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Berean Builders Elementary Science Series
Science in the Beginning, Homeschool Science Textbook
Science in the Beginning is an engaging, exciting, hands-on, multilevel elementary resource that is the first in a planned series of books by Dr. Jay Wile.
Introducing scientific concepts in the context of history, the days of creation are used as a structure through which a wide variety of scientific topics are introduced, including: light, energy conservation, air & water, botany, the solar system, zoology, and some aspects of human anatomy and physiology.
A total of 90 lessons are included; 15 for every creative day in the Genesis account. The first 12 are "normal" lessons and the last 3 are challenge lessons. Depending on how much science you wish to teach in your homeschool, there are enough lessons to cover every other day for the length of a school year, or, you can finish the book by only doing two lessons a week (and skipping the challenge lessons).
Students will love the hands-on activity that begins each lesson. Most are experiments (that have been field-tested for homeschoolers!), and include step by step directions to keep you on track. As this curriculum was designed for all elementary-aged students to use together, the main lesson text takes a conversational, easy-to-read tone that all students can comprehend; illustrations and photographs are integrated throughout. Review assignments close the lesson; questions are grouped for "youngest, older, and oldest" students. Students are instructed to keep a notebook, and the activities include both drawing and writing type notebook assignments. For evaluation, the notebook or oral questions can be used; tests are not included, but are in the Helps & Hints book (sold-separately).
Experiments use common household goods, though for some items that may not be on-hand, a list is provided at the beginning of the book. A full materials list for each creation-day chapter is also included for easy preparation.
299 pages with glossary and index. Hardcover. Elementary Grades K-6.
Introducing scientific concepts in the context of history, the days of creation are used as a structure through which a wide variety of scientific topics are introduced, including: light, energy conservation, air & water, botany, the solar system, zoology, and some aspects of human anatomy and physiology.
A total of 90 lessons are included; 15 for every creative day in the Genesis account. The first 12 are "normal" lessons and the last 3 are challenge lessons. Depending on how much science you wish to teach in your homeschool, there are enough lessons to cover every other day for the length of a school year, or, you can finish the book by only doing two lessons a week (and skipping the challenge lessons).
Students will love the hands-on activity that begins each lesson. Most are experiments (that have been field-tested for homeschoolers!), and include step by step directions to keep you on track. As this curriculum was designed for all elementary-aged students to use together, the main lesson text takes a conversational, easy-to-read tone that all students can comprehend; illustrations and photographs are integrated throughout. Review assignments close the lesson; questions are grouped for "youngest, older, and oldest" students. Students are instructed to keep a notebook, and the activities include both drawing and writing type notebook assignments. For evaluation, the notebook or oral questions can be used; tests are not included, but are in the Helps & Hints book (sold-separately).
Experiments use common household goods, though for some items that may not be on-hand, a list is provided at the beginning of the book. A full materials list for each creation-day chapter is also included for easy preparation.
299 pages with glossary and index. Hardcover. Elementary Grades K-6.
299 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
11 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Jay L. Wile
78 books31 followersJay Wile learned about his love for chemistry when his dedicated parents bought him his first chemistry set. Many stink bombs and a few explosions later, he was hooked! Although he loved chemistry, he also had many other interests. For a while, he thought about becoming a concert pianist, but unfortunately, his fingers were not long enough (no kidding!). As he was finishing up his high school years, he became extremely interested in the theater and began to pursue a career in acting. Partly because he learned the science behind some of the special effects of the plays in which he performed, he eventually went back to his first love: chemistry.
He went to the University of Rochester in upstate New York to study chemistry, and while he was there, he began working on nuclear chemistry experiments. He became so fascinated with nuclear chemistry that he stayed at the University of Rochester and got a Ph.D. in that field. For several years, he did research in the field under the auspices of the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. This research led to several grants and many publications. While doing research, Dr. Wile was also an assistant professor of chemistry.
Dr. Wile's love of science is demonstrated by the many awards he has won for excellence in teaching and research. He has also presented numerous lectures on the topics of Nuclear Chemistry, Christian Apologetics, Homeschooling, and Creation vs. Evolution. He has published 30 articles on these subjects in nationally-recognized, peer-reviewed journals, and has 9 books to his credit, most of which belong to the award-winning "Exploring Creation with" series of junior-high and high-school science courses.
He went to the University of Rochester in upstate New York to study chemistry, and while he was there, he began working on nuclear chemistry experiments. He became so fascinated with nuclear chemistry that he stayed at the University of Rochester and got a Ph.D. in that field. For several years, he did research in the field under the auspices of the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. This research led to several grants and many publications. While doing research, Dr. Wile was also an assistant professor of chemistry.
Dr. Wile's love of science is demonstrated by the many awards he has won for excellence in teaching and research. He has also presented numerous lectures on the topics of Nuclear Chemistry, Christian Apologetics, Homeschooling, and Creation vs. Evolution. He has published 30 articles on these subjects in nationally-recognized, peer-reviewed journals, and has 9 books to his credit, most of which belong to the award-winning "Exploring Creation with" series of junior-high and high-school science courses.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 2, 2022
We have enjoyed science this year using this book. It has a simple, fun hands on activity for each lesson.
May 23, 2025
Absolutely enjoyed this. Probably one of my favorite things about homeschooling this school year. Exactly what I was looking for in my search for science curriculum. It's a science book written by a Christian scientist, not a Bible study with some scientific thoughts. And the experiments were perfect for us. I used it with ages 9 and under. Older kids definitely got more from it and were able to narrate beautifully. But the preschoolers still had a terrific time.
I thought this was delightful. Some people might not categorize it as a "living book" in some ways but I thought it was terrific and had just enough conversational tone that it's obviously still different than a standard "textbook".
Absolutely will be continuing in this series.
I thought this was delightful. Some people might not categorize it as a "living book" in some ways but I thought it was terrific and had just enough conversational tone that it's obviously still different than a standard "textbook".
Absolutely will be continuing in this series.
May 21, 2024
Each lesson has a hands-on experiment to go with it. Engaging and understandable for lower grades.
April 20, 2023
I realized the other day that as I read through and read out loud, this book, in doing science with the children that I had actually read the whole book. It is a very good science book that uses the days of creation to introduce scientific concepts, theories, and laws. Each lesson has an experiment that highlights the specific area of science being studied. A great introductory science book, which covers a wide variety of scientific fields.
February 9, 2016
Absolutely the best science curriculum I have found. I love the length of the lessons, the experiment that starts each lesson and the review questions. The explanation is very concise and clear. We are looking forward to the next book in this series!
October 26, 2021
I loved this book the first time we went through it five years ago, but the experiment/demonstration at the beginning of every lesson got wearisome by the end of the year. I found that to be even more true this time around. I also found the author to be too repetitive and chatty, which at times lost some luster from the writing style of the book. So while I highly recommend this book, I'd give it 7/10, or 3.5 stars. I personally would still love to find for our homeschool interesting, young-earth creation science books that teach in a captivating, memorable, yet highly informative manner; that have extremely easy demonstrations that don't require much out of mom at all!
January 27, 2021
Our kids and I LOVE this curriculum. It's very hands-on with a demonstration, observation, or experiment with every lesson. (Apologia curriculum was not succinct enough to keep everyone's attention here. ) The lessons are short enough to keep the children's attention the whole lesson, but the author still works in a great deal of science terminology. There are free, printable lab manuals available on the website for different levels, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel. We're now starting Science in the Industrial Revolution.
May 18, 2021
Fantastic science curriculum!
October 13, 2025
This is an enjoyable science curriculum, organized as units for each of the days of creation. It’s conversational in tone, and has a doable experiment with each lesson. I’ve enjoyed it twice- first with my older two kids and now with my younger two. I’d recommend it for a family-style study with all ages together, grades 1-6.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews