Course Links
The video is presented by Apologia author, Sherri Seligson, and is an excellent guide to writing a lab report. A printable PDF is also included on this page.
Module 1
Why Should Kids Study Science?
Science is important, not only for the obvious reason of understanding the world better but also for training your brain so that it can be used in many different ways.
Imhotep was an Egyptian who lived around 2650 B.C. He was known for his medical knowledge.
Imhotep used Penicillium mold grown on bread as a medical treatment. Here is a picture of what it looks like when it is grown in a lab.
Egyptians used papyrus, which was a primitive form of paper, made from a long-leaf plant. This page tell the student how to make papyrus.
The Sumerians were the first to use animals to pull chariots. They used donkeys.
Model of Si Nan of Han Dynasty
The Chinese people were the first to employ compasses to aid their travels. This page shows an early Chinese compass.
These are short biography summaries of the major Greek philosophers, including Thales, Anaximander, and Leucippus.
This site provides information about Thales.
This site provides information about Anaximander.
This site provides information about Anaximenes.
This site provides information about Leucippus.
Here is a great site that provides information on this unique Greek scientist.
Here is a simple and clear explanation of density.
Learn more about the definition of “hypothesis” here.
Learn more about Aristotle, “The Father of Life Sciences”
What is the concept of “spontaneous generation”? Read this article to understand more about this ancient belief.
Learn about the most famous mathematician and inventor of ancient Greece.
Ptolemy proposed the geocentric system for our solar system. Learn more about him here.
Information on this time-honored theory is presented in this article.
Rome did not mind scientific inventions, especially those that made work more productive and Rome more powerful, but it had little use for the practice of explaining the world around us.
Like the Egyptians, the alchemists never really tried to understand how the natural world worked. They were interested in making and finding “the next useful substance.” This page gives a great history of these inventors.
Great Scientific Advancements From the Muslim World
During the western “Dark Ages” other cultures were experiencing their “Golden Age”. This article touches on some advancements that the Muslim world made during this time.
Science can advance even more when different cultures share scientific discoveries. This is one great example.
In 1054, a Chinese scientist observed a star exploding. An explosion of a star today is called a supernova. The remains of an exploded star are called a nebula.
Grosseteste is considered to be the father of the scientific method, a systematic way of conducting research. This site provides more information about him.
his page shows the only know mural of the Grosseteste.
Roger Bacon, a student of Grosseteste, correctly predicted that science would bring about such marvels as flying machines, explosives, submarines, and worldwide travel. This site provides more information about him.
This site offers interesting history of the life of Thomas Bradwardine.
Here is a little more insight into the life of Nicolas of Cusa.
Copernicus was the first to propose the heliocentric system, which places the sun at the center of the solar system. Church opposition and lack of data to support his view kept Copernicus’ idea from being widely accepted.
The Copernican Model: A Sun-Centered Solar System
Great figures on this page bring the heliocentric system alive and make it very understandable.
Vesalius was known for his 1543 book, which detailed the internal anatomy of the human body. This is a detailed biography.
This site provides in-depth information on this important historical figure.
Through his observations, Johannes Kepler was able to describe the orbits of the planets mathematically. His mathematical equations became known as “Kepler’s Laws.”
Wonderful and insightful information on Galileo–his life and times. Use the links in the left-hand column to explore topics.
Galileo Journey to Jupiter Project
This is the link to NASA’s official website for the Galileo mission to Jupiter. Great images of the moons of the giant planet are shown.
Homeschooled by his father, who was against teaching math before the age of 15, Blaise Pascal started to teach himself geometry at the age of 12. He went on to make many contributions to the scientific community. Here is a short biography about his life.
Find out a little more about air pressure on this site.
Sir Isaac Newton authored the Principia: a three-volume set of scientific observations and mathematic equations written by Newton, which provide detailed information on the three laws of motion, the motion of fluids, and the universal law of gravity. The website details more of Newton’s accomplishments.
This is a college lecture transcript on Newton’s life and times. It gives some wonderful animations of Newton’s ideas.
Learn about the life of Robert Boyle.
Discover more about Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek and his contributions to science.
Carolus Linnaeus is known as “The Father of Taxonomy.” Read more about his life here.
This site provides information about the life and science contributions of Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier.
Dalton is considered the founder of modern atomic theory. This is a short biographical summary of his accomplishments.
The life of Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, is fascinating. His life’s path was not a very straight one. His grandfathers were both pre-evolutionists. However, Darwin became a minister in the church.
Pasteur is credited with inventing the pasteurization process that keeps milk from spoiling. It was also Pasteur who destroyed Aristotle’s idea of spontaneous generation once and for all. The website provides insight into Pasteur’s numerous accomplishments.
Mendel is the father of genetics. Learn more about him and his discoveries here.
Learn about the life and contributions of Michael Faraday.
Maxwell is considered by many to be the father of modern physics. This site is his biography page.
The unit for work, the joule, is named after this man. Learn more about him here.
Planck is considered to be the father of quantum theory, which says that “energy exists in small packets called “quanta.” Learn more about his life and hardship in Nazi Germany.
The linked site gives a complete biography of the man and his accomplishments. He is most noted for his part in developing nuclear energy theory. This is the source of the equation “E = mc²."
Bohr developed a “picture of an atom” based on principles of quantum mechanics. His picture of the atom is sometimes referred to as the Bohr Model of the Atom.
When we think about famous people and “heroes”, we tend to think about Hollywood actors, athletes, and famous military leaders. Take a moment and look over the names of these quiet “heroes” who paved the way for the human understanding of how our world works. These are the people who gave the actors film, the athletes proper muscle training, the military leaders the means to defend the country. These are the physicists, chemists, biologists and earth scientists who have helped form our understanding of God’s world. Their life paths may be different than ours and their belief system may not be the same, but God leads people even when they don’t realize it. Keep the facts, question the theories, continue to be amazed by God’s Creation!
Module 2
Elephant and Feather - Air Resistance
Air actually slows objects down as they fall. The heavier an object is and the more compact it is, the less it is affected by air resistance. This website shows this fact in a fun and interesting format.
NASA's History of Human Space Flight
Science is NOT a means by which something can be proven. All scientific conclusions are tentative. All it takes is one experiment to destroy even a scientific law. A classic example is mankind’s theory that he would NEVER travel beyond earth’s atmosphere.
Lavoisier reframed the study of chemistry by proposing a method to show that the once accepted explanation of combustion was incorrect. Many regard him as the founder of the science nation.
Here is a simple explanation and the steps of the scientific method.
The Scientific Method Revisited
A common misperception of science is that the scientific method is used the same way all of the time. This article does an excellent job of showing us that the steps of the scientific method, while also discussing that the steps do not have to be done in order.
This video demonstrates the “elastic membrane”, or surface tension, of water. When one observes a water strider insect through slow-motion video he/she can see the use of water tension to keep the insect on top of the water. A slow-motion video of a drop of milk in water also demonstrates this elastic quality.
Semmelweis noticed that his patients were dying at a rate that far exceeded the death rate of other patients on other wards in the hospital. This website details Semmelweis’ contribution to hospital infection control.
Ignaz Semmelweis was fired by the hospital for practicing infection control methods. But even though he lost his job, his research into infection control continues through to today at the university which bears his name.
Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe bacteria and protozoa.
Medical Evidence in the Old Testament
The Old Testament provided instruction on how to live a healthy life long before scientific evidence.
Lowell hypothesized that the lines on Mars were actually canals that had been dug by the inhabitants of Mars and he assumed that the purpose of the canals was for water distribution. Despite the incorrect theory, Lowell did have scientific accomplishments. This website details Lowell’s accomplishments.
Percival Lowell’s canals and green blotches turned out to be dust clouds. Lowell’s sources of error resulted from the poor optics of his telescope and Lowell having eye fatigue from the long hours of observation. This website shows the surface of Mars from the Mars orbiting camera.
Percival Lowell built an observatory in Arizona to make detailed observations of Mars. This page provides an online tour of the facility.
This is NASA’s information website on the Mars Rover mission.
Science Has Limits: A Few Things Science Does Not Do
Science is important in understanding the world but it can not make moral judgments and does not tell us what we should do with this knowledge. It is one piece in understanding God’s world.
This site offers an explanation of operational vs. historical science.
Module 3
All experimental designs have one central characteristic: they are based on manipulating the independent variable and measuring the effect on the dependent variable. This web page outlines these important research objectives.
Experimental Research and Design
This site provides the student with a super summary of the scientific method and experimental variables.
This is a simple explanation of density.
Sodium chloride, or common table salt, is the chemical compound NaCl, composed of the elements sodium and chloride. This website details the structure and properties of this important molecule.
Salt Crystals Forming Under the Microscope
This is a time-lapse video of salt crystals forming under the microscope.
Saltwater is denser than pure water. This web page provides lots of interesting facts about the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Old Earth ideas are suggested on some of the links.
Collecting and Recording Experimental Data
This site provides important concepts in recording experimental data and gives examples.
Here is an easy step-by-step video to creating a data table.
This guide explains what a bar graph is and how it can be used to present data.
This guide explains what a circle graph is and how it can be used to present data.
This site provides information on line graphs and when they are appropriate and inappropriate to use.
An introduction to graph interpretation is given. Very well done with loads of visuals to help the student understand graph reading.
Learn more about independent variables vs. dependent variables.
Objective data is something that can be measured exactly during an experiment — height, age, weight, etc. – are all examples of objective data. This page provides objective data regarding teen body weight norms.
An experiment is a research method in which the investigator manipulates a variable(s) under very controlled conditions and examines whether changes occur in a second variable(s). This website provides insights into these techniques.
A control group study uses a control group to compare to an experimental group in a test of a causal hypothesis. This page outlines the procedures of this important research technique.
This Wikipedia site presents information on both blind and double-blind studies.
One doctor’s use of double-blind studies in his research is presented. Great web page for those trying to understand how these studies work.
Here is an example of an experiment that uses a placebo to determine if medical treatment is effective. Placeboes are the fake pills given to drug test participants. They are usually just made out of sugar. They are made to look identical to the real drug so that the volunteers do not know whether or not they are taking the real drug or the placebos.
Module 4
Pure Science, Applied Science, and Technology
The difference between the three could vary depending on what is needed in the world.
Once thought impractical, leaders today have to realize the importance of pure science.
The importance of studying applied science.
This site provides the definition of technology and different aspects of it.
The International Space Station
The invention of a new process or machine that makes life better or makes a job easier is called technology. This page details some of the awesome International Space Station technology.
Discover the meaning of “Life Science”! Some evolutionary content is included.
Archaeology! Although it might not be as action-packed as Indiana Jones, archaeology continues to be very exciting!
Four historical tools can be used to study life science. These include historical records, archaeology, geology, and paleontology. Archaeology is the study of past human life as revealed by preserved relics. This site offers archaeology from a biblical perspective. Explore its pages to find out more.
What is geology? Why is it important?
A great website about geology from a Christian perspective.
Analyzing a Historical Document
Learn more about internal and external tests.
Archaeology can give us some clues about civilizations for which we have no historical records, but archaeology’s main strength lies in uncovering and clarifying the history of civilizations for which we do have historical records. A student does not need to go to Egypt to study Archaeology. There are numerous sites in the United States to be explored.
Part 1 of the two-part travel guide of the top 10 archaeological sites in Rome. Pictures and videos included.
Part 2 of the two-part travel guide of the top 10 archaeological sites in Rome. Pictures and videos included.
This page is an online teacher-guided lesson regarding China's history and culture.
Aristotle’s dictum says the benefit of the doubt is to be given to the document itself, not assigned by the critic to himself. This page details some of Aristotle’s most significant accomplishments.
Biblical Archaeology: Cuneiform
This site sets forth the importance of cuneiform scrolls and provides links to other archaeological finds of importance.
This is the link to the Dead Sea Scrolls online expo. It provides some very detailed information on the contents of this historic archaeological find.
Here is a summary and picture of the Mari Tablets.
Did Jericho’s walls really fall down? This site answers the question. Provides tons of links to archaeological sites which support a biblical world viewpoint.
There are many seemingly unrelated cultures that all have a worldwide flood tale. If the flood did not really occur, then you have to assume that they all made up the tales independently, because many of the cultures had no contact with one another until well after the tales were written down. This site depicts the current state of ark inquiry and lists its many evidences.
Proof of Noah's Ark at the Black Sea
This is an article on a historic archaeological find.
The New Testament: Can I Trust It?
The internal test simply tests to see whether or not the document is internally consistent. This page details the requirements for the internal, external, and bibliographic tests and discusses how well the Bible passes these tests.
Dendrochronology is the science of counting tree rings to determine the age of a tree. The appearance of a tree ring depends on several environmental factors for the year in which the ring was formed. This website provides valuable insight into how this amazing dating science works.
This website shows how the science works and what can be learned regarding the earth’s past.
This page provides some interesting information on how carbon-14 forms and how it is used to date fossils. (Contains evolutionary and old earth content.)
Radiometric dating is using a radioactive process to determine the age of an item. This page details the principles behind the dating method and where it falls short in its methods.
Little-Known Facts About Radiometric Dating
This page discusses why some believe carbon-14 should not be used as a dating method.
Module 5
This is a simple summary of the study of astronomy. It offers many links that might be good references for this module. Explore the space science terms at the bottom of the page.
Time is really just a measurement of change, right? How do you think about time?
Keeping Track of time in Outer Space
Have you ever thought about how Earthlings would keep track of time when traveling away from Earth? Perhaps this will shed some light on it.
Here is a quick and easy reference about constellations.
10 Interesting Facts About Star Constellations
This site offers some more constellation facts to think about.
Learn more about these devices on this site.
If you are visiting Stonehenge on the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, you can observe something beautiful!
Learn more about these different types of telescopes. Illustrations and videos are included.
This particular page explains visible light and offers a video. Explore other wavelengths using the links on the right side of the page.
What Causes an Orbit to Happen?
How do gravity and orbit relate to each other? Here is a simple explanation with illustrations. Additional links are at the end of the page.
Why Do Planets Go Around the Sun?
Some additional information on why planets go around the sun.
Plasma: The Fourth State of Matter
How is plasma different from gas? Why is it considered a fourth state of matter? This site will provide a few answers.
This site offers information about the northern lights and provides some beautiful pictures.
Learn more about the sun and all of its parts.
If you would like to know more about solar eclipses or when the next one will be, this is a good site to start. It contains a few videos also.
Fission vs. Fusion: What's the Difference?
Fusion and Fission are both nuclear reactions. Fusion is what happens to the sun. Fission is what we use to create energy on earth. Read about the differences.
Be informed of the facts when it comes to the ongoing debate about what makes a planet a planet.
The inner and outer planets have different features. Learn more about them here.
The Moon: It's Just a Phase It's Going Through
Here is a brief description of each phase of the moon.
Tides, and the Pull of the Moon and the Sun
This article offers a more in-depth look at how the moon and sun affect the tides on Earth.
Lunar Eclipses: What Are They and When Is the Next One?
Explore more information on lunar eclipses and when the next ones will be.
Enjoy these pictures and learn more about our moon exploration.
This is the link to the Minor Planet Center, a division of the International Astronomical Union. It is responsible for the identification, designation, and orbit computation of all of the minor planets in our solar system.
Learn about the dwarf planets of our solar system.
Asteroid Belt vs. Kuiper Belt vs. Oort Cloud
Looking for a clear explanation of the differences? This page explains each of the locations and makeup. It also provides illustrations for a clearer understanding.
Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids
Explore the differences and similarities of these three types of celestial bodies.
Don’t let friction slow you down! Learn more about it here.
Additional interesting facts about meteors and meteor showers. Learn about Ram Pressure and its effect on meteors entering the atmosphere. Pictures are provided in addition.
Do you like science fiction shows like star trek? Is moving faster than the speed of light, warp speed, even possible. This article applies the laws of physics to figure it out.
Why the Speed of Light Matters
Nothing travels faster than the speed of light, right? This may not be the case. Physicists are exploring something that might travel faster! Does this affect how we think about time?
Stars come in all different sizes and colors. This site not only provides a sizing illustration and explanation, but it also offers videos about the number of stars in the universe and how incredibly big the universe is. The Big Bang Theory is mentioned in the video.
Here are some interesting facts about galaxies and their classifications.
20 Things We Wouldn't Have Without Space Travel
So many of the things we take for granted today actually came to us through the space program!
Bible Verses About the Universe
Enjoy!
Module 6
All of the earth’s soil is actually sitting on top of earth’s crust, which is made of solid rock. This page outlines the structure of planet earth from core to mountain top.
Humus is the decayed remains of once-living creatures. This fun little site helps the students understand the importance of organic material. The other components of soil are gravel, sand, silt, and clay.
Select the lessons on the right side of the page.
This page explains the natural “recycling” of rocks.
How Sedimentary Rocks Are Formed
Sedimentary rock is formed from sediments (sand, silt, and other components of soil) that are laid down by water or some other agent. As these sediments begin to pile up, they can begin to fuse together due to heat, pressure, and various chemical reactions. This hardens the sediments into a solid substance, which is called sedimentary rock.
Rocks and Minerals Interactives
Educational information about Rocks, Minerals, Crystals, Earth Science and more. Plus you can find photos, activities, puzzles, and lesson plans
This page explains the natural “recycling” of rocks.
How Sedimentary Rocks Are Formed
Sedimentary rock is formed from sediments (sand, silt, and other components of soil) that are laid down by water or some other agent. As these sediments begin to pile up, they can begin to fuse together due to heat, pressure, and various chemical reactions. This hardens the sediments into a solid substance, which is called sedimentary rock.
Rocks and Minerals Interactives
This page provides an interactive tutorial on minerals and rocks. It includes information on the rock cycle, and identifying rocks.
Organization of Sedimentary Rocks
Just as the name implies, this link connects to the Sedimentary Rocks page. Lots of information on different kinds of sedimentary rock and how it forms.
Layers of sedimentary rock are called strata, and they make up the most distinguishing aspect of sedimentary rock. This site provides beautiful, downloadable pictures of the strata of the Grand Canyon. Well worth the time to investigate. Be sure to check out the home page linked at the bottom of the picture page.
Igneous rock forms from molten rock, which is usually called magma. When a volcano erupts, the lava that it spews forth is magma. When that molten rock cools, it solidifies, forming igneous rock. This website details the process.
How Metamorphic Rock Is Formed
Metamorphic rock has undergone extreme change due to lots of heat and pressure. This page shows the process.
Organization of Metamorphic Rocks
Just as the name implies, this link connects to the Metamorphic Rocks page. Lots of information on metamorphic change is presented and details about different kinds of metamorphic rock are presented. This is a college-level page.
Mineral Specimens and Crystals
Crystals have sharp edges and smooth sides that form an obvious geometric pattern. This website shows many of the precious gemstones in their natural uncut state. Clicking on specific types will lead you to ones that are on sale. The pictures are neat. We have not researched to see if this is a reputable company from which to purchase items.
The Nile River’s delta is made up of sediments carried away from eroded rock and soil. This satellite image shows the fan-shaped formation.
This link will lead you straight to the Nile River and the area around it. Explore by satellite or road.
This page provides photos showing how the action of natural forces can break down rock.
This site provides a short summary of chemical weathering and also an experiment to measure and compare the effects of chemical weathering, specifically carbonation, on several rock samples.
Monument Valley: Mitten Buttes
Weathering is the process by which rocks are broken down by the forces of nature. Monument Valley is an example of this ongoing earth recycling process.
The redness of the rock indicates a chemical change in the iron of the soil.
Erosion is the process by which sediments and rock fragments are carried away by wind or rain. This process is seen in the amazing formations found at Arches.
When groundwater erodes away rock, a cavern is the result. This pictorial essay shows some of the awesome formations in the cavern.
Carlsbad Cavern: The Chandelier
A stalactite hangs from the ceiling of a cavern.
Carlsbad Cavern: A Limestone Column
Stalactites, stalagmites, and columns are composed primarily of calcium carbonate and other sediments.
This is the link to the official Grand Canyon National Parks site.
Explains how stalactites can form in much less time than the uniformitarian geologic norm.
Terrific pictures inside this interesting cavern.
A Geologist View of the Grand Canyon
The vast majority of rock in the Grand Canyon is sedimentary rock. This website looks at the different formation of the Canyon from top to bottom. (Some Old Earth content presented.)
Uniformitarianism is the view that most of the earth’s geological features are the result of slow, gradual processes that have been at work for millions or even billions of years. This web page details the origins of this school of thought.
Uniformitarianism: True Observation?
This web page provides a summary of the major ideas regarding the origins of the earth’s geology.
Catastrophism is the view that most of the earth’s geological features are the result of large-scale catastrophes such as floods, volcanic eruptions, etc. This website provides loads of information on how volcanoes work to form geology.
When a scientist finds the preserved remains of a plant or animal, then the scientist knows that there must be something special about the way in which it was formed. This page provides information on the means of fossil production. Links may refer to Old Earth ideas.
This animation shows the formation of a cast and mold, one way that fossils can form.
Petrifaction is the conversion of organic material into stone. This page shows a number of different petrified bones, many of which are for sale.
This article talks about wood that is petrified very quickly.
Petrifaction does not take millions of years. It can take place in decades under the right conditions.
Petrified Forest National Park
Lots of information on the Petrified Forest National Park.
This page from the Center for Scientific Creation shows the preserved remains of the baby mammoth.
This page provides an advanced look at the fossilization processes.
There are fossils of trilobites in every layer of the Grand Canyon above the Great Unconformity. These fossils are often found out of place in the evolutionary view of the geological column.
Nearly 95% of all fossils on this planet are the fossil remains of clams and other hard-shelled organisms. This page shows the fossilized clams that the USGS uses to establish geological time.
This page discusses why creationists are excited about the geology formed by the Mount St. Helens eruption.
The sum total of all fossils on the earth is referred to as the fossil record. This page explains the column from a Creationist point of view.
Endangered and Extinct Plant and Animal List
This is the IUCN red list of threatened species.
Module 7
Have you ever considered studying meteorology for a career? This page describes different concentrations in meteorology and lists salaries in different states.
Here are some interesting ways to think about the difference between weather and climate within your own life.
This is a fantastic NASA sight! The page has a stunning picture of the Earth with a visual of the atmosphere. It offers great information about the atmosphere and weather. Click on the highlighted terms to learn additional specific information. You can download an atmospheric applet to study the atmospheric properties on Earth and Mars.
This is a nice summary about the Earth’s atmosphere and offers links to more specific information about different layers.
10 Interesting Things About Air
Air isn’t just made of gas. This page explains other things that makeup air.
This website from the North Carolina Climate Office offers a plethora of information about weather, the climate, the atmosphere and so much more. Explore topics listed on the left side of the screen.
You may think of using solar energy by way of solar panels. However, solar energy also causes changes in air pressure and wind leading to the use of wind power.
Learn more about jet streams here.
Use this interactive to understand more about the jet stream.
This NASA site offers educational information about the hydrologic cycle and links to other information about precipitation. You may want to explore the interactive games for fun, too!
Fog: The Cloud That Touches the Ground
Learn about fog and the different types of fog on this national geographic website.
This page from weather.gov provides a short tutorial about clouds, describes the process of making clouds and rain, offers an outline of the causes of cloudiness, and includes a poster with a further explanation of the types of clouds.
Here are pictures of different types of clouds and a short description of each.
Learn more about this transition zone between two air masses.
This site provides a short summary of how thunderstorms form.
This site provides a short summary and illustration of how tornados form.
A hurricane is powerful and destructive. This article provides a good summary and offers a short video to help you understand hurricanes.
Rainy days get you down? They bring down the water too! Learn how droplets of water form and how other precipitation occurs.
This page has lots of recorded information to explore. Don’t miss the top of the page where you can enter your birthday and find out what the weather was like in your area the day you were born!
The video on this page provides an excellent short explanation of how barometers work. A written explanation is also provided.
Here are descriptions of different types of weather instruments and a picture of them.
This site explains all the different aspects of oceanography.
Ocean Currents: Motion in the Ocean
Learn more about ocean currents through the video presented on this page.
This is an overview of the oceans.
Learn about underwater light.
Ocean exploration has always been important in the history of humankind!
What is ocean exploration and why is it important?
The Science of Deep Sea Exploration
Deep sea exploration is important in so many ways. This particular nautilus program focuses on biology, geology, and archeology.
Module 8
This site defines the term matter, explains the concept, and offers a multitude of other information concerning the states and phases of matter.
This page is slightly more technical and gets into other various states of matter.
This is a brief description of mass. The site provides links to mass as it relates to space.
This is a video on mass, weight, volume, density, and specific gravity and how they relate to each other.
This simple explanation may be of help in understanding this concept.
Use this interactive to understand more about Charles Law.
This page offers information about the general concept of atoms.
Illustrations of atomic size are quite misleading. This summary puts the size and structure of an atom in perspective.
One of the greatest advancements in understanding atoms was the development of a model by Niels Bohr.
Chemistry Lesson From a Lego Architect
Nothing can compare to God’s unique building blocks, atoms. However, the Lego concept can help you visualize how atoms interact and how chemistry works.
The Periodic Table of Elements
There are “about” 116 different kinds of atoms in Creation. This website is an interactive periodic chart that allows the student to access reference pages on the different elements and atoms.
Excellent graphic of some of the earth’s rare elements. Click on the element for more detail.
Awesome series of pages that deal with atomic structure. For the student that can’t wait for chemistry, this is a TERRIFIC page.
Molecules are two or more atoms linked together to make a substance with unique properties. This page details the structure of one of the most important molecules, water.
This comparison chart outlines some of the differences between compounds and mixtures.
What Is a Crystal in Chemistry?
This page offers chemistry definitions, examples, and links.
Explore the world of polymers.
This site offers a general understanding of acids, bases, and pH measurement.
This page offers basic comparisons of acids and bases.
Module 9
Our universe and everything in it is in consent motion. Therefore, the study of motion is fundamental in understanding physics.
Understanding Motion in Physics
Click on the picture that represents the topic you would like to learn more about or scroll down to view them all.
To determine motion, you need a reference point. This article explains what that is.
In ballet, dancers learn to focus on a fixed point while they spin so that they do not get dizzy. This is true in figure skating and the martial arts as well.
Although speed and velocity are both measurements, they measure different things in physics.
Scalar and vector quantities are important to understand when working with units of speed and velocity.
Sir Isaac Newton changed the way we approach physics with his 3 laws of motion.
This site presents a quick summary of the three laws of motion.
This page also offers a summary of the laws of motion. Explore the links at the bottom of the page for other topics in physics.
A more in-depth view of the first law of motion is provided.
A more in-depth view of the second law of motion is provided.
A more in-depth view of the third law of motion is provided.
This page explains the different types of forces.
This website is cool. It offers several interactive games and tutorials to learn about forces. Try it!
This interactive page teaches about circuits with illustrations. It also provides a quiz about electricity to test your knowledge.
Learn about all different areas of magnetism on this page.
This NASA page also provides information and illustrations on magnetism.
What Creates Earth's Magnetic Field?
Learn all about the dynamo effect on this page.
Learn how compasses work and how to make your own.
This site provides examples of simple machines.
A system of multiple pulleys working together is called a block and tackle. This page shows how this system can be used in multiple applications.
This site provides a list of printable worksheets about simple machines. There are a few good FREE worksheets available to print.
Enjoy these interactive animations that help you learn about simple machines including finding simple machines in everyday objects and putting simple machines to work.
Simple Machines and Mechanical Advantage
A college paper on simple machines and mechanical advantage.
Increase your knowledge about sound with these sound facts!
Sound isn’t just noise. It is the energy created by vibrations. God even made vibrations beautiful!
Become more enlightened with this information about light!
The Fascinating Science of Rainbows
Rainbows are many things: a promise from God, scattered sunlight, and just plain beauty. But did you know that rainbows also tell us about our environment and help us develop better materials?
Module 10
What Distinguishes Living From Non-Living Things
This article reviews the criteria for something to be considered alive.
Here is a simple explanation of DNA in order to grasp the concept.
This is one of the best pages on the web for DNA information. It provides history, research, and structure links. (Contains evolutionary content.)
This is a more detailed look at the structure of the DNA molecule. The links at the bottom of this page are particularly good as they contain interactive presentations.
This is a virtual/interactive website that explains how scientists get DNA to study. For further interest, click on the link at the bottom to learn how to extract DNA on your own.
This is a pre-lab page to help the student understand the starch-iodine interaction.
This site offers a clearer understanding of photosynthesis. The NASA video at the end is very interesting. You can see, from space, the light released from plants all over the world.
Heliotropism is a growth movement of plants toward sunlight. Some plants initiate paraheliotropism, or movement away from light, to reduce temperatures or water loss during times of drought.
Here are the basics of the classification of living organisms.
The cytoplasm, the cell membrane, the organelles, and the nucleus are the four basic components of the eukaryotic cell. This page gives an interactive graphic of these cell components.
Mitosis is the mechanism that allows the nuclei of cells to split and provide each daughter cell with a complete set of chromosomes during cellular division.
This page has great graphics and a video regarding cellular division/reproduction.
A virus fails two of the four criteria for life: All life forms have a method by which they take energy from the surroundings and convert it into energy that helps them live and all life forms reproduce. It is not considered to be living by most of the science community. However, scientists still debate the topic. Evolution content is included in this article.
The short video on this page discusses what a “kind” is. Other links at the bottom of the page offer more insight.
This page offers a summary of classification but is also interactive. Explore the different domains by clicking on them.
The standard classification system in biology is often referred to as the “five-kingdom system.” There are other systems, however. This page discusses the standard and the other systems available.
A fabulous look at these awesome and necessary organisms.
There are three basic kinds of cells: animal, plant, and bacteria. This excellent page from Cells Alive shows the differences.
Unlike animal cells, plant cells have a central vacuole, a cell wall, and chloroplasts, which are the organelles where photosynthesis takes place in the cell. This web page shows these and other plant and animal cell organelles.
Very good web page for the student who wants to understand bacterial cells.
Turgor pressure increases as a plant absorbs water. The pressure inside a plant cell due to the increasing size of the central vacuole is called turgor pressure. This website shows the large central vacuole filled with water.
Learn about the microscopic creatures found in a drop of water. This is a wonderful page for introducing the topic of microscopic life.
If an organism is not a single-cell prokaryotic cell, not a single-celled-eukaryotic cell, not a fungus, and not a plant, it belongs to kingdom Animalia. This is a wonderful website to begin an inquiry into the Animal Kingdom. Each Phylum, Class, etc., has its own information pictures, and classification information.
Have some fun time learning with this interactive game about animal classification.
Module 11
The text touched on a few branches of biology. Here is an A-Z list of all of the different biology disciplines.
Here are some basics about carbohydrates and why they are important.
Here are some basics about lipids and why they are important.
Here are some basics about proteins and why they are important.
Here are some basics about nucleic acids and why they are important.
This interactive demonstrates how a protein is made starting with DNA to RNA and then to a protein.
This page is focused on cellular transport, diffusion, osmosis, and other more technical cell membrane functions. However, there is a great short video about the cell membrane that is worth watching to understand its makeup and function.
This link provides information on the basic organelles and their functions. Microscopic pictures are also provided.
If you would like a more comprehensive understanding of organelles and their functions, this site offers clear and understandable information.
Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells
Discover the main similarities and differences between these different types of cells.
Find out what it takes to be a microbiologist.
Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that cause disease. Many of the ailments that plague humanity, plants, and animals are caused by pathogenic bacteria. This page shows some of the most common bacteria and their effects.
This website lists some of the pathogens that cause food poisoning. Learn what to do if you are ever infected with these types of pathogens.
Here is a short summary of the history of the electron microscope.
How Does an Electron Microscope Work?
Learn more about this amazing tool.
Culture: The Art of Multiplying
A short paragraph is presented in this article along with a few pictures of petri dish cultures. A link at the bottom offers additional information about the beauty of unseen life. It is very interesting but some evolutionary content is present.
Parasites come in all different shapes, sizes, and kingdoms. Some look and act like something you would see from an alien sci-fi movie. But these creatures are interesting (and some, somewhat beautiful) in their own right. This article touches a little on this subject and offers many links related to parasites. (These links have not all been reviewed and some may contain evolutionary and old earth ideas.)
Every living creature needs water in some capacity. So it only makes sense that we select the water we use very carefully. Here is an article addressing why water microbiology is so important to our health.
Dr. Fungus must be a “fun guy!” His webpage has a lot of good information about fungi and mycology.
Take a minute to think about just how important plants are to life. We depend on them to clean the air, produce food, provide shelter, create chemicals for medicine, hold our soil together…and the list goes on. Therefore, the study of the function of plants is also vital to the science community. This site on plant physiology offers links the functioning of plants. The first paragraph does mention evolution but don’t let that stop you from exploring the other resources on this page!
Were Plants Designed to Communicate?
All of God’s creation has a special relationship with each other. How can we learn to communicate?
Each human cell contains all of the same DNA. However, cells functions vary within the human body. This group of scientist is trying to create a map of all of the different types of cells in the human body.
This page will provide you with general information about each human body system and offers links to further explore.
Love animals? Studying zoology may be something you would like to consider. Here is a little more information on careers in zoology.
This site was also listed under Module 10 but it is a good one to keep at hand to look up different types of animals.
Module 12
The Life of a Marine Biologist
The work of a marine biologist isn’t always a “day at the beach”. Exploring the vast oceans comes with excitement, hard work, and the willingness to handle what nature gives you. This article is from the perspective of a marine biologist.
Marine ecology is a subset of marine biology. Learn what it is all about here.
These facts may interest you to research further.
The earth has many different kinds of basins that are described here. Ocean basins are described closer to the end of the page.
This page provides an illustration of the layers of the ocean and a brief explanation for each.
Learn a few facts about the importance of seaweed in marine ecology.
This is an excellent video about ocean water, plankton, and its importance.
Learn more about sponges on this page with a brief written explanation, illustrations, and nice pictures.
This species is very interesting. Here is a great picture of one and a summary about it.
5 Symbiotic Relationships in the Ocean
Learn about these interesting relationships and see pictures of the animals.
How do fish rise and sink in the water? It has to do with buoyancy.
The Camouflage of Octopuses and Squid
God has given these sea creatures the ability to change color, shape and behavior to avoid danger. Enjoy these pictures and the video.
Mysterious water-filled creature of the deep ocean.
Enjoy this bioluminescents photo gallery.
Why Should We Care About Our Oceans?
Our Oceans are essential to our survival. Here are some reasons why.
Module 13
What does it mean to be an environmental scientist and is it a career path that you would want to consider?
Learn about ecosystems, threats to ecosystems, and the rebound of an ecosystem. National Geographic is also always great at providing many beautiful examples and pictures.
Feed the Dingo: An Ecosystem Game
This is a fun game! It seems childish at first but it is actually very difficult to keep the ecosystem healthy!
Ecosystems Interactive Science Activities
Several different interactives are offered on this page. Some are tutorials and others are games. Enjoy!
Make a Mangrove: An Ecosystem Game
This game is similar to the “Feed the Dingo” one listed above. Try to keep the Mangrove thriving for 12 days.
Here is a brief description of a habitat and microhabitat.
Choose the habitat you wish to explore or a habitat that is threatened.
This National Geographic page delves into the different components of a habitat. As always, it provides plenty of beautiful pictures of God’s creations!
While plants use sunlight to produce usable energy for us, many organisms are too deep in the oceans to ever see or benefit from sunlight. Instead they have a special ability to breakdown chemicals to create energy.
This short article provides information about chemosynthetic ecosystems.
Learn more about animals that eat plants primarily.
Learn more about animals that eat meat primarily.
Learn more about animals that eat both meat and plants regularly.
Learn more about decomposers and their importance.
The Producers, Consumers, Decomposers Game
Practice recognizing the differences with this game.
Can you place the organism in the correct space in the food chain? Some examples can be challenging.
More Interactives Than You Can Imagine!!
This page contains a list of a variety of topics, animals and games. It is a great page and provides interesting facts and animals that you may never have heard about. It is a great page to explore if you are trying to learn more about a specific topic.
Learn about the three different kinds of symbiotic relationships.
This page provides a brief explanation of symbiosis. The video also offers information and interesting examples. Evolutionary content and Old Earth ideas may be discussed on this page and in the video.
If you are having difficulty learning about the different cycles, this site helps provide a clearer picture.
Levels of Organization in an Ecosystem
God created an orderly universe. So, when we study it in science, we tend to group things in organized ways. Here are the levels of organization in an ecosystem and a little about each level.
Have you ever been at a loss for words when trying to describe what you have seen? Sometimes, an illustration is the only way to communicate what you have observed or a feeling you got when you saw it. This site teaches you the basics of drawing the world around you. It is a good skill to have…especially in science!
Learn more about the Island of Surtsey and its importance.
Discover more about the natural progression of change in an ecological community.
Measuring populations in the environment is a very difficult task. Here is more on using the capture-recapture method discussed in your text.
This interactive is a bit more complicated but may help you in understanding the tagging method.
This conservation area is using cameras to capture the growth of certain endangered populations.
This division of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute develops new analytical tools and models to study the ecosystem and species in an effort to understand the world around us and the ecosystems response to global changes.
Module 14
Sherri Seligson's Rube Goldberg
Watch Sherri’s Rube Goldberg in action!
Learn about Rube Goldberg and his history of achievements.
What Is a Rube Goldberg Machine?
How did Goldberg design his machines? What are some examples? Get answers to these questions and more by reading this article and watching the videos.
Complex Rube Goldberg Machines
Here are some intricate and fascinating machines.
This is a Rube Goldberg interactive with the Tom and Jerry cartoon.
Cause and effect–simple, right? Not so much! Cause and effect can be very difficult to establish, especially in scientific research. This article provides some examples of cause and effect just to give you an idea of different ways to think about it. It is important in science that cause and effect aren’t used for political or personal gain.
NASA's Rube Goldberg Challenge
Use caution – this YouTube video may present links to inappropriate videos or start with an ad that contains inappropriate material. Apologia highly recommends that you enable the “safety”feature for YouTube. This can be found at the bottom of any YouTube page. Watch the video of the NASA’s Rube Goldberg Challenge to light a lightbulb. Caution: YouTube videos may be attached to inappropriate material.
Fire Safety Tips: Candle Safety
Read through this site and watch the video to understand how to be safe with candles. Adult supervision should always be present with any type of lit candle.
Read these tips for staying safe around electricity and electrical appliances both inside and outside of your home.
Different parts of the egg are described on this site. Scroll down to find information on the egg membranes.
Learn about the uniqueness of an egg!
Birds, Bats, and Insects Hold Secrets for Aerospace Engineers
Observing God’s creation is kind of like learning about how the world works directly from God. What better way could there possibly be?!
How Animals Inspire Aircraft Design
Animals are amazing and offer us so many answers if we would only watch and learn.
The Intelligence of the Honey Bee
Wow! Humans have so much to learn!!
Learn what it means to be a hydrologist
This is the Virginia Tech Geosciences page. Explore the links to find out the research taking place there.
Creation Ministries International
This is the website for Creation Ministries International. Explore it to find interesting articles and topics.
Grace College and Theological Seminary
Explore this home page to discover more about what Grace College may have to offer you.
Learn more about the study of sound.
Learn about the history of electromagnetism.
Scientists Baffled by Laws of Nature
The universe has order. This article discusses that God is constant and so everything he creates is constant.
This article discusses fossils of sea creatures found high above sea level.
This article explores the concept of chance and its relationship to God.
Exploring Careers in Marine Science at Walt Disney World
Explore the Disney Marine Science Career Track.
This page explores some internships that may be available at Disney.
This Disney website discusses sharks and rays and conservation efforts being made.
If you are wondering what meiosis is in cell biology, here is a description.
The study of limnology includes the interaction of physics, chemistry and biology to gain and understanding of the ecosystem. Learn more here.