I've been asked to recommend science textbooks from a creationist perspective for high school students - but outside the traditional subjects of biology, chemistry, and physics. For example, are there textbooks on astronomy, environment science, geology, archeology, or botany? I can find Apologia books at the elementary school level, but I can't find any decent books at the junior high or high school levels. Any suggestions?
I know Christian Liberty Press has a high school astronomy book and Lifepacs also offer astronomy. I have not used them so I am not sure how good they are. I think geology/environmental science are covered in either Apologia Physical Science. I also think the Wonders of Creation series can be used with High School.
You know, I hadn't thought about it this way but, you're right, the first eight modules of Apologia's Physical Science really are Environmental Science. It's as if they wrote an 8-module environmental science course and an 8-module basic physics course and published them together as Physical Science. This is a very different approach to Bob Jones' Physical Science textbook, which is mostly physics with some chemistry (and no environmental science). I think you've put me on the right track - thank you! I shall also check out Christian Liberty Press for astronomy.
Have you looked into Answers in Genesis yet? I know they have geology and astronomy for ages 12+, but I haven't gotten my hands on any of it. I can't make a personal recommendation. AiG would be my next choice if I decided not to go with Apologia, though.
Apologia has General Science (the first half of which is if I remember correctly, geology and the second half is human body systems), Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Advanced Biology, Advanced Chemistry, and Advanced Physics -- if I remember right. Abeka and BJU have high school sciences including Physical, Biology, and Chemistry, and Physics. Christian Liberty "borrows" Abeka and Bob Jones science courses, selling Abeka and BJU books but making their own AK and Tests for physical science, but using the BJU chemistry course complete from BJU. But there's also a Biology course they have that I wish I could look at, called Biology: A Search for Order in Complexity, and there's a biology lab course too. Answers in Genesis has some great stuff, and the Institute for Creation Research has come out with their own curriculum of supplementary science materials now too. http://store.icr.org/ scroll to bottom.
They actually have their own Astronomy course written by James Nickel. I am not sure the quality. It looks interesting though. http://www.christianbook.com/lift-y...ars/james-nickel/9781930367371/pd/269595#curr
At one website, I was able to browse through some of this book. I must confess that I was not impressed. There was barely any science. Outside of the mainstays - physical science, biology, chemistry, and physics - there appear to be very few creationist books. Right now, we're looking at an environmental book found at the CBD site. It's not creationist, but at least it appears to avoid awkward topics. Another branch of science that might work is agriscience, particularly in a rural state. We've found a couple of decent books on this topic, one of which was recommended at a Christian website. Maybe I can ask another question: For those who are strict YECs, do you ever consider using traditional textbooks with just occasional references to evolution and dating methods when no creationist books are available for a given subject?
I confess that I haven't even looked at the book, but my son is studying math with James Nickel, through the Potter's School, and he is aa very gifted teacher. DS has gone from hating math to declaring it is his favorite subject. With the increase in enthusiasm he has also improved his grades immensely. I think it would be worthwhile to further investigate the book, even if it is only for use as a supplement.
If at the website to which that link points you click on Google preview, you can see the Table of Contents and some of the first chapter. From that, I surmised that there are 84 comparatively short pages (with lots of pictures). Here's the entire first section, entitled "What is a star?" By scientific definition, a star is a ball of fire like our Sun, a gigantic atomic furnace. It is a large globe of intensely heated gas, shining by its own light. At its surface, a star can reach temperatures of thousands of degrees; in its interior, its temperatures can reach millions of degrees. When it is this hot, a nuclear reaction occurs, which explains the energy source of a star. The size of an average star is very large. An average sized star can hold more than a million Earths. Some are so big that thirty thousand million of our Suns could fit into them! (We can write this number in a shorter version by using scientific notation. Using this notation, it becomes 3x10^10. In addition, there's a footnote to explain 'nuclear reaction'; it reads "conversion of hydrogen into helium". Now, maybe I'm misinterpreting the suggested age range for the book, or maybe its intended purpose, but if my child was studying high school astronomy, I'd want them to learn a little more than this. What about heat? spectra? ions? dwarfs? giants? supernovas? pulsars? double stars? Doppler shifts? What about explaining how a star is self-sustaining, a little about what nuclear reactions really mean, and the lifecycle of a typical star? What about some examples of different types of stars and where we can find them in the sky? Sorry to criticize the writing of someone you very much respect, and I don't mean to belittle his work. Maybe it's just a case of finding the right age range. For a high school astronomy course, though, the book appears to be rather lacking. In good faith, I can't recommend it to someone as the potential basis for a semester-long course. (As always, I tend to be unduly frank in some of my posts, and the words may come across the wrong way. I apologize in advance if that's the case here. I'm grateful for all the suggestions - really!)
Steve, according to the CLP catalog, the 124-page book is indeed intended for high school. There are tests and a TM listed with it. It states that "helpful review questions" are included. "and suggested essays" that are included - the phrasing doesn't really tell me if these essays that are suggested are included for you to read, or if they suggest topics for essays for you to write. (?) Catalog blurbs aren't always as helpful as they are intended to be.... It's entirely possible that they intend this for vocational students (non-college bound), as are Exploring the History of Medicine from Master Books, and Introduction to the Engineering Profession from Harper Collins.
The Well Trained Mind, under “Alternative Science Courses”, lists some Apologia publications as well as Level 2 Chemistry from Real Science-4-Kids by Rebecca Keller (Gravitas Publications). Some courses from The Teaching Company are also listed, but I'm guessing they are secular. Hope this helps.
Try Real Science for kids, they are supposed to have different levels, I was told one was too difficult for us to use this year, but could try it in high school?
http://www.pandiapress.com/faq.htm#Question7 okay here is an answer to my question it would be on a level 3, o thers supposed to be a 4? wait thats not the one I mean, I am looking for it!
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...ooks&hvadid=2307538829&ref=pd_sl_32zmvceigk_b this is the one I was looking for, still in the upper levels it is high school levels.
