Science in the Ancient World

Science in the Ancient World is an engaging, exciting, hands-on, multilevel elementary resource that is the second in a planned series of books by Dr. Jay Wile.

Introducing scientific concepts in the context of history, students will follow the work of the "natural philosophers" who lived from approximately 600 BC to 1500 AD, particularly those Christians who studied the natural world in order to learn more about God. Arranged chronologically, chapters focus both on concepts as well as thinkers, including atoms, Hippocrates, Aristotle, Euclid, Archimedes, Galen, Albert of Saxony, Nicholas of Cusa, and finally Leonardo da Vinci and his insights into many different scientific topics.

A total of 90 lessons are included; divided into chronological sections, each section contains 15 regular lessons and 3 challenge lessons. Depending on how much science you wish to teach in your homeschool, there are enough lessons to cover every other day for the length of a school year, or, you can finish the book by only doing two lessons a week (and skipping the challenge lessons).

Hands-on activities are included in each lesson; most are experiments (that have been field-tested for homeschoolers!), and include step by step directions to keep you on track. As this curriculum was designed for all elementary-aged students to use together, the main lesson text takes a conversational, easy-to-read tone that all students can comprehend; illustrations and photographs are integrated throughout. Review assignments close the lesson; questions are grouped for "youngest, older, and oldest" students. Students are instructed to keep a notebook, and the activities include comprehension and reflection notebook assignments. For evaluation, the notebook or oral questions can be used; tests are not included, but are in the Helps & Hints book (sold-separately).

Experiments use common household goods, though for some items that may not be on-hand, a list is provided at the beginning of the book. A full materials list for each section is also included for easy preparation.

298 pages with glossary and index. Hardcover. Elementary Grades K-6.