights

Purchase The World of Astronomy and The World Around You

More Books in the Exploring Series

Books Make Great Gifts!

Teach Your Kids the Bible with Bible Road Trip™

Bible Road Trip™ is a three-year Bible survey curriculum. Take your family through the Bible five times from preschool to high school.

To help you get the most out of your studies, Bible Road Trip™ has an array of coordinating weekly activities:

Researching the section of the Bible you’re studying
Reading and discussing the Bible
Memorizing Scripture
Notebooking about your studies
Praying for the nations
Suggestions for further study
Crafting about what you’ve learned
For your older students: A project to share what they’ve learned
Bible Road Trip™ also has some great tools you can use along with it, such as:
- Notebooking Journals for grades 1-9. Want a structured notebooking journal for high school? Don’t hesitate to use the Dialectic journal (grades 7-9).
- Bible Memory Card Sets for all five levels of study, preschool to high school. These are available in both ESV and KJV.

Grab your Bible Road Trip™ Year One Sample Pack. You’ll get:

The Bible Road Trip™ Parent / Teacher Guide.
The first three weeks of the curriculum for all five learning levels. Week Three is where we really dive into the Bible and begin to our systematic study. Week Three will give you a good feel for the rest of the curriculum.
The first three weeks of the Bible Memory Card sets for all five levels, in ESV and KJV.
The first three weeks of each of the three leveled Notebooking Journals.

Grab the Sample Pack for FREE: