Christian Kids Explore Physics ~ TOS Review

Let me first say I think Bright Ideas Press is AWESOME! Not only do they offer a multitude of homeschool curriculum; everything from Science, History and Geography to Literature, Maps and more!  But, they also have great customer service and are homeschool veterans.  Meet the team.

I had my first experience with Bright Ideas Press back in November 2010 when I had the opportunity to review Christian Kids Explore Chemistry and then again in May 2011 I reviewed WonderMaps.  So, I was thrilled when I was chosen to review Christian Kids Explore Physics.

“Bright Ideas Press publishes curriculum that moms love. We promise to publish Christian-oriented curriculum that will fit into your hectic life, curriculum that is both affordable and easy-to-use with children of different ages at the same time. The team at Bright Ideas Press prays that our products and resources will not only simplify your life but also inspire, encourage, and enable you to effectively educate your children.”



2nd EDITION

The universe that we live in is the result of God’s thoughtful design and careful building. Physics gives us a glimpse into the materials, laws, and structures of that universe.

Christian Kids Explore Physics is geared toward students in grades 4-8.  There are 30 easy to understand lessons; divided into 6 units, designed to help develop an understanding of matter and energy and the rules they follow.

Lesson are ~   
What Physics is All About
Measuring
Famous Physicists
The Composition of Matter
Atomic Physics
Molecules and Mass
Solid and Liquid Matter
Gases
Change in States of Matter
Force
Gravity
Work
Friction
Energy
Motion in Straight Line
Motion in a Circle
Newton’s Law
Projectile Motion
Momentum
Electromagnetic Energy
Radio and Television
Light and Color
X-Rays
Heat
Sound
Music
Electricity
Electric Current
Magnetism
Earth’s Magnetic Field

SAMPLES:
Sample Pages
Sample Lesson 18
Sample Lesson 19

Each lesson is fairly short, allowing the student to grasp a small amount of information at a time, so not to overwhelm them.

Lesson or Unit includes ~

• Preparation: a short introduction about the material covered in each lesson and provides a list of unit objectives, vocabulary words, and a list of materials needed for that unit.
• Teaching Time: (per lesson) presents a topic that builds an understanding of some aspects of physics.
• Review It: five fill-in-the-blank review questions.
• Hands-On Time: Hands on activity at the end of each lesson. These activities allow the student to become the physicist while reinforcing some of the concepts taught.
• Coloring Pages: one coloring page per unit.
• Think About It: critical thinking exercise concerning the results of the hands on activity.
• Unit Wrap Up: multiple choice questions at the end of each unit

Bright Ideas Press recommends that for our very young or less-advanced students, that we read the lesson first and then explains it to them at their level.  However, our older or more-advanced students can complete the lessons independently.


You know what make this new edition so great? The easy to use Resource CD. The Resource CD offer Materials Lists, Daily Lesson Plans, Bonus Literature Study Guide, and All Reproducibles, such as:

• Unit Reviews
• Follow-Up Questions for each lesson
• Coloring Pages
• Activity Charts

I love how Bright Ideas Press has the ability to present a subject such as Physics to students in a fun easy to understand manner.  I also love how inexpensive their products are.

The new 2^nd Edition of Christian Kids Explore Physics is available for $39.95. To purchase this or other Bright Ideas Press products, check out their website.

Be sure to read what my fellow TOS members had to say about CKE Physics, Chemistry, Earth and Science, and Biology. 

** Disclaimer: I received a PDF of Christian Kids Explore Physics workbook and the Recourse CD from Bright Ideas Press free of cost in exchange for my honest, unbiased, and fair review.

TOS Review: WonderMaps by Bright Ideas Press

Geography is not my area of expertise, so I’m was pretty happy when I was chosen to review WonderMaps, a new product created by Bright Ideas Press.

WonderMaps is different than most of the other maps available to homeschoolers, because these maps are interactive. No more hunting around trying to find the right map needed for your studies. WonderMaps is a fantastic downloadable maps and geography program that allows you to customize and print more than 350 different detailed and layered maps of the United States, Historical Maps, Thematic Maps, and The World, Continents, Regions, and Nations. 

Whether you are studying history, science, bible, or literature, WonderMaps can help bring your lesson to life.

WonderMaps offers:

• Current and historical maps
• Topographical, reference, outline, and political maps
• Color or black-and-white maps
• 125 historical maps, including 25 biblical maps
• Over 60 maps of the world
• Over 60 maps of the United States
• Physical layers showing rivers, borders, cities, names, graticules, and more.

Maps of the United States are layered by states, regions, or world

The World maps are layered by continents, regions, and nations.

The Historical maps are divided into:

The Ancients 33 AD

The Middle Ages 33 AD - 1456 AD

The Renaissance, Reformation, and Growth of Nations 1457 AD - 1707 AD

Revolutions to Rising Times 1708AD - Present Day

The Thematic Map

The teacher’s guide offers you a quick start guide, user manual, tutorial video, downloadable mp3 files, and additional recourses to use in your homeschool.

As an added bonus for those of you who are using The Mystery of History vols I-III or All American History vols. I & II, WonderMaps has all the maps you will need.

WonderMaps can be downloaded on a maximum of two computers and runs on Adobe. Once you purchase WonderMaps you will have access to future upgrades and extras as they become available.

WonderMaps is pretty awesome! Kudos to Bright Ideas Press for creating such a fantastic program.

WonderMaps is available through Bright Ideas Press for $49.95. 

For those of you who subscribe to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, be sure to look in your newest issues for the WonderMaps advertisement.  There you will find a 20% off discount code to use when you purchase WonderMaps. 

For those of you who do not subscribe to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine (wow, you are truly missing out on an amazing magazine!) from now until May 21st Bright Ideas Press is offer a 20% off discount to help a family in need. You can read about the family and their needs on the BIP site or Caring Bridge.

Be sure to stop by and read what my fellow TOS Crew member have to say about WonderMaps. 

I'm a crew member with The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew and I received a download of WonderMaps from Bright Ideas Press in exchange for my honest review.

TOS Review: Christian Kids Explore Chemistry

Title: Chrisitan Kids Explore Chemistry

By: Bright Ideas Press

Number of lessons: 30
Number of Pages: 384 pages

Price: $34.95

What is it?
Christian Kids Explore Chemistry is an exciting and fun science curriculum created for grades 4–8.  There are 5 units, broken down into 30 lessons.  Within this book you will find, * fun hands-on activities, * unit reviews, * chemistry terms, notations, and rules, * coloring pages, * a supplemental book list, * and more. 

Here is a glimpse of what you can find in each unit.

Unit 1: Introduction to Chemistry, Chemistry Tools, Matter, Elements, Mixtures and Compounds

Unit 2: Atoms, Atomic Number, Atomic Mass, Periodic Table, Molecules

Unit 3: Chemical Bonds, More Chemical Bonds, Formulas, Naming Compounds, Reactions, Acids, Bases, Salts

Unit 4: Solids and Liquids, Gases, Gas Laws, State Change, Solutions

Unit 5: Hydrocarbons, Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes, AlcOHols, Esters, Biochemistry

What did I like about it?
I love that each lesson is short and easy to understand.  We are having a lot of fun completing the experiments.  Both my daughters enjoy the coloring pictures as well.  When I told my oldest daughter we would be reviewing a chemistry book, she was a little frightened.  But, once she was able to see what the curriculum was all about, she got excited to dive in and get started.

What I did NOT like about it?
Generally in my reviews I would talk about the things I did not like about a curriculum.  I can honestly say there isn't anything I dislike about Christian Kids Explore Chemistry.

Would I buy it?
ABSOLUTELY!  We really enjoyed this Science curriculum! I hope you will, too

If you would like to purchase Christian Kids Explore Chemistry for your classroom, click HERE.
If you have multiple children you may want to purchase the Activity Book.  By doing so, you will eliminate the hassles of trying to photocopy pages from the book.  Bright Ideas Press has taken all the reproducible pages and turned them into a printable digital download.  This allows you to print as many copies of the Review-its, Wrap-ups, Coloring pages, Activity and Experiment forms, as you need.  The Activity Book is available to only $12.95

Be sure to check out what my fellow TOS Crew Members have to say.

Disclaimer: I’m an independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. I received Christian Kids Explore Chemistry from Bright Ideas Press in exchange for my honest review.