I have had the extreme pleasure of conducting an Apologia science review of one of their many science options. We are doing the elementary level Exploring Creation with Zoology 3 – Land Animals of the Sixth Day from Apologia Educational Ministries. I was blessed with not only this textbook but also, a copy of their Regular Notebooking Journal which is designed for children ready for upper elementary (3-6) writing and activities, for the purpose of this review, but I also purchased a Junior Notebooking Journal for Josiah to use because it is designed for younger elementary students (k-2) with limited writing and reading ability.
The Apologia text book is full of amazing photography and detailed drawings. It is very thorough and more indepth than any other elementary science book that I have ever seen. And while it is a little more costly than most science books for young children at $39.00 it will take much longer to complete. Most of the other books that I have purchased for my children are finished within a semester or less. This book will easily take us an entire year to complete. So, the price seems more reasonable with that in mind. During this Apologia science review I have come to feel that this is one purchase you won’t regret. This is an amazing science option!
These Notebooking Journals are $24.00 a piece but again have exceeded my expectations. They not only include worksheet type pages with questions to answer and crossword puzzles to do but also have full color removable cut and paste “minibooks” that my children are loving. Both the Junior and Regular Notebooks have areas for the children to color and design their own artwork in their books. My children love that they are spiral bound and thick and that they can write in them. They feel like they “are writing my own book” says my 8 year old. They also have full color stickers to allow you to map the animals as you study them. The Junior Notebooks are full of coloring pages, writing area with wide lines perfect for your beginning writer. But are sure to engage any child as they also can cut, paste, color, write, and create in their own book.
We have completed the first two lessons in this book and have loved each and every page. My children look forward to science every day. And some days we spend more than an hour working together on it. We have been using the text as a read aloud all together and then we spend time in our notebooks. My older girls often work together on their notebooks as I help Josiah. Since he is just begining to write he does write some of his work but many times he dictates and I write.
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Disclaimer – I recieved a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any way. All opinions I have expressed are my own and those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.
we also reviewed Zoology 3 and loved it!
It took us a full year to get through this Zoology book and even then it sometimes felt like we were rushing. There are just so many animals to cover. Glad to hear your kids are enjoying it.