I’m so thankful that we found a homeschool science curriculum that we love early on in our homeschool journey. It’s such a blessing and a relief when you are able to find a curriculum that is a good fit and works for your family. That curriculum for us is the Young Explorer Series from Apologia.
The Young Explorer Series immerses your student in seven different course offerings through a combination of reading, hands-on experiments and projects, narration activities, and notebooking.
The seven courses offered in this series are –
- Exploring Creation with Astronomy
- Exploring Creation with Botany
- Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 – Flying Creatures – Read My Review
- Exploring Creation with Zoology 2 – Swimming Creatures
- Exploring Creation with Zoology 3 – Land Animals
- Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy & Physiology
- Exploring Creation with Chemistry & Physics – Read My Review
All of the Apologia Young Explorer Series elementary science courses are geared toward children in grades K-6. Each course consists of a text book and notebooking journal; the notebooking journal is optional, but makes a great complement for the course and keepsake afterwards. The retail price of the text book is $42, and the retail price of the Notebooking Journal is $29. There is also a Junior Notebooking Journal available for the same price as the regular Notebooking Journal; the Junior Notebooking Journal is perfect for the younger scientist that may have limited writing skills.
Generally, most families will take a school year to complete one course/topic. However, if you have a science buff on your hands, it’s totally possible to do two courses in one year, perhaps doing one per semester.
Since we’ve been using Apologia for our elementary science curriculum for roughly seven years and we have done all of the courses except one (Botany), I thought it would be fun and hopefully beneficial to you to write a post that gives you a little peek into the Young Explorer Series courses.
Here is a video that gives an overview of the entire Young Explorer Series as well as a peek inside the textbooks and notebooking journals.
Astronomy
The Young Explorer Astronomy course now has a second edition. I am only familiar with the first edition, as that is the one we own and have done, so please note that the first and second editions most likely differ a bit.
In this course, students will learn about the solar system and the stars. This includes the sun, the planets, the asteroid belt, dwarf planets, and the Kuiper belt. They will also learn about galaxies, nebulae, and black holes.
Some of the fun projects and experiments that you will find in the Astronomy course are –
- build a model solar system
- make a solar eclipse
- learn how radar is used
- make a telescope
- make a hurricane tube
Botany
This is the one Young Explorer course that we have not studied yet. We do own the book, so I have flipped through it to see what fun things we will get to do in that course.
Some of the topics your kids will learn about in this course include classifying plants, the development of plants from seeds, the reproduction process in plants, how plants make food, get water and nutrients, and how they distribute them.
These are some of the activities and projects you’ll find in the Botany course –
- make a light hut and grow herbs
- flower dissection
- make a butterfly garden
- flower pollination
- make a leaf skeleton
- celery experiment
Zoology 1 – Flying Creatures
We really had a lot of fun with this one. I wasn’t so sure on how we would like a full-year course on just flying creatures, but it ended up being a lot of fun. The kids learned a lot and did a lot of memorable activities. You can see my review on Zoology 1 here.
In Zoology 1, kids will learn about the physical characteristics, nesting habits, and flight patterns of birds. They will also learn how to attract various bird species to your yard. Then they will then move on and learn about bats. The course finishes off with the study of insects, including flies, crickets, moths, caterpillars, and butterflies.
Check out this ultimate list of resources that you can use along with Zoology 1.
Here are some of our favorite projects from this course –
- nature scavenger hunt
- build bird feeders
- build a birdhouse
- make a fossil egg
- make an ant farm
- watch caterpillars turn to butterflies – we used this kit
Zoology 2 – Swimming Creatures
My kids love marine animals, so we especially enjoyed Zoology 2. I never realized just how big the underwater animal kingdom is until going through this course with my kids. This course covers swimming creatures in rivers and streams to lakes and oceans… from microscopic organisms to massive sea creatures.
Your children will learn about whales and dolphins, seals and manatees, sea turtles, snakes, and of course fish and sharks, as well as crabs, sea snails, octopus, squid, coral, and plankton.
As your child learns about each kind of animal, they will add a clay model that they create to their Ocean Box. The Ocean Box is an aquarium diorama that they will work on throughout the entire course.
Your kids will do these projects and experiments as well –
- sound travel experiment
- learn how blubber works
- watch as tadpoles turn into frogs – we used this kit
- make an animal quiz game
- make a conchology box
- learn about desalination
Zoology 3 – Land Animals
Zoology 3 is the last of the zoology courses (and no, you do not have to study them in order). In this course, your child will explore jungles, deserts, forests, farms, and their own backyard and learn about all of the animals that live in these habitats.
Throughout the course, students will work on their map skills as they keep a record of where each animal is found on a map. They will also be learning to identify animal tracks throughout the course as they learn about the different animals.
These are some of the projects and activities that you will find in Zoology 3 –
- learn how animals use camouflage to help them survive
- predator/prey relationship activity
- capture animal tracks in your backyard
- depth perception experiment
- dissect an owl pellet
- research poisonous snakes in your area
Human Anatomy and Physiology
This is probably my favorite course in the Young Explorer Series. Before becoming a mom, I was a registered nurse. I’ve just always been fascinated by the human body and this course is just amazing with all of the creative projects and experiments to help kids learn about their own bodies.
This course starts off with a brief history of medicine and a look at cells and DNA. Your child will then learn about all of the major body systems (skeletal, muscular, respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, nervous, renal, endocrine, integumentary, lymphatic, and immune; the reproductive system is NOT covered in this course), as well as blood, health and nutrition, the five senses, and growth and development.
As they work through the course, your child will add the organs that they learn about to a personalized human body figure that will be kept in their notebooking journal (learn how to make your own notebooking journal for human anatomy and physiology here).
They will also do many of the following activities throughout the course –
- make an edible cell out of Jell-O
- test for Vitamin C in various foods
- make a diaphragm/lung model
- make a model of blood
- find out your blood type
- make a homemade stethoscope
Chemistry and Physics
This is the course that we are using this year for my 4th and 6th grade students. This will be the 3rd time we’ve used this course in our family, although this time my girls will be using it in our homeschool co-op. I’m excited to be helping out in their class because this course has some really neat activities.
The course starts out by exploring the basic building blocks of creation – atoms and molecules – and then covers simple chemicals, the laws of motion, energy in its many forms, electricity and magnetism.
It will be hard to pick a favorite activity from this course; here are some of the ones you’ll find –
- make a lava lamp
- replicate the earth’s water cycle
- make an edible periodic table of the elements
- grow crystals
- make a smoke bomb – watch our experiment in action here
- make homemade butter
- create a physical reaction with Mentos and soda – watch our experiment in action here
There are so many great things that we love about the Young Explorer Series from Apologia.
To be able to have multiple kids using the same course is extremely beneficial for any homeschool family, but especially those with many kids. I’m grateful anytime I can have more than one kid doing the same course.
The complementing notebooking journals are wonderful. Not only do they provide a place to keep track of projects and experiments and help reinforce concepts with review questions and activities, but it makes a great keepsake of their science explorations.
I appreciate the immersive, Charlotte Mason methodology used in all of the courses. Instead of having my kids learn a little of this and a little of that in their science courses, they learn about one topic and focus on that for the entire year. It’s about quality, not quantity with Apologia. By studying topics more in depth, my kids are more likely to remember the information we covered.
The Young Explorer Series is easy on the teacher and fun for the whole family! The layout of the course is easy to follow, a supply list for all of the experiments and projects is provided for you, and if you buy the notebooking journal, a weekly schedule is all laid out for you. From just the sample of activities I listed above, you can see for yourself just how fun and exciting this elementary science curriculum is (check out the FREE Apologia Science Activity eBook to try some out yourself). Often times when we do an experiment, we will grab the whole family to enjoy the experience.
But, the thing we love most about this curriculum is that it is God-centered. I love how the author, Jeannie Fulbright, points out God’s handiwork at every opportunity. For me, this is very important when choosing a curriculum. So, if you’re looking for a God-centered, creation-based science curriculum for your elementary students, Apologia’s Young Explorers series might be the perfect fit for your family.
Be sure to check out these FREE digital resources from Apologia –
Apologia Science Activity eBook
We love the notebooking journals that go with these books and the Charlotte Mason style approach!
I love how easy it is to use and teach! I also love how engage it is for my science loving kid and for me who doesnt really like science!!
I just came across this series this year-and it looks like it will be wonderful. I was struggling to find a good science curriculum and was excited that this one uses the Charlotte Mason approach. So excited to start!
We really enjoy Apologia. Thanks for the opportunity to win one the packages!
I’ve heard nothing but great things about Apologia’s curriculum so we are trying it out this year!
We haven’t used apologia, but I love all the hands-on projects you’ve added here! We are very much unit-study types, and this seems like something we would really enjoy!
I really like the Young Explorer’s science because it uses items that can be found around the home (most of the time) for the experiments, but I really like the fact that approaches science from a Biblical worldview.
I love the hands on experiments!
I am so interested in this curriculum. I would love to know more about the journals!
My daughter’s 1st year of homeschool was saved by Apologia science, activities and Junior Notebook! Her love for learning was so vibrant and evident during these times!
I enjoy the student notebooking journals
I love this – my oldest is very logical, so he has a hard time reconciling faith and science. I love seeing materials that show that the two do not have to contradict each other!
We started Astronomy this year and my son seems to be doing really well with it!!!
I’m not a science person, but Apologia makes it easy! Simple, but thorough. My kids love it!
We haven’t done Apologia science yet, but planning to in the future.
We love the conversational tone and the authors excitement toward the subject.
We love the projects. They’re not so involved to make me feel overwhelmed. The content in the text is a conversational style which keeps the kids’ attention.
We’ve never used Apologia, but I’ve heard amazing things!
I’m SO excited for this, you guys make homeschooling my 4 daughters so much easier and enjoyable! Thanks 🙂
I’ve never used Apologia, as I’m at the beginning of our homeschool journey with a young preschooler, but this sounds like everything I loved about science in elementary school.
It’s Christian-based science, but still academically rigorous
I used the Land Animals book last year with my daughter and she absolutely loved it. She happily read it cover to cover. This year we are working through the Astronomy book and so far it seems just as enjoyable. We haven’t used the journals but would be eager to try them!
We haven’t used the elementary curriculum yet however we have enjoyed the biology and lab work. I like how it is easy to understand and the fact that you don’t have to spend a fortune to do the experiments.
I like the swimming animals portion the most.
I’m using Apologia Astronomy this school year. I enjoy the online extras the most that come with your purchase code inside your book. The extras help us to go deeper into what we are learning. For example, we downloaded the sky map and viewed the stars and constellations (and even some planets) about which we have begun to learn.
Would be great to win!
We have been using these books for our co-op and LOVE them!
We love Apologia. I have been wanting to do the Anatomy and Physiology book next.
LOVE Apologia Science! It’s what we use for every grade level and rotator through the different books! So awesome
My favorite thing about the Young Explorers Series from Apologia is that it is Christ-centered and is easy to see God in the curriculum.
I like that it is easy to use!
Its Christian in worldview.
We love the apologia books! These look awesome:)
I love using the notebooking journals withe the science text.
Our favorite aspect of Apologia is the varying levels of projects included in each lesson—some simple 1-2 minute things that let us try out a concept quickly, some 10-15 minute explorations, and some full-on science projects that can take an hour or more. We like being able to choose when to go deep with our experiments and when to just do the stuff simple stuff.
We have just started using Apologia for the first time. Right now were are working through the flying creatures and are really enjoying it. I like the fact that there are quick and easy experiments to try.
We love apologia science. We are using their zoology series this year.
We love Apologia! Want to do Land Animals of the Sixth Day. We love the thoroughness found in these books.
I love that I can do this with both of my girls and they get to practice summarizing and journaling. Can’t wait to try them all!
It makes learning easy.
Marilyn
We love the zoology 2 book!
We are doing Astronomy now. Would love another!
I love the built in experiements
Using these for the first time this year and really like it. Especially like the notebooking journal and seeing what she retains.
I love all things Apologia. I have the Young Explorers Botany and Anatomy & Physiology. We use Biology & Marine Biology for older ones. I think the versions for the younger kids are so good. I love them learning concepts about how God made them and our world.
I love that this curriculum uses a Charlotte Mason method and is gentle but still uses a larger vocabulary and definitions to challenge the child.
Apologia for the elementary years is very readable with plenty of hands on activities that use items you would find in your own home. It is also great for homeschoolers using a Charlotte Mason style and for multiple ages to teach at once.
I just love the concept of journaling with science. It makes sense. I remember my science classes in PS. I was a meticulous note taker. Come semester exams everyone wanted to study with me. Sadly when my older boys started school (public) I noticed that there was no emphasis on note taking. They literally didn’t teach them how to take notes. At all. This is perfect! I already tore my hair out reteaching my older children who got a bad public school start, but this will definitely help with my younger kids.
Great ideas and the curriculum itself looks great. More indepth than a lot of ones I’ve checked out. Let’s the kids really get a feel for what they are learning instead of rushing to the next topic.
Apologia honors God.
We love Apologia!!!! It is so easy for the kids to understand, and super fun!!!
We love that these are Christian based and for younger students.
These look easy to use and laid out well! Perfect for my elementary students. Love this Creation based science!
I love Apologia! The texts are easy to follow like a conversation- NOT dry and hard-to-follow like some textbooks.
This is our first year using Apologia, and we love it! Both of my boys are excited to do their work!
I love that each one has several hands-on activities listed. Good way to keep kids engaged!
Such a fantastic giveaway. Thank you! Thankful that you gave descriptions for each book, we have the land animals for this years curriculum and now I’m looking forward to using the others too!
My daughter and I have loved the books we’ve done in this series. The notebooks are a great addition too!
I love the Apologia books I’ve seen. Would enjoy doing a science course with my boys.
Says it’s over but I still got I fo in. Confusing
Ive never bought this series but I have borrowed it from A friend one year and we loved it. It’s very engaging!
We are just getting started with the Young Explorers series, but we have used General Science for older grades and loved it.
I like that the books can be used for so many grades and ages.
We love the fun projects and I really appreciate the solid Biblical foundation behind the science.
We have enjoyed Astronomy, Flying Creatures, and swimming creatures and are planning to try Human Anatomy this fall!
I love that Apologia is written from a Christian, creation view-point.
Christian world view
I’m planning to study astronomy with my kids this year and would love to try this out.
I love that it is hands on with experiments but also lends itself to discussion and can include reading and writing (so we get some language arts in too!).
It all points to the Lord as Creator! Thank you for the giveaway.
This is the first year we have discovered and are using Apologia in our homeschool. It’s only been 1 week and we are HOOKED! We are using Science and Bible. Thank you so much for this generous giveaway! I am crossing my fingers, toes, and EYES in hopes we are fortunate enough to win.
I love that the author always points back to the Creator, so you can easily see how science confirms God and vice versa!
We used Apologia in a co op setting, and would like to try it on our own!
I like being able to teach all the elementary kids together.
I was not familiar with apologia science before this; but now I really want it! I like the in-depth focus on one science area instead of the randomness of grade level textbooks. I love that they offer A&P!
I like how it focuses on blending science and faith
I like that it teaches a biblical worldview!
We have borrowed (from another homeschool family) and used some of the Apologia Young Explorers range. My children and I have enjoyed the Biblical-based information.
Unfortunately, since we live in South Africa, I will not be able to win one of these wonderful books 🙁
I love the hands on activities with the apologia books. Thanks for the chance to win!
I love science from a biblical perspective
Would love to try this series
Apologia is user friendly and it’s easy to gather the materials for the experiments.
We love that Apologia Young Explorers series is so friendly to different learning styles, from getting out there and exploring Creation to researching and reading and watching recommended videos/documentaries to arts and crafts… Even our PreK-now-kindergartener has enjoyed learning along with older siblings! Big kids wanted to do Chemistry this year, so when I happened on a barely used Jr. Notebooking Journal for Chemistry for only $10, I grabbed it for our littlest learner so she can explore along with us!
This curriculum teaches science from a Christian perspective and looks easy to use!
I’m very familiar with high school Apologia and am looking forward to using the elementary series soon. I love everything about Apologia!!!
The hands on activities.
Correct content that I can trust 🙂
We’ve heard so many great things about the curriculum that I’m hoping we’ll be able to add it to our homeschool. It looks fun and engaging.
We are just getting started with our first Apologia Young Explorers science curr., we using the Botany. I am Very excited to use it and actually to use all of their stuff.
I haven’t used this curriculum before but am excited by what I see. I love the experiments in the samplle and I can see that these books are exciting, not boring. I’m really interested in delving deeper, which I will do.
We haven’t used Apologia Science but will be starting the Anatomy and Physiology curriculum this week. We cannot wait!
We love how it helps us to dig deeper into our weekly science work, and truly points the kids back to God in everything!!
I love that this curriculum is God centered! I also really like that I could teach multiple grades together! We have never used Apologia, but would love the opportunity to try it.
Thank you for the I depth overview of this product. It looks very neat!
I love that it’s Christian based. It also looks fun and easy!!
We love Apologia science curriculum
I love the variety of science topics available in this series, and that they’re from a Biblical perspective.
I have almost purchased apologia so many times. What a wonderfully put together post, thank you!
I used Apologia in middle school and high school and loved it (despite NOT being a science person). I love how many hands on activities are included with the elementary level. My boys never stop moving and this sounds perfect!
Thank you for the giveaway. I love that it is God centered which is inline with our beliefs. This would be a great asset to have in our homeschool.
Thanks so much for the great giveaway!
We just started using Apologia with their Astronomy course and LOVE it so far. Can’t wait to do another one!
The Junior note booking is my favorite part!
Thank you for posting this these books look VC very interesting. I have the apologia high school biology and chemistry courses and love them but have never tried the younger grade ones. I like that I can use then with all my younger children together. And of course the Christian worldview makes all the difference to me.
Out co-op uses this curriculum. My kids love the notebooking journal.
omgoodness, so excited. we are using Trail Guide, POS, and as much as I like the curriculum, science is just okay. We have had a heck of a year with my lyme, moving, rehabbing, and more. I miss Apologia, but with medical bills, etc, we are spent. Apologia counts for school, credit, and it is Christian. Quality, and keeps its value for resale. plus you can use it with multiple age groups and it is all in one place. We could use a bit of luck. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed for a win. Thank you for your blog. Really liking it.
I hope to win the Zoology 3 set! My favorite aspect of the Apologia science curriculum is the Creation Confirmation sections where we read the “proof” and evidence that this world is not billions of years old. Thank you for the chance to win!
I have wanted to try Apologia for the last few years….I think my kids are finally old enough. They all look incredible!!!
Would love to win! Never used apologia before..looks interesting for sure!
We love this series. It’s a bit pricey but worth every cent!
Omg this is awesome!
We love Apologia
We LOVE Apologia! And have used the Jr and HS levels for years. I think we would like to have Land Animals.
Thank you for offering this give away!
Our sons would be delighted and blessed to have this set! Science is their favorite subject that peaks their interest in learning.
I would love to try Apologia curriculum! Especially the human body! That sounds like so much fun!
I like that it stayed with biblical principles, multi age range and fun learning activities
I like that for each book in the elementary science series from Apologia, there are so many activities and experiments to do and this is exactly what I need for my active explorer!
We love Apologia’s young explorer series. We have been working through the Flying Creatures text.
We love Apologia’s Young explorer’s edition. Really enjoyed using this resource/curriculum. Thank you so much.
we’ve not used the notebooks before, so i’m interested in trying that!
Love Apologia.
My kids loved the Anatomy Book!!!
We love this series in our Homeschool. I love that I can use the same text for all my kids, that it teaches science and creation from a Biblical perspective, and inspires kids to get out there and explore our world!
Thanks for all the great content 🙂
We’ve never used Apologia, but friends have and love it. If we win, I look forward to learning with my 4 younger girls
This is awesome
My daughter loves doing hands-on stuff and I think she’d love all the projects.
looks like an amazing way to learn about the world around us.
I LOVE APOLOGIA SCIENCE! That says a lot from someone that really does not like science in general.
This seems to be pretty thorough science. I like that it’s biblical.
Loved learning about Apologia! We are new to homeschooling and are always looking for good curriculum!
My favorite part of the Young Explorers curriculum is the Notebooks, it takes so much pressure off of me and the kids are so engaged.
We have never used these before. We are on a tight budget and I am just winging it for science this year. All 3 of my girls would love these. So sweet of you to give these all away.
Theres so much great information. I esp love the journaling aspect.
Looks fun for my child.
I would love to try out apologia with my kids. I have yet to find a science curriculum that I love.
Love using Apologia Science curriculum in my homeschool!
Great giveaway! Thanks for the chance 😊
im very new to this and i LOVE how there are many different subjects and centered around god.
We love Apologia Science and have used it for our older children. I wasn’t aware of this Young Explorer’s Science curriculum until your post. I’d love to “win” the Zoology Land Animals curriculum for our daughter who oozes enthusiasm to learn about animals. Thanks for sharing!
My 8 year old science loving son would be so excited to pick one of these!
Thanks for the chance 🙂
We have just started using Apologia and I love it and my kids seem to as well.
I love the layout and the Notebooking Journals.
I hope we are using it for many more years.
This looks like so much fun. Thanks for the giveaway.
We just started using Apologia and so far we love it! I like the small chunks of information and the notebooking journal.
I like the total immersion of Apologia! 🙂
I absolutely love Apologia science! I love how easy it is to understand, that they give a biblical perspective, and how interactive they are. My mom used the Apologia Biology for me in high school… I used classify animals for fun. Lol.
cool giveaway
I would love to do the anatomy book.
I love the experiments and activities that are included. It makes learning science fun!
We haven’t tried this yet, but would love too!
We used Apologia science last year for the first time. Loved it!
We love Apologia because it is very informative and easy to use. I also love how I learn new things right alongside my children. We are currently going through swimming creatures of the fifth day.
We love using Apologia because it explains concepts in ways that children can understand and they keep it interesting.
I like the vocabulary in the text, as well the voice of the text.
I love Apologia! I just found out about it last year and I love how colorful and engaging it is for the kids and the parents alike. The Notebooking Journal is awesome too. All around great curriculum!
We really enjoyed Apologia, I love the journals( note books) that you can get with them! They are a wonderful resource to them. Thanks do the giveaway
It”s helpful to have two levels of journal notebooks!
I’m new and excited to learn about your blog
I love how trustworthy the content of Apologia is. I don’t have to worry about evolutionary ideas, and it doesn’t compromise as far as depth. I learn so much from the books.
Using Apologia this year!