Sunday, December 5, 2010

Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology

Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and PhysiologyWritten by Jeannie Fulbright
Published at Apologia Educational Ministries

My eldest son is expressing interest in the human body and is also considering becoming a doctor and a missionary when he grow up.   He is only nine years old but the beauty of homeschooling is that I can use his interest and develop it.    Knowing this, I was also aware that it was impossible for me to purchase any anatomy products this year.  But God has find a way to provide for a variety of products to let my son Alexandre to explore his newfound interest.

I know that the author of the Exploring Creation series has released a new book about the human anatomy and physiology.   So I decided to request a possible review for the book.   She redirected me toward the publisher and I received a positive answer from their part.   And somehow God moved them to offer me not just the book itself but two notebooks for my two oldest kids – one for older children and one for younger children.    I was speechless when I received their email and praise God for this blessing.
 
About the book
337015_1_ftcAll creation is awe-inspiring, but the work of the human body, created in the very image of God, is especially jaw-dropping! This study of anatomy and physiology showcases the intricacy and design of the human body, from DNA and cell creation to the skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous/endocrine, immune, and integumentary systems. Integrated with health and nutrition information, as well as plenty of scripture and biblical application, this complete guide to the human body is written in an enjoyable, conversational tone that will keep kids engaged.

Experiments, notebooking assignments, narration, and a "personal person project" provide interaction with concepts outside of reading, and help to solidify understanding. The book contain 365 pages and is hardcover. Index and answers to the narrative questions are included.

About the Notebooking Journal
337016_1_ftcExpand your studies with notebooking activities, experiment project pages, review questions; Scripture copywork; field trip sheets; and much more!  Accompanying Apologia's Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy & Physiology, students will take ownership of their learning as they fill it with notes and reminders of what they've learned through their careful study!

The notebooking journal includes:

  • A daily Schedule for completing the readings, notebook assignments, activities and experiments utilizing a two-day per week plan.

  • Personal Person templates for your student to use when creating their paper model of a human body.

  • Fascinating Facts Templates for your student to record what they learned with both words and illustrations for each lesson.

  • Templates for completing the Notebooking Activities.

  • Review Questions for each lesson, which can be answered orally or in writing as a written narration.

  • Scripture Copywork, with both print and cursive practice.

  • Project Pages and Scientific Speculation Sheets for the student to keep a record of and log experiments or projects.

  • More to Explore ideas for each lesson.

  • Full-color, lapbook-style Miniature Books,

  • Field Trip Sheets to keep a record field trips they enjoyed during their studies.


  • A Final Review with fifty questions the students can answer either orally or in writing.

    This anatomy notebooking journal contains 180 pages with 63 appendix pages.  Its bin
    ding is softcover and spiral bound.

    About the Junior Notebooking Journal
    495475_1_ftcLove the regular Apologia notebooking journals, but find the writing a bit too advanced for your student? The Human Anatomy & Physiology Notebooking Journal will remove your concern with activities specifically geared towards students who aren't as advanced in their writing abilities. Almost the same length as the regular journal, the notebooking pages aren't designed to just suit lower grades--only writing ability is considered. Perfect for younger students or older, struggling students! Coloring pages, scripture copywork, vocabulary flip-cards, puzzle pieces, "more to explore" ideas, diagrams to label, and other fun lapbooking pages are included, as well as full-color minibooks and two overhead transparencies. The junior anatomy notebooking journal contains 230 pages plus full-color section. Its binding is softcover and spiral bound.

    Our Thoughts
    A few months ago, my oldest son expressed the desire of learning more about the human body.   He is telling us that he wants to become a doctor missionary in the future.  When you are homeschooling your kids, you try as much as you can to cover their interest.   When he expressed this interest, we had no curriculum per say in our hands.   I had a book or two about the human body but still I wanted him to dig deeper and learn more.   I knew that Apologia had recently released a book in their Young Explorer Series.   So I contacted them to see if it would be possible to review their latest book in the Exploring Creation series.   They were enthusiastic and generous has they have send me the book as well as the Anatomy Notebooking Journal and the Junior Anatomy Notebooking Journal.   When we received the books, my two oldest kids were very excited about it.  Dominic even jumped up and down when I showed him the Junior Anatomy Notebooking Journal.   

    If you would have to pick the one book on the subject of Human Anatomy and Physiology for your child, I strongly recommend that you consider the Exploring Creation Human Anatomy and Physiology.   This book is well written and contains tons of information.  It is packed with information, activities and more.
    We only covered the first chapter so far as we take it slowly on Wednesday morning while the younger two are napping in the morning due to swimming lessons in the afternoon.   But so far, we are having a blast.   We are learning a lot about the history of how people have started to study the human anatomy (yes even me the mom who took biology lessons while in high school!).    We are even experimenting with the information.  For example, in the book, there is an experiment that allows you to mummify an apple which clearly demonstrate how the Egyptians were mummifying their dead.  

    The Junior Anatomy Notebooking Journal has been well received by my 6 years old.   He was very happy to be able to do some specific lessons with his big brother.    In this particular journal, some activities are the same while others are different.   This Junior Journal is geared for beginning writers.   There will be some copywork and writing to do in this journal but it is also completed with coloring pages and fun experiments.  Dominic and his brother had a lot of fun learning about the Cell anatomy together.  

    Below are some of the work that Dominic, age 6,  during the past few weeks.  
    11-8-2010 7;42;54 PM11-8-2010 7;44;35 PM11-8-2010 7;50;19 PM
    The regular Anatomy Notebooking Journal is geared for older children whom have no trouble doing some writing work.   Also included in this book are copywork and writing exercises but you will also find a What Do You Remember? section for each lesson as well as vocabulary crosswords.  The writing is a bit more demanding and the child is required to provide longer answers.    Nevertheless, most activities are similar like for example the Cell anatomy and the mini-book were done by both kids. 

    Below are some of the work that Alexandre, age 9, has done over the past few weeks.
    11-8-2010 7;45;59 PM11-8-2010 7;48;03 PM11-8-2010 7;49;07 PM

    Recently, we started the 2nd chapter of the book which is about the bones in our bodies. One of the first “experiment” the kids had to do was to create a man out of clay and see if he could stand without bones.   Then afterward, they had to put the bones in and see if he could stand or not.    This exercise was good to demonstrate how important the bones were for humans.  We also had some good laugh during this simple and yet very demonstrative experience.   *grin*

    2010_11_17_11_36_442010_11_17_11_37_06
    2010_11_17_11_43_042010_11_17_11_46_26
    As an homeschooling family, it is important that we find quality material to help our kids to learn.   The Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology is such a product.    We are blessed beyond measure with this curriculum.  

    You can purchase these products directly from apologia.com or at a bookstore near you.   In our city, I also saw the Exploring Creation books at the homeschool conference that is held every April.

    Disclaimer: Thanks to Apologia for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.All opinions expressed here are only my own.


    PS  We are currently working on a video project involving one of the experiments done in this book.    I will post it as soon as it is wrapped up. 

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