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I have no problems teaching my young children science. In fact, I love introducing them to the natural world, going on nature study walks, doing simple experiments together, and reading science picture books. Admittedly, as the kids get older and move into upper middle school and high school, the thought of teaching more complicated homeschool science curriculum is a bit intimidating!

One of the most amazing things about homeschooling is that you really don’t have to do it on your own. We outsource math, and now that some of my kids are moving into high school, we are outsourcing science, too! My eighth grader is currently working through Earth Science Explored through Journey Homeschool Academy. Let’s jump into this homeschool earth science curriculum review!

Earth Science Explored Journey Homeschool Academy Review

So, what is Earth Science Explored B? It’s a middle school grade level earth science course for homeschoolers. Not only is it a high quality program, but it’s also very engaging and hands-on for the student. The best part? It completely takes the pressure off of me to teach.

I still need to help my son with his labs and check his quiz and exam grades to make sure he’s grasping the concepts, but he’s able to take the course on his own. It’s been great prep for upper level courses, in my opinion!

So, what’s included in Earth Science Explored?

Video Lessons

The course is broken down into 35 lessons with four assignments to complete each week. There are 35 video lessons that are both fun and engaging, and keep kids from getting overwhelmed by the sheer amount of material in the course. These videos are high quality and enjoyable to watch for both students and parents. There are also videos to help walk students through the labs.

Earth Science Explored includes a curriculum guide that tells parents exactly what is studied and when. This instructor guide also includes pages for keeping track of students’ lab scores, as well as quiz and exam scores.

Each student receives a downloadable student workbook, which could also serve as a notebooking journal. It works well for helping students learn how to take notes during a lecture. Students will also receive a downloadable lab notebook to be used to complete the lab assignments.

You will need to purchase some items separately. There are recommended earth science textbook readings, and you will need to purchase the text book on your own to complete those. You will also need to either purchase the lab supplies separately or purchase one of the recommended lab kits.

Weekly Schedule

Each of the 35 lessons are broken down into four assignments that can be completed four days per week. Most science lessons include a video lecture, reading assignment, quiz, and lab.

Here’s an overview of the lesson plans and topics covered:

Into to Earth Science
Topographic Maps
Spheres of the Earth
The History of Plate Tectonics
Tectonic Plate Boundaries and Events
Explosive Volcanoes
Powerful Earthquakes
Exam 1
Minerals
Rocks
Weathering and Erosion
Hydrologic Cycle
Geologic Time Theories
The Story of the Earth
The Fossil Record
Exam 2
Properties of the Oceans
Ocean Currents
Tides and Complex Weather Patterns
Hydrothermal Vents and Plate Tectonics
The Earth’s Atmosphere
The Sun: Our Source of Energy
Air Cirucluation and Weather
Weather Maps
Storms and Severe Weather
The Earth’s Climate
The Earth’s Orbit and Seasons
The Sun-Earth Relationship
Earth in the Solar System
The Earth-Moon Relationship
Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Resources
Eutrohphication and the Environment
One Planet, Many Spheres
Exam 4

Our Experience with Earth Science Explored

Ok, so I purchased this course for my 8th grade son. We are a large family and he is my oldest child. We are both at a point where my older students are needing to take the reins a bit more in their education, so I can focus on teaching my younger children the basics. I felt like Journey Homeschool Academy would be a great addition to our homeschool because the program allows kids to work independently, while homeschool parents are still able to check in and help when necessary.

My son enjoys the online access of the program and he loves the video lessons. The lessons must be completed in a particular order before moving forward. I have found that I need to regularly check in with him to make sure he is staying on track. There are 35 weeks of lessons and you do have access to the course for an entire year, but that’s it, so lessons do need to be completed in a timely manner.

We purchased one of the recommended textbooks, as well as the larger recommended lab kit. I have also found that I need to remind him to complete the science projects, and preferably do them with him or he will try to skip them.

He is currently about halfway through the course and has enjoyed learning about different types of rocks, as well as the water cycle. He has even made really nice powerpoint presentations for one of his assignments.

His quiz and exam grades are really excellent and I like that he is learning how to take notes. I feel like he will be prepared for high school biology, which is the course he is taking next! Overall, we are really enjoying this study of the earth and looking forward to more science courses from Journey! I have found this format really fits our family’s needs and provides a fun learning experience and makes a great addition to our school year! We recommend Earth Science Explored!

How is old Earth and a biblical worldview handled?

Earth Science Explored is not a secular science curriculum, but they do present both theories on the age of the earth. Here is what they have to say about it:

“In middle school Earth Science (Level B) we always acknowledge the creator of the universe. We also address the various theories behind the age of the earth. We know there are Christian scientists in both old earth and young earth camps who disagree passionately on this topic.

We present information on both theories within the course and provide parents with more resources to present their students on one or both theories as they see fit. We believe students need to be exposed to both perspectives as they will encounter these in the wider world and within the church.

While we do not give students the answer to this question, we give them the framework to begin to understand the differences and think critically about each position—and we encourage parents to join in on this discussion with their students.”

Other Science Courses from Journey Homeschool Academy

Journey Homeschool Academy offers a variety of science courses from the elementary level all the way up to the high school level. You’ll find courses on life science, space science, and even Bible.

Courses for Elementary Students:

Courses for Middle School Students:

Courses for High School Students:

Check out all of my homeschool curriculum reviews!