Science is a complex subject to study with so many aspects. There is more content than anyone can cover about an area of science in just one school year. Author John D. Mays realizes that fact and has written the third edition of the Novare Physical Science book, which takes a mastery, integration and kingdom perspective approach to studying physical science. Mays brings clarity to this area of science while covering aspects he believes will give a student the information they need for a comprehensive physical science study.

Teaching an area of science can be exhilarating for parents who enjoy the subject and a challenge for others who continue to be mystified by anything related to science. By the time a child reaches middle school and moves into high school, the study of science is no longer as simple as conducting a few “kitchen experiments” and making simple observations. The experiments are more challenging, involved, and the observations involve lab work, formulas and quantitative experimentation, and data collection.

The study is geared towards students in sixth through eighth grades, but some curriculum programs schedule Novare Physical Science as a high school curriculum. Mays covers different areas of physical science in 14 chapters starting with Matter and Atoms (Chapter 1) and moves into more complex topics like Substances (Chapter 6) and Compounds and Chemical Reactions (Chapter 11). Each chapter is detailed and “meaty” in content. By covering a smaller amount of physical science topics, students focus on less, but gain more knowledge. Mastery is achieved through classroom discussion, group study with a partner (or in a group), reviewing previous discussions of the material, reviewing computations, which students will see more of in later chapters and completing the enrichment activities outside of the chapters. Engaging activities and focused content on fewer topics can lead to information being retained long after the student completes the study.

Although science is the subject, Novare Physical Science integrates other subjects into the study with math (of course), language arts, history and engineering, just to name some. I love the attention given to writing in each chapter. Students are instructed to complete the chapter exercises using complete sentences. Knowing how to write coherent information is a great skill, especially when it comes to completing lab experiments and relaying data to your peers. Being able to give verbal presentation is great but being able to write the same information in a coherent manner is even better.

Students learn about several notable historical science figures including people like physicist Albert Einstein, mathematician and scientist Sir Isaac Newton, and Marie Curie and her contributions in the development of radioactivity.

Although most science curricula for high school students require lab work for academic credit, Novare Science goes a bit beyond. They are “true experiments” that get the students involved to a great degree where they are building some of the pieces they will use in the experiments.

The science experiments are more than observation and include many hands-on opportunities for learning. Some require engineering design to create the pieces that are used in the experiments. Five of the 12 experiments have students using math to calculate the measurements of pieces they construct to complete experiments. There is an optional experiments parts kit you may purchase with some of those pieces already constructed. The kit may save the student some time, but I think the benefit is in the experience of designing and constructing the parts they use in the experiments. Instructions for all of the experiments are included as well as how to build any pieces they need.

Mays provides a challenge at the beginning of the book for students to address the scientific claims and how they line up with their Christian World view. He encourages students to use science to support their beliefs. Although Mays is a Christian, any references to the Bible are subtle. The verses that are shared are done so to show the relationship between science and Christianity, because there is a relationship. Whether you are a Christian, atheist or agnostic, you will appreciate his perspective when Bible verses are referenced.

Each of the 14 chapters includes a list of objectives, vocabulary words (full definitions in the glossary), learning checks after each content section and chapter exercises that are to be written in complete sentences. There are many helps included in the study. Each chapter leads with a list of objectives, so the student knows what to expect in the chapter.

The study comes with a resource CD that includes all of the files needed to complete the course. Some of the items are suggestions for teaching the course, a sample course schedule, single-page and double-page resource manual, quizzes and exams along with the answers and weekly guides for review to assist the student in retaining the information they learn from taking the course. If you were to print all of the content on the CD, it could amount to one or two more manuals. Being able to choose and read, on a computer or digital reader, the files you need reduces the amount of bulk (many books) you need for the course.

The Novare Physical Science is a hardback, low glossed, smoothed-finished covered and compact book with measurements of 10 x 6.75 x 1.1 inches. It is smaller than the size of a standard textbook and the font is regular point.

Although the study may be completed independently, the course leans itself towards a classroom environment or, at least, one where students have an opportunity to discuss the content and complete the experiments with their peers. Novare Physical Science works best in a co-op, tutorial or classroom environment. The reading may easily be done on one’s own, but the experiments and discussions are meant to be completed with other students. If a student is completing the curriculum independently at home, it will work best if the parent participates in the study or oversees it in a tutorial capacity.

Novare Physical Science is intelligently written and is a science guys (or gals) type of curriculum. It is not to be said that someone who does not like science will not enjoy the study, but it is really geared towards a student who enjoys science. If you have a child who plans to pursue a career in science or a related field, Novare Physical Science will be a great study for them.

-Product review by Jennifer Smeltser, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, September, 2018