The A Beka middle school and high school curriculum offers excellent, rigorous science courses with complete scope and sequence using a traditional school textbook approach. However, due to its content presentation and lab activities designed for the classroom, it’s challenging for homeschool settings. It is best suited for students with a strong interest in science and parent teachers with a science background. It is designed to be taught and not self-learned by the student. The lessons and labs, especially grades 9-12, are complex and require significant teacher preparation time. Grades 9-12 (Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) are harder to teach and more time-consuming than grades 7-8. This curriculum presents a Christian creationist worldview.
| Review of A Beka Book® Science Curriculum – Grades 7-12 | |
| Curriculum Components Recommended | Student Text, Teacher Edition, Activity Book, Teacher Activity Book, Tests, Test Key |
| Curriculum Cost (per Grade) | $105 for grades 7-8
$170 for grades 9-12 |
| Hands-on Activities Cost (per Grade) | $80-390 depending on grade |
| Strengths |
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| Weaknesses |
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| Learning Environment | |
| Homeschool Suitability | ★★★ |
| Classroom Suitability | ★★★★★ |
| New Science Teacher Suitability | ★★ |
| Learning Evaluation Tools | ★★★★★ |
| Includes Student Tests | Yes |
| Worldview | Creationist |
| Student Appeal | |
| Student Readability | ★★★★ |
| Engaging Visual Content | ★★★★★ |
| Independent Study Suitability | ★★ |
| Suitability for Students Not Interested in Science | ★★★ |
| Reading Level | Grade Appropriate |
| Science Content Quality | |
| Scope and Sequence | ★★★★★ |
| Depth of Science Content | ★★★★★ |
| Age-appropriate Science Content | ★★★★★ |
| Hands-on Science Learning | |
| Comprehensive Hands-on Learning | ★★★★★ |
| Activities Develop Science Skills | ★★★★ |
| Activities Develop Critical Thinking | ★★★★ |
| Ease of Completing Experiments | ★★★ |
| Activity/Lab Prep Time | 30-60 minutes |
Star Rating: 5-Very Good, 4-Good, 3-Fair, 2-Poor, 1-Very Poor
A Beka®, A Beka Book®, and A Beka Academy® are registered trademarks of Pensacola Christian College, Inc. (PCC). Home Science Tools is not affiliated with A Beka Book, A Beka Academy or Pensacola Christian College, Inc. (PCC).