Signs and Seasons Field Journal and Test Manual

by Jay Ryan

A Workbook for Establishing High School Credit

Genres: Science, Astronomy, School, Nonfiction, Nature

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in small sections over a couple of years. All of the things taught in this book used to be common knowledge for most people, but we have lost the need to look to the sky for signs and seasons and for days and years as Genesis declares the reason that God created the stars. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about this even though some of it felt so deep that it took me a while to actually digest it--and honestly still am. I am looking forward to implementing what I've learned with the field activities listed in the back. Our modern technology has freed us to observe the heavens just because we want to. Creation is beautiful and wondrous and has much to teach us. Now, the more I look up, the more I see and learn, and now the more I want to understand it even more. All of the cycles taught about can be observed without special equipment, and all information is biblically based. For me it is a new found treasure that I will continue to use as a reference book as I study further.

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personally, I did not enjoy Signs and Seasons. I didn't do any of the field activities, so pretty much none of what I was reading made sense. On top of that, I don't live in the US, so the constellations one might see in, say, March, don't actually show up in the night sky here in March. That is pretty annoying.
I am glad that I pushed through and finished the book though!

[Lauren Fee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book to me when I was preparing for a term's nature study on the stars and sky. I found another resource to use with my kids, but I started reading for myself, got hooked, put away for a season as life got busy, and then circled back again at the end of this year in an attempt to wrap up unfinished books. Every time I took the time to open and read, I was delighted. I think the field activities would be so valuable, especially in mastering the constellations, fixed stars, and wandering stars (aka planets). I definitely plan to use this book when I circle back around on this topic with older children and hope to be back myself as I seek to become a better student of the stars and sky.

[Gina Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an AmblesideOnline year 7 book (I don’t remember if it’s scheduled for more years that than) and we’ve been reading it aloud once a week (or less) during circle time for almost 3 years. We failed in doing the observations which I’m sure would have made it sink in a lot more…I’m still going to try and have my younger two do the field work in the next few years I think. It was sometimes hard to understand but overall really interesting and informative.

[Rachel Dorminy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! I really loved the biblical references and heavenly language that he uses. Most astronomy books start with a macro perspective of the planet lineup, but this book starts with observing the sky from your backyard. I think it’s geared towards high schoolers but I’m using it as the spine for my 3rd and 5th grader next year.

[Kathrynlouis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended especially as a summertime course of study. It's a totally different viewpoint than I ever experienced before. Lovely Book!