By Design: Our Homeschool Science Curriculum Choice for Fourth Grade
Have you chosen your homeschool science curriculum yet? If you need elementary science curriculum that is faith-based, flexible, easy to use, and encourages critical thinking skills, you’ll want to take a look at By Design Science from Kendall Hunt RPD.
Choosing homeschool curriculum is no easy task. It can be especially daunting if you’re a new homeschooler and you don’t know where to begin.
Science tends to be a subject in which parents have many questions about curriculum choice, too:
- Is it thorough?
- Is it engaging?
- Does it contradict my faith and beliefs?
- Does it encourage questions and exploration?
If you are looking for an elementary science curriculum that meets your standards and can inspire confidence in your science teaching ability while keeping your child’s interest, By Design Science might be just what you’re looking for.
By Design Homeschool Science Curriculum
We’ve had the opportunity to review By Design Science Level 4 for my youngest daughter. She enjoyed her experience a few years ago using Level 1 so much that we really looked forward to trying another level. She is 10 now, but she still enjoys learning with workbooks, notebooking, and journals.
We received the following print edition books:
- Hardcover textbook
- Four softcover science journals/workbooks
There are digital editions available from the website as well.
The textbook is broken down into four units, which are:
- Life Science
- The Human Body
- Earth and Space Science
- Physical Science
Each unit is then broken down into chapters, which are then broken down into lessons. Each lesson asks a question, then proceeds to answer that particular question by encouraging critical thinking and scientific method.
Each chapter also includes two special features at the end: Science and Technology and Careers in Science. These features help children apply science to real life.
At the end of each unit, there is a review section.
Each unit also has an accompanying workbook. You can take a look at the Table of Contents and some sample pages on the website.
By Design is inquiry-driven. This is one of my favorite aspects of the curriculum. It is not just a dry textbook full of facts (though it is a textbook), it begins each lesson with a question to engage curious minds. It encourages the use of scientific method in a way that kids can easily get into and apply.
By Design uses a 5-step instructional method:
- Engage — begins with a question to explore
- Discover — hands-on experiments and scientific method
- Explain — discussion questions and narration
- Extend — how the scientific knowledge applies to other subjects and faith
- Assess/Reflect — review and comprehension questions
The layout is very straightforward, making it simplified to follow and teach. This can be a huge relief to homeschool parents who worry about teaching science in the first place.
It is divided into bite-sized chunks, making it thorough yet not overwhelming. There is no guesswork involved with By Design Science. It includes all the tests and answer keys, making review and assessment easy.
The quality of the textbook itself is notable — hardcover, sturdy pages, large print that is easy-to-read. The tone is conversational and easy to understand, so children can easily read it on their own or it could be used as a living books science read-aloud.
Our Favorite Features of By Design Science
My daughter is very goal-oriented, so she likes to complete the workbooks that go along with the textbook. These science journals/workbooks help to digest the information and make it more memorable for her. I know that not every child enjoys workbooks, but these are more than just fill-in-the-blank style workbooks. There are opportunities for creativity and exploration with activities like drawing and science journaling included. There are also experiments to try and pages to fill out scientific method as you complete them, including hypothesis and observations.
I appreciate the fact that By Design Science is faith-based so there are no contradictions to our beliefs. It is entirely possible to study science in a sound way with critical thinking skills, looking at the facts and the way things work, without dismissing faith out of hand. Faith and science are not at odds when you objectively examine the evidence.
My daughter’s favorite topics from Level 4 were Earth and Space Science and the special feature about science careers at the end of each chapter. As I mentioned before, she is interested in becoming an ornithologist so science is a major interest for her right now.
I also like the fact that questions are encouraged. That is essential in our homeschool. I always encourage my children to think through issues with reason and logic and ask questions while learning. We have had some great discussions around science topics while using By Design Science because each chapter begins with a question as the central premise.
For example, some of the questions from the lessons are:
- Why is it important to care for the environment?
- How can you avoid drug abuse?
- How do your values and character affect you?
- Why is good communication important?
- Why are natural resources important?
- How are magnets and electricity related?
Many of these questions lead to not only scientific inquiry, but bigger conversations about the universe and our place in it, as well as our personal responsibilities and character.
About Kendall Hunt RPD
Kendall Hunt describes their mission in this way:
Kendall Hunt’s Religious Publishing Division strives to be more than a publishing company. We are a group of like-minded people who work with you to meet the specific needs of your community. We offer the resources, guidance, leadership, and expertise needed to create and publish the precise program that supports the mission and objectives of your educational system. These programs meet top academic standards while maintaining your core values and teachings.
Customized curriculum will benefit teachers and students by fostering academic excellence by educating the whole child within a values-based environment. Parents want their child to be challenged to reach their full potential and to be prepared for success in life.
A Leader in the Publishing Industry: Kendall Hunt Publishing has a long history of creating successful curriculum programs that prepare students to achieve the highest academic standards. The original company started in 1944 and has come to be respected as a reliable source for quality curriculum needs in the K–12 market, for both traditional learning environments and customized programs.
Note: Kendall Hunt Religious Publishing is a Seventh Day Adventist publisher. Their curriculum reflects that. We are not part of that denomination, but I found that the lessons represented Christian principles. The only thing I noticed so far are references to vegetarianism and an emphasis on “healthy choices” related to that, as well as referring to the Sabbath.
Learn more about By Design Homeschool Science Curriculum
Learn more about the By Design Science curriculum from Kendall Hunt RPD in their digital brochure.
Kendall Hunt RPD also provides faith-based curriculum in reading and language arts, kindergarten, and talented and gifted programs.
If you are searching for a faith-based homeschool science curriculum for grades 1-8, I highly recommend looking into By Design Science.
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