The fifth book in Jay Wile’s elementary science series, Science in the Industrial Age, covers scientific discoveries from the 19^th century. The hardcover textbook and a paperback Helps & Hints book complete the set. The 300-page text is divided into six sections which cover a different time period within the 1800s. Each section has a total of fifteen lessons. Twelve lessons are the main curriculum. The remaining three lessons are challenge lessons. You may choose whether to complete these challenge lessons or not. It will depend on how many days each week you would like to devote to the study of “natural philosophy.”

The 68-page Helps & Hints booklet includes several paragraphs of instruction for each lesson in the textbook, including the challenge lessons. Two tests and the answer sheets for each of the text’s six sections are found here, also. These tests do not cover the information in the challenge lessons, so if you chose not to complete those eighteen lessons, the scoring of these tests will not be impacted.

Many things about this set make a very parent-and-student-friendly curriculum. For instance, names and terminology that might be difficult to pronounce are shown phonetically spelled. Important vocabulary words are also in bold print. A complete list of less common experiment supplies is sorted by lessons and marked to show if they are only needed for a challenge lesson. Many of the “less common” supplies are still available in most homes. I know I have meat tenderizer, turmeric, rubbing alcohol, and steel wool. So, don’t panic. There is really nothing terribly obscure on the list.

Written for grades K-6^th, each lesson is three pages long and begins with a reading assignment. Students will learn about a particular scientist and some of the other discoveries happening at the same point in time. After something of the scientist’s interests are known, you will be given an experiment to complete with your children which will help them to understand the facts behind that individual’s ideas. The experiments are an important part of the lesson, and I definitely recommend completing them all. Besides, they’re quite fun! The last part of the lesson is a review section. Three levels of review are listed. Select the appropriate level for the age and ability of your students. You can just discuss these questions with your children, or you can do what I did, which was give each child a single-subject notebook. We still talked about the review and experiments, but afterward, they recorded their thoughts and findings in their books.

Several times, after the Lesson Review, I found a note about the next experiment. Often, it was there to help me plan ahead. I was never caught off guard by experiments that needed to be started the day before, required photocopies of a page from the Helps & Hints book, or had a long waiting period between steps.

I am used to science curriculum which either covers one topic in an in-depth way (immersion) or teaches many topics in a sort of hodgepodge manner, I have never seen a science course quite like this one. Many typical science topics are covered: electricity, magnetism, chemistry, and light. But the science is tied to an age in history and is taught in that context. I found it quite fascinating. I really appreciated Dr. Wile’s explanation of evolution, for instance. He talked about it in a historical, scientific, and Biblical context. In fact, it was his handling of this controversial topic that prompted me to review this set. The text investigates many other topics, too. For instance, thermodynamics, electrical power plants, vaccines, and Venn diagrams are all incorporated in the lessons.

I am making this our main science curriculum this year. My boys have enjoyed using it and completing the experiments, and I appreciate the ease of use and the quality discussions we’ve had. The history tie-in is a nice addition, as well. While it isn’t a complete history curriculum, we homeschoolers already have so much to teach our kids, it is wonderful to be able to combine some subjects.

-Product review by Jodi Galland, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, September 2017