Skip to main content

The Answers Book for Kids Volumes 5 and 6 ~ review

Written by Joy
The Answers Book for Kids Volumes 5 and 6 ~ review

I am excited about this months books for Moms of Master Books review.  That’s right, I said books!  We received the two newest books from The Answers Book for Kids by Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge.

If your kids are like mine, then they tend to ask a lot of questions. It is just their way, they are always curious. Sometimes it can be hard to answer questions when you just don’t know how to explain it to them. Especially for me, when it comes to asking questions about the Bible and Creation. It can be hard to explain to young children, to where they can understand. This is where Ken Ham and Bodie Hodges come in at. They have this great series of books called, The Answers Book for Kids that helps you answer those questions that are asked by kids.  Yes, these books are actual questions that kids have asked.  I can’t wait to tell you about Volume 5 and Volume 6.

The Answers Book for Kids are wonderful!  They are small hardback books, with the dimensions of 6×6 inches.  They are very bright and colorful and just the right size for small hands to hold.  There are 48 pages for each book with 20-22 questions, per book.  The pages of the book are very sturdy and are very easy to clean, for when those curious and sticky hands want to look through the book.

The Answers Book for Kids, Volume 5, answers 20 questions from kids about Space and Astronomy.  In this book, Ken Ham and Bodie Hodges will answer questions that kids have asked about Space and Astronomy and answer them, by finding the answers from the bible.  What I think I love the most, is they give scripture that you can look up to see where they got the answer from.  Here are just a few examples of the questions that were asked by kids:

  • How big is our galaxy?
  • What is the purpose of stars?
  • How hot are the sun and other stars?
  • Will the sun ever run out or blow up?

The Answers Book for Kids, Volume 6, answers 22 questions from kids on Babel and the Ice Age.  Here are some of the questions that are answered in this book:

  • How big was the Tower of Babel?
  • In what time period was the Tower of Babel built?
  • What is the Ice Age?
  • How does an ice age happen?

I love the formats of those books and love how Ken Ham and Bodie Hodges, takes the time time answer these questions that are asked by kids.  They use scripture to answer the questions and then explain it to kids, in a way that they can understand.

If you have a curious child, who is constantly asking questions, these books are just for them.  I know my children have thoroughly enjoyed reading them.  When my kids found out that there were 4 more books in this series, they asked if I could order them!

These books are $7.99 each on the New Leaf Publishing Group website, or you could even buy the ebook for $5.99.

What questions have your kids recently asked you, that have had you stumped or you just didn’t know how to explain the answer to them?

 

2013, homeschooling, review, , , , , , , , ,

Exploring The World of Astronomy

Written by Joy
Exploring The World of Astronomy

It is such a blessing being part of the Moms of Master Books review team.  The book that I get to share with you this time is, Exploring The World of Astronomy.

Exploring The World of Astronomy is just one book, in a series of science books, written by John Hudson Tiner.  In this book, Mr. Tiner will help you discover many details about the amazing planets, stars and space that God created for us.

In the Exploring The World of Astronomy book, there are graphs, charts, explore more sections and chapter reviews in the 13 Chapters and 173 pages of this book.  This is a paperback book

There are a few ways that you can use this book, to help your children understand about the world that God created.  Elementary students can use this book with help from the parents.  Together, you can sit down, read over the sections in the chapters and then discuss the questions at the end of the chapter.

My younger kids and I took just a couple of pages at a time.  By taking it slow, we were able to look at words they did not recognize and find their meanings.  My kids always surprise me, by being able to remember more than what I give them credit for.

I feel like this book is really geared toward the older elementary/middle school student.  This age group could definitely use this book, on their own and be able to comprehend what they are reading.  They would also be able to read and answer the questions, by themselves.  This astronomy book for also make for a great refresher course for the high school student.  The Explore More sections in the book would give the older students a chance to delve a little deeper into the subjects they are reading.

My oldest daughter, who is 16, enjoyed reading this book, just for fun.  She liked the couple of pages in the back of the book that gave extra questions, she could research.

While we liked Exploring The World of Astronomy’s content, there were a couple of things that I did not like about the book.  The first thing that I do not like, it is a soft cover book.  The majority of books that I have gotten from Master Books, they have been hardback and are very sturdy, this one is not.  The other thing that I have always loved about Master Books books, are they are always so beautiful and full of color.  This book is just black and white.  I would have loved to of seen all of the space and planet pictures in full color.

Is this a book I would recommend to someone wanting to learn more about Astronomy?  Absolutely.  The information inside of the book is worth it!  If your family is a science loving family, I think you will enjoy this book as much as we have!

 

2013, homeschooling, review, , , , , , , , , ,

making a compass for Apologia Astronomy lesson

Written by Joy
7 Comments
making a compass for Apologia Astronomy lesson

The next project for our Apologia Astronomy lesson, was making a compass.  It is the last project on our lesson about planet Earth and tied in with the last section that we read about, “Perfect Magnetosphere”.   What is a “Magnetosphere”? A magnetosphere is a huge area of magnetic power that is around Earth.

The Earth has a huge magnetic field that is made in the outer core of the earth.  This magnetic field pulls harmful particles away from the earth.  The harmful particles is called a solar wind.  Without this magnetic field, we wouldn’t be able to survive on Earth.  Isn’t that amazing?

The magnetosphere that is around the earth actually blocks some of the solar winds that come from the sun.  The solar winds that are able to get through are mostly around the North and South Poles.  As they are traveling past the North and South Poles, they start running into gases in the earth’s atmosphere.  This is where those beautiful lights that are called “auroras” come from!

Now on to the fun part of this lesson, the project of making a compass!  The supplies for this project  that you will need is a cork, permanent marker, a lid from a yogurt or sour cream container, a sewing needle and a magnet (needs to be a strong magnet).

clairecompass

What you do first is label the lid with (N)orth, (S)outh, (E)ast, (W)est.  Then you run the needle over the top of the magnet several times, making sure that you move the needle in the same direction.  Then you will cut off a little piece of cork and put it in the middle of the needle.

pouring water in the lid.

pouring water in the lid.

Then you will fill the lid to the very top with water.  You will then put the cork and needle in the lid so that the needle is floating roughly parallel to the surface of the water.  Then watch what happens!  Turn the compass and you will notice that the needle continues pointing in the same direction.

Needle is pointing North.

Needle is pointing North.

Regardless of how you turn the compass, one end of the needle will always point to the north and the other end to the south.  Yes, this really works!

Checking the direction the needle is pointing.

Checking the direction the needle is pointing.

How does this work?  Since you turned the needle into a magnet by running it over the magnet, it is affected by the Earth’s magnetic field!

My kids had a really fun time with this project.  Well I have to admit, I did too!  We can’t wait to begin the next lesson on the Moon!

I am linking up with The Homeschool Scientist and Apologia.  Be sure to stop by Apologia and check out the other projects that have been linked up!

Have you done any neat science projects or activities?  I would love for you to share them with us!

 

2013, homeschooling, , , , , ,

Earth and its seasons ~ Apologia Astronomy activity

Written by Joy
2 Comments
Earth and its seasons ~ Apologia Astronomy activity

We have made it to the planet Earth in our Astronomy study.  With all the sickness and then dental issues that have happened in our house, our science, Astronomy by Apologia was put on hold.

We had already talked about how the earth rotates and it takes 24 hours to make a day.  We also learned that while the earth is rotating, it is also revolving around the sun and that takes 365 days, to make a year.  This lesson, we read about how the earth has a tilt, the equator, the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.   As the earth revolves around the sun, the tilt allows the hemisphere that points to the sun to get that direct sunlight and they will be much warmer.  The hemisphere that is not pointed toward the sun will obviously get less sunlight, making it the cooler months.

Our activity for the lessons was getting our globe out (it has a tilt to it) and a lamp.  We put the lamp in the middle of the floor, had each of them to take turns walking Earth (the globe) around the Sun (lamp), counterclockwise.

Claire rotating the Earth around the Sun.

By doing this, the kids could see what hemisphere of the Earth was getting the most sun at that time and what hemisphere had less direct light.

Sammy rotating the Earth around the Sun.

The kids and I had fun with this lesson.  It was fun to learn about how the tilt of the Earth provides the different seasons as it revolves around the sun.

Have you done any fun activities or projects in science lately?  I would love for you to share them!

I am linking up with Adventures in Mommydom’s, Science Sunday.

Science Sunday
2013, homeschooling, , , , , , , , , ,

Venus, Volcanoes and making lava ~ Apologia Astronomy

Written by Joy
7 Comments
Venus, Volcanoes and making lava ~ Apologia Astronomy

You may be wondering what lava has to do with Astronomy. Well, we are studying Venus and we have learned that there are a lot of volcanoes on Venus and lava flows around a lot.  Venus stays hot all day and night because it has clouds that cover it, holding the heat in its atmosphere.  Can you imagine being on a planet that is 870 degrees all the time?

sammybuttermelterlava

We started off melting butter (lava) on low heat in a small pot.  While Samuel was melting the lava, Claire was busy making a little volcano by using a glass cup, a plate and some flour.

Claire forming the land (flour).

Claire forming the land (flour).

Once Claire was finished with the volcano, Samuel then had the job of pouring the lava over the volcano.  The point of this little project was to see how the lava can flow down the volcano.

Samuel pouring the "lava" over the volcano.

Samuel pouring the “lava” over the volcano.

Once we observed the lava flowing over the volcano, we then had to wait for it to harden.  We had read in the book that lava will harden into rock and form land once it cools off and dry.

watching the "lava" harden into rock.

watching the “lava” harden into rock.

After a few hours, the lava had harden the land that it had flowed on.  I loved how this lesson was able to show the different elements of lava from when it starts to flow,  to when it is finished flowing and hardens.

What have you been learning in science?  Any fun projects this week?

Linking up with:

Science Sunday
2012, homeschooling, , , , , ,