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Exploring The World of Astronomy

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!

 

craters on Mercury and a model of Mercury ~ Apologia Astronomy

craters on Mercury and a model of Mercury ~ Apologia Astronomy

The kids and I are finishing up Lesson 3 in the Exploring Creation with Astronomy book.  This lesson is on Mercury.  The kids learned that it is the first planet in the solar system and is the closet planet to the sun.  Mercury is a terrestrial planet, meaning it earth-like.  While the planet can get extremely hot during the day, it can reach a temperature of -300 at night.

From pictures that have been taken of the surface of Mercury, you can tell it has been hit with a lot of asteroids.  There are craters all over the place.  This is what brings us to our first activity.  We made craters in a bowl of flour!  My kids love to collect rocks, so we used those as our craters.  I dumped some flour in a bowl and then the kids stood over the bowl and dropped the rocks in the flour.  By the different size of the rocks and how high they held the rocks above the flour would depend on how big of a crater they made.  The kids had fun doing this.

cratersonmercury

Samuel dropping an asteroid

Samuel dropping an asteroid

Craters made by the asteroids

Craters made by the asteroids

The final project in the chapter on Mercury, we were to make a model of Mercury.  We made a simple dough of flour, salt, oil and water.  Samuel mixed it up to form a ball, while Claire went to find a marble/bead and a pencil.  They were to use those items to make craters on the surface of Mercury, like asteroids.  I then let Claire paint the planet red!

Samuel and Claire mixing up the dough.

Samuel and Claire mixing up the dough.

Samuel and Claire making craters

Samuel and Claire making craters

Claire painting while Samuel is still making craters

Claire painting while Samuel is still making craters

Mercury is now drying.  I am thinking we might do this with each planet as we finish their chapter.  It would make for a great solar system display!

The kids and I really had a great time learning about Mercury.  Now that we have finished this chapter, we will be moving on to Venus, the next planet.

What fun project have you done in science lately?

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