Disclaimer: I was compensated for my time in exchange for my honest review. Opinions and viewpoints are my own.
Science. It’s the homeschool subject that gets more and more complicated as your learner gets older. In the past, videos, fun books, and simple subscription boxes did the job, but as your child enters the realm of science morphing with mathematics and extensive experiments and labs, we start to scramble to find grade level materials we can trust. But have you taken a look at Berean Builders Science?
Berean Builders is a faith based curriculum with a solid foundation in science. It’s a easy to implement into any homeschool. Not only is it foundational and comprehensive, it’s flexible and fun with lots of hands on experiments and labs. My favorite part? It has a good, old fashioned hardcover textbook as the spine.
Berean Builders has science curriculum covering from elementary through high school but for this in-depth look at their materials, Cash and I took a look at their middle school/high school course, “Discovering Design with Earth Science”.
📕What will you find in “Discovering Design with Earth Science”?
With our course we received:
1. A 542 page, library bound textbook with text and full color images and 55 hours of laboratory instruction.
2. An Answer Key and Test booklet ( 107 pages)
3. “Science Roots” Greek and Latin Roots for the Study of Biology (2nd Ed). This was an extra that was added enhance our study. Not usually included in the Earth Science Curriculum.
You only need to purchase what you need. Both the Textbook and the Answers/Test Book can be purchased la carte along with Science Roots, the lab kit, the audio book, and if you want, an independent course taught virtually you can sign up for as well.
Suggested Course prerequisite:
Make sure your learner can divide with fractions and substitution formulas. Even though it’s suggested for an 8th or 9th grader, this course counts as a high school credit for their transcript regardless of when they complete the class.
📗What Is Discovering Design With Earth Science?
Discovering Design With Earth Science is a full-year, college-prep earth science course designed for middle school and high school students (typically 8th grade and up). Written by Dr. Jay Wile, this curriculum provides a thorough, engaging look at Earth’s systems, all while reinforcing a Christian worldview.
The course includes:
• A student textbook with 16 chapters covering everything from plate tectonics to space science. Each chapter should take around 2 weeks to complete, making this a 32 week course. It’s built for a flexible, unrushed homeschool science experience.
• Hands-on experiments and labs using some easy to find household items. A lab kit can be purchased separately for this course.
• Review questions and tests to reinforce learning as well as complimentary online resources.
Berean Builders is known for creating science courses that cater to all learning styles, and this one is no exception! Whether your student prefers to read, experiment, discuss, or analyze, this curriculum offers something for everyone. Perfect for the critical thinker.
📘Our Experience with Discovering Design With Earth Science
One of the biggest takeaways from Berean Builders is its emphasis on experiential learning. This course doesn’t just provide information—it immerses students in science through hands-on experiments and labs, which makes concepts come alive in ways that textbooks alone simply can’t.
Some of our favorite experiments so far include:
• Creating a working model of plate tectonics to understand how the Earth’s crust shifts
• Simulating the water cycle using simple household items
• Exploring mineral identification through hands-on rock and mineral testing
• Measuring the effect of atmospheric pressure with fun, interactive demonstrations
Each lab is easy to set up, doesn’t require expensive materials, and genuinely helps students grasp scientific principles through direct experience. As a parent, I love that the curriculum provides clear, step-by-step instructions, making it easy for students to complete labs independently or with minimal guidance.
If your child enjoys learning by doing, this course is a fantastic fit!
My 10 year old Gifted Learner had no problem with Discovering Design With Earth Science by Berean Builders. He enjoyed it so much in fact, that I’m looking to implement it full time starting this summer. Our homeschool is very eclectic, so I do use faith based materials if they fit my child’s learning style and modify as needed. If found my learner reading from the textbook often, even if we were not working on a lesson because he found the material engaging and entertaining. More than once I caught him laughing.
It may look like a typical textbook but I can tell you from using it so far, it doesn’t feel like one. Dr. Jay Wile is that fun science teacher you had in school who’s class you enjoyed going AND you sat up front. You only have to take a look at a few of his experiment videos to get a good feeling about his teaching style and it comes through from the very first page. I linked a few for you to check out.
Experiment Videos: https://bereanbuilders.com/ecomm/free-resources/dr-wiles-videos/
If you’re considering this curriculum for your homeschool, here are some key reasons we highly recommend it:
✅ Faith-Based Learning – Every lesson integrates science with a Christian worldview, helping students see God’s hand in creation.
✅ Comprehensive & Rigorous – This is a full-year, high school-level course that prepares students for advanced science courses.
✅ Flexible & Self-Paced – Works well for independent learners or in a homeschool co-op setting.
✅ Hands-On Science Labs – Every chapter includes engaging experiments that reinforce learning.
✅ Encourages Critical Thinking – Students learn how to analyze and evaluate scientific data, not just memorize facts.
📚Final Thoughts: Is Berean Builders the Right Science Curriculum for Your Homeschool?
If you’re looking for a faith-based, hands-on, and academically strong earth science curriculum, Discovering Design With Earth Science is a fantastic choice. I encourage you to look around on the Berean Builders website, try out their free sample lessons, and get input from other trusted homeschoolers about Berean Builders before making a decision, but from us, everything is a go!
Don’t just explore Berean Builders for high school resources! They offer curriculum for all grades with their elementary courses exploring science using history. One thing I appreciate about Berean Builders is that they offer science courses for every grade level, from elementary through high school—even college prep courses! If your family enjoys this curriculum, you can seamlessly move through:
✔️ Science through History (elementary)
✔️ General Science & Physical Science (middle school)
✔️ Biology, Chemistry, and Physics (high school)
This makes Berean Builders an excellent long-term science solution for homeschooling families. The quality and permanency of the materials lets you save them for younger students and saves you money.
Have you tried this curriculum? Let me know your experience in the comments—I’d love to hear how it’s working in your homeschool!
Free Sample Lessons are available for all grade levels and courses: https://bereanbuilders.com/ecomm/product-resources
@Mamasweetbaby 
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