The BJU Press middle and high school curriculum offers excellent, rigorous science courses with complete scope and sequence. However, since it’s designed for science teachers in a classroom, it is impractical for typical homeschool use. It is best suited for students with a strong interest in science and parent teachers with a science background, as lessons and labs are complex, involved 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. The curriculum works well for homeschool co-ops where courses are taught by an experienced science teacher. Bob Jones does offer an online or DVD distance learning version of each course, which helps with teaching the course content. Providing the hands-on laboratory experience is still difficult for homeschools. This curriculum presents a Christian creationist worldview.
| BJU Press Science Curriculum Review – Grades 7-12 | |
| Curriculum Components Recommended | Student Text, Teacher’s Edition with CD, Student Lab Manual, Teacher’s Lab Manual, Tests, Key |
| Curriculum Cost (per Grade) | $210 for traditional
$300-350 for online/DVD |
| Hands-on Activities Cost (per Grade) | $130-370 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
BJU student book is wonderful
I am teaching an Apologia Homeschool Coop Biology class with 12 students. I ordered my Apologia book and it was great. However, I saw this book at a convention and knew I had to supplement my class with this wonderful book. It has images that Apologia does not. However, it has twice the amount of information too. The chapters do not line up with Apologia but if you know your biology well enough you can figure it out by matching up the chapters to the modules. Some of my homeschool students don’t like BJU due to family heritages. But I have found it to be a wonderful resource! (Review by Jennifer)
Great Book
This is a great chemistry textbook. It is best used by someone with some chemistry knowledge. Good mix of review problems and chemistry math problems. (Review by Julie)
Wonderful
Just started using the kit recently. Has most all of the items that I need. I did a lot of research to find a kit that went with the BJU Biology 10 curriculum. It had so many items in it. If I had to buy the items individually, it would have been much more expensive. But this kit was wonderful. Their website is very detailed with its contents, and their customer service was very friendly and knowledgeable. Bottom line, I would recommend this company. Don’t waste your time researching elsewhere; this company has what you need. Thank you. (Review by Stuart C.)