Review: Elementary Zoology Curriculum Pack

The Elementary Zoology Curriculum Pack is part of the Master Books 6th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Set, but it can also be purchased separately.  It is recommended for students in grades 3-6.  The Curriculum Pack includes:

World of Animals- This book is a 256 page text with full color illustrations.  This text investigates and describes the anatomy, behavior, and habitats of over 1,000 animals.

Dinosaur Activity Book- 128 page paperback book.  This book is black and white allowing students to color it in as they wish.  It contains information on dinosaurs and different types of activities such as mazes, dot-to-dots, puppet, cut out toy and more.

The Complete Aquarium Adventure- This is an 158 page hard cover book with full color illustrations and information about aquarium animals, but it is also so much more.  The book contains 3 BingOcean cards, 7 devotionals, 7 Ocean Zone cards, 31 See the Sea Creatures Section, 31 Animal Fact Cards, and 35 reproducible activity sheets

The Complete Zoo Adventure- This book is 160 page hardcover book with full color illustrations and information about the different types of animals that you would see at the zoo, but it also is so much more.  It also contains 7 devotionals, 27 Encounters with God's creatures, 7 Creation Foundation Lessons, 27 Scripture Memory Aids, 7 Biome Cards, 27 Field Fact Cards, 35 reproducible sheets, and 3 Field Journals.

Parent Lesson Planner- This book is a 176 page paperback book.  In it you will find a suggested daily schedule covering 180 school days, student worksheets, quizzes, tests, and answer keys.   The worksheets are made up pf comprehension questions but there are also suggested hands on bonus activities for each section.  Permission is granted to make copies of the PLP for use within your own family.

In the first quarter your student will be working in the World of Animals and Dinosaur Activity Book.  In the second quarter your student will be working in World of Animals, Dinosaur Activity Book, and the Complete Aquarium Adventure.  The third quarter is the same as the first and in the fourth quarter in the World of Animals, Dinosaur Activity Book, and The Complete Zoo Adventure.  Lessons should take 30-45 minutes each day.  Weekly lessons vary.  Some weeks have 3 lessons per week, other weeks have 4-5 lessons per week.  Lesson days are numbered rather than listed for a specific day that week.

The Elementary Zoology Curriculum Pack is one that I was very excited about.  I have had The World of Animals sitting on my shelf and it is a beautiful book full of wonderful photos and illustrations, but aside from using it as a reference tool or something to flip through, I was unsure how to turn it into a year long curriculum.  I really love how they paired this text with The Complete Aquarium Adventure, The Complete Zoo Adventure, and the Dinosaur Activity Book along with the parent lesson planner to turn this into a full science course.  All three of the texts are gorgeous and full of interesting information.  The Dinosaur Activity book is more like a coloring book with dot to dots, mazes, and other activities in it, but it also contains a lot of interesting facts about dinosaurs.  And it is always so nice to be able to use products that you don't have to worry about evolution sneaking in somewhere!

Along with the questions and hands on activities in the PLP this course has a great blend of hands activities and worksheets.  This course is included in the 6th grade curriculum pack but would work for students in grades 4-6.  I love that Master Books allows you to make copies within your family.  Having the lessons numbered rather than assigned to certain days per week does allow for more flexibility although I do wish that that there was a consistent number of assigned days per week to make planning easier.  I also would like to see more variety in the type of questions asked on the Student Worksheets.

Master Books has another winner with this Elementary Zoology Course!  I have been so impressed with the new curriculum packs and subject packs that they have put together.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this curriculum for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC regulations.