By Jay Ryan
Fourth Day Press
www.ClassicalAstronomy.com
1621 Merl Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44109
If you look over the course of study listing at your local high school, chances are you won't find Astronomy listed as a high school level science course. Considering that astronomy is something that men have been observing and studying since the world was first created, it seems to me that it's worthy of studying today. It is briefly touched on in some other science subjects--such as Earth Science--but not as the whole, in-depth course that it deserves.
When my oldest daughter was approaching high school age, I started searching for a curriculum that would teach astronomy as it deserves to be taught. I was thrilled to discover Signs & Seasons by Jay Ryan.
From the first time I cracked open the book, I was impressed! Mr. Ryan is a homeschooling parent who wrote this book for homeschoolers. I e-mailed Mr. Ryan to ask him if this course was eligible for high school credit; he told me that he was in the process of completing an accompanying workbook that, if used alongside the text, would make Signs & Seasons a full-credit course. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I heard that the workbook was finally available!
Signs & Seasons Field Journal and Test Manual is "a workbook for establishing high school credit," as stated on the cover. This workbook contains clear and simple instructions for making the best use of its pages, field activity timesheets (for recording time spent on the activities for high school credit), field activity ideas in three main areas (observation, sketching, and manipulative), and tests.
I love this book! The field activities can be used as a starting point for creating your own field journal, or they can actually serve as your field journal. This section of the workbook contains 117 pages and is filled with many illustrations and charts to be filled in as you work your way through the curriculum. The test section contains 8 tests--one for every chapter in the main text. Also included are an answer key and instructions for making the best use of these tests.
I would highly recommend this astronomy course to all homeschoolers. At a price of only $16, this workbook is extremely affordable and well worth the price. Even added to the $39 text, the combined price is less than most other science curriculums that I have checked into and used. I'd encourage you to study the science of our forefathers using the classical approach of Signs & Seasons.
Product review by Heidi Strawser, Special Projects Manager, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, June 2009
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