My kids are all animal lovers. My oldest son determined recently that he will become a veterinarian when he is older. As he gets older, I strive to encourage him to learn those things that matter most to him. So, this course was a wonderful addition to his studies!

Nature's Beautiful Order - An Introduction to the Study of Animals Taught by the Classical Naturalists is a wonderful way to introduce students to the study of animals, or even just further encourage your animal lover! We received the textbook as well as a student and teacher guide. This is recommended for students in grades 6-8 but can also be used to supplement a higher-level biology course. There are eighteen lessons in all that teach what an animal is and then lead students in study on the various classes of animals in the animal kingdom.

I have to say, before this, I was not really familiar with the concept of the study of natural history. However, being that we all love history and science in this house, we certainly enjoyed every minute of this course.

What better way to grow in our children a love for the beauty and wisdom within the animal kingdom. With simple readings, we are led to better understand what exactly an animal is. And it turns out they have an answer that goes beyond what many of us would answer. The reader is full of the works of classical naturalists like John James Audubon, Jean-Henri Fabre, and St. George J. Mivart.

As we worked through this course, there were also comprehension questions to complete. Some of these seemed quite simple; “What is the lifespan of a domestic cat?” Others required more thought to respond; “In what way are lower animals less intelligible in themselves?” Within the Teacher’s Guide are the answers to the questions posed to students.

My son is a very visual learner, so he really appreciated the diagrams throughout the reader. He also found the writings to be so very interesting; it is obvious the study and observation with which the information in these pages was obtained. Certainly, he is eager to learn more from these classical naturalists!

In the final chapter, we are reminded that “One of the great reasons that the natural world is given to us is so that we might wonder at its beauty, and then turn our thoughts with gratitude and love toward the One who has made it.”

What a wonderful way to remember and teach about the value of being responsible and kind.

-Product review by Jennifer King, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, July 2017