The Abeka Science of the Physical Creation curriculum presents a unique approach to physical science, grounding its explanations in creationism. Rejecting evolutionary theory, it posits creation as the foundational explanation for the universe’s origins. This curriculum, designed as a stepping stone to advanced chemistry and physics, covers a broad range of topics, from fundamental principles to more specialized areas such as robotics. The Abeka Science of the Physical Creation Teacher’s Guide serves as a cornerstone of this educational journey.
The curriculum is structured to accommodate a daily lesson of approximately 50 minutes, though some students may require additional time.
Key Components of the Abeka Physical Science Curriculum
The Abeka Science of the Physical Creation curriculum includes several key components that work together to provide a comprehensive learning experience.
Student Textbook
The student textbook is the primary resource for learning. It presents textual readings that delve into the principles of physical science, including matter and energy, mathematics in science, chemistry, motion, light and color, electricity and magnetism, and electronics/robotics. Application questions are integrated throughout the text to encourage critical thinking and practical application of the concepts learned. Each section and chapter concludes with review questions to reinforce understanding. Students will need a separate notebook to record their answers because space to record answers is not included in the textbook. Feature boxes, titled A Closer Look, offer insights into God’s design in science or provide additional information and applications of the lesson, enriching the learning experience. The textbook is visually engaging, featuring numerous graphics and colorful illustrations to aid student comprehension.
Teacher Guide
The Abeka Science of the Physical Creation Teacher’s Guide is an invaluable resource for educators. It contains the complete student text, accompanied by extensive teacher resources in the back section. Teacher support includes a detailed scope and sequence, featuring a suggested teaching schedule and grading scale to facilitate effective planning and assessment. The guide provides daily lessons, offering guidance on how to present the material effectively. It also includes answers to all questions posed in the student text, saving educators time and effort. For teachers who prefer not to utilize the comprehensive teacher guide, a separate answer key is available, containing answers to the section and chapter reviews found in the student text.
Lab Manual and Teacher Guide
The lab manual is a crucial component of the curriculum, offering hands-on learning opportunities. It includes 36 experiments, each starting with an overview, followed by detailed lists of required equipment and supplies. Step-by-step instructions guide students through the experimental process, and a report sheet is included for recording observations and conclusions. Completing the experiments requires a variety of materials, including a lab coat/apron, safety glasses/goggles, scale balance, graduated cylinder, bathroom scale (kg), measuring cups with ml measurements, beakers, petri dishes, microscope, liquid nitrogen, test tubes, spring scale, copper sulfate, glycerin, sodium hydroxide, filter paper, Bunsen burner, bar magnet, etc. While some activities can be adapted for a homeschool setting, it is essential to ensure safety and appropriate supervision.
The Lab Manual Teacher Guide provides essential teaching notes for each lab activity, along with the student lab pages and answers for the report sheets and discussion questions.
Quiz and Test Books
Assessment is an integral part of the Abeka Science of the Physical Creation curriculum. The test book features a comprehensive collection of 12 exams, including 8 tests (administered every three weeks), two nine-week exams, a semester exam, and a final exam. The tests incorporate a variety of question types, including short answer, multiple choice, matching, and essay questions, to assess students’ understanding of the material.
The quiz book contains 39 quizzes, designed to evaluate students’ grasp of key concepts throughout the course. The quizzes include matching, true or false, and short answer questions, as well as mathematical equations, providing a comprehensive assessment of student learning. The corresponding answer keys for the test book and quiz book provide answers. Note that student and teacher resources are not reproducible.
Kits Available
For convenience, Abeka offers Physical Science Student and Parent Kits. The student kit comprises the textbook, test book, quiz book, and lab manual. The parent kit includes the teacher edition, the test key, quiz key, and the lab manual teacher edition. These kits provide all the necessary materials for a successful learning experience.
Conclusion
The Abeka Science of the Physical Creation curriculum, particularly when supplemented with the Abeka Science of the Physical Creation Teacher’s Guide, offers a robust and distinctive educational experience. By integrating a creationist perspective with comprehensive coverage of physical science principles, this curriculum seeks to provide students with a unique understanding of the world around them. The availability of various resources, including the teacher guide, lab manual, and assessment materials, further enhances the effectiveness of this curriculum in diverse educational settings.
