Science Review: Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy

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This was our first year using Apologia for science. Last summer, out of a list of options, Jack decided we were studying Astronomy. I purchased the textbook, the Notebooking Journal, and the Lab Kit. The journal was quite a bit of writing for a second grader and if I had to do it over, I would’ve purchased the Junior version. The Lab Kit was a lifesaver. I was a little hesitant of the cost, but it was so well organized and really ensured we actually completed the experiments because all the materials were easily available.

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For each lesson, we read from the book, summarized with pictures in the journal and completed other activities and experiments throughout the week.

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I appreciated the copy work included cursive practice.

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Jack working on a rocket ship mini-book for his journal.

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I took pictures of our experiments to place in the journal.

Lesson 1: What Is Astronomy? Project: Model Solar System that Hangs from Your Ceiling

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Lesson 2: The Sun, Project: Sun Collage and Make a Solar Eclipse

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Lesson 3: Mercury, Project: Understanding Craters and Make a Model of Mercury

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Lesson 4: Venus, Project: Make Some “Lava,” and Learn How Radar is Used

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I woke up Jack super early one morning so he could see Venus next to the moon.

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Lesson 5: Earth, Project: Make a Compass

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Lesson 6: The Moon, Project: Make a Telescope

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This project just didn’t work out for us. But the good news is some family members helped us purchase a real telescope for Jack’s birthday! We also kept Jack up late September 27th to observe the super moon/blood moon total lunar eclipse. It was out of this world!

Lesson 7: Mars, Project: Build Olympus Mons, Make an Edible Mars Rover

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Lesson 8: Space Rocks, Project: Cartoon of Exploded Planet

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Lesson 9: Jupiter, Project: Make a Hurricane Tube

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Lesson 10: Saturn, Project: Make a Centaur Rocket

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Lesson 11: Uranus and Neptune, Project: Make Clouds

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Lesson 12: Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, Project: Make Ice Cream!

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ice cream requires a LOT of shaking

Lesson 13: Stars and Galaxies, Project: Create a Constellation Planetarium.
I didn’t get a photo of this project because I just couldn’t get a great picture with all the lights out.

Lesson 14: Space Travel, Project: Build a Model Space Station
With a picture in the textbook as our guide, this is how our space station turned out.

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And to tie up our year in Astronomy it worked out for us to take a visit to NASA at the beginning of summer. Pictures from that trip are here. I highly recommend this curriculum and will be using Apologia for science in the future.