Christian Kids Explore series

Name: Christian Kids Explore series
Brand: Bright Ideas Press

by Bright Ideas Press

ScienceGrades K–8

Christian Kids Explore: Multi-Level Unit Study Science Curriculum

Christian Kids Explore is a five-book science curriculum from Bright Ideas Press designed for multi-age teaching from kindergarten through eighth grade. The series uses a unit study approach with two 90-minute sessions per week, combining reading, vocabulary work, and hands-on activities.

Best for

Homeschooling families teaching multiple grade levels together (K-8) who prefer a Christian worldview approach and want structured, multi-age science instruction with hands-on activities

Evaluation Criteria

5 strengths · 1 concern · 1 neutral

Knowledge RichStrength

The curriculum builds substantial science content knowledge, particularly in the later books which cover advanced chemistry and physics topics typically reserved for high school.

Chemistry covers 'the basics of chemistry, including some topics often reserved for high school courses' like covalent bonds, while Physics spans 405 pages across six comprehensive units

Teacher TrainingStrength

The curriculum provides strong teacher support through clear lesson layouts, extensive resource lists, and comprehensive teacher materials.

Includes 'lengthy lists of recommended resources such as books, DVDs, computer games, and kits' plus CD-ROMs with printable lesson plans, materials lists, and answer keys

Direct InstructionStrength

The curriculum facilitates direct instruction through structured lesson reading and discussion before hands-on activities.

Teaching sessions 'begin with reading and discussing the information from the text' with clear lesson layouts that make courses 'very easy to use'

Hands On IntegrationStrength

The curriculum effectively integrates hands-on activities with direct instruction through a structured two-session weekly format.

First session is 'teaching time' for reading and discussion, second session is 'hands-on time' for experiments or activities that reinforce concepts using common household materials

Scientific VocabularyStrength

The curriculum includes explicit vocabulary instruction with systematic reinforcement through multiple methods.

Students 'write words and definitions for their vocabulary list in a notebook, and possibly work with flashcards' with vocabulary words listed at the beginning of each unit

Ngss AlignmentConcern

The curriculum does not appear to align with NGSS standards and may conflict with some science education standards due to its young-earth creationist perspective.

Creation Science book 'advances belief in a literal interpretation of Genesis 1 and belief in a young earth' with 'argumentation and evidence presented is often superficial'

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

The curriculum incorporates some retrieval practice through unit quizzes and review activities, though systematic spaced review is limited.

Each unit concludes with a quiz and includes 'Review-its' with fill-in-the-blank questions, plus unit review activities

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com