I'm looking for an Earth/Space curriculum for our second grade year. Now that I know what I am looking for in an elementary science curriculum (see post about Part One), it is time to start looking at the curriculums available that seem to fit my wishlist.
1. Science in the Creation Week by David Unfred 
This is a challenging hands-on science curriculum that gives your child the opportunity to understand science in the context of Creation. Broken down into six unforgettable sections, one for each day of Creation, the book covers Light & Energy, Water & Weather, Minerals & Plants,the Solar System, Birds, Sea Life, Land Animals and Human Biology. A scope-and-sequence chart is included in the book so that you can use it whether your child is at a second-grade level or as high as a fifth-grade level. This book is a fabulous, Christian introduction to the major sciences!
Best Price is at ChristianBook.com at $14.99 and the only website I could find that provides sample pages
As a rule of thumb, I read as many reviews as I can about a product that I "think" I might want to purchase. That way, when I do actually purchase, I don't get those -Oh, what if this would have been better- thoughts.
Cathy Duffy's Review of Science in the Creation Week.
HomeschoolReviews.com parent review of Science in the Creation Week.
This is a highly recommended and seemingly unknown elementary science curriculum. It's is not glossy, it is not expensive, it is not filled with fluff.
2. Living Learning Science - Level 2: Earth/Space
Topics Covered:
The Earth's Crust, Seasons, Rocks & Fossils, Soil, Disaster Preparedness, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, The Water Cycle, Weather & Storms, Rivers & Caves, Seas & Oceans,
Rockets and Spaceflight, Stars, Galaxies & Constellations
Space Shuttles, Astronauts, Telescopes
Each unit in the Teacher's Manual contains all of the following:
- Easy Planning Checklists - Lesson Plans
- Annotated Library Lists
- Kid Friendly Internet Links
- Fun Project Ideas
$24.00 for Teacher's Manual (required) and Student Pages are $8.00.
This was reviewed in Cathy Duffy's Top 100 Picks for Homeschool Curriculum (which I own). Other parents I have asked have said that this is a great "simple" approach to elementary science and it would only be as great as the homeschooler makes it.
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine review
3. Christian Kids Explore Earth & Space
by Bright Ideas Press
Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space breaks our universe into manageable bites, offering units about Earth and its structure, the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and weather, as well as a unit investigating the universe and its components. The 24 lessons and six unit reviews present the material in an easy-to-teach manner. Students are encouraged to keep a science notebook as they learn. Hands-on activities include building a model of Earth and its layers, using eggs to understand plate tectonics, and simulating a volcanic eruption. Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space guides your journey as you dive into the wonder of our universe.
BrightIdeasPress offers views of the table of contents and a sample lesson. There is also a supply list available for viewing. It isn't available until mid-September but it can be pre-ordered for $29.95.
Cathy Duffy's Review of Christian Kids Explore Biology, featured in her Top 100 Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine review of CKEB.
HomeschoolReviews.com parents reviews (a few counter-reviews for CKEB).
4. God's Design for Heaven and Earth
by Answers in Genesis
There are three books that are combined to create GDHE: Our Planet Earth ($19.99), Our Universe ($19.99) and Our Weather and Water ($19.99). If you buy all three as a set it's only a whopping $49.99.
There are sample pages and table of contents available to view. And there's more resources to buy. This "looks" good but I've read too many parent reviews that say it's boring, too much for elementary students, etc. Read for yourself-IF you have a different opinion, please tell me!
HomeschoolReviews.com parent reviews
Okay, well that concludes the contenders. If you know of something that is worth looking at that fits my "wishlist" (see Part One, linked above) then PLEASE tell me.
Part three will consist of what I'd use to create my own lessons.
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