Homeschool Earth Science Curriculum: The Big Book of Earth and Sky

This year in our homeschool, we spent a lot of time studying Earth Science. My son loves to dig in the dirt so he was excited to learn about dinosaurs and rocks. Whenever we study a topic, I’m always on the lookout for supplemental resources that are engaging and exciting for my kids, and that make learning fun for them. That’s why I’m so glad I discovered the Big Book of Earth and Sky from Master Books. This unique 15-foot foldable chart is full of facts and images. It’s a great way to help kids visualize a journey from Earth’s core to the outer atmosphere. This makes it the perfect supplement to any homeschool earth science curriculum. In this post, I’ll share our family’s experience with the Big Book of Earth and Sky and help you decide if this resource is the right fit for your homeschool.

I received compensation and access to The Big Book of Earth and Sky in exchange for my honest review, but all the opinions in this post are my own.

What is the Big Book of Earth and Sky?

The Big Book of Earth and Sky is a 15-foot foldable Earth Science chart designed for children aged 8-12. 

The chart covers a wide range of topics including soil, sea, sky, weather, mountains, and more. All of the information is presented visually through detailed charts, illustrations, and fascinating facts.

This resource is included in the Master Books Elementary Science: Soil, Sea, and Sky Curriculum Pack. 

Biblical Worldview Curriculum for Homeschool Earth Science

The Big Book of Earth and Sky is written with a Biblical worldview. This resource helps kids understand the connection between science and the Bible, which makes it a perfect fit for faith-based homeschooling. 

As a homeschool parent, I was excited to find a science resource that supports the Biblical worldview I’m teaching my kids. I want my kids to understand that we study science to learn about God’s creation. I love that this resource supports this mission.

Using the Big Book of Earth and Sky for Homeschooling

My first thought when I heard that the Big Book of Earth and Sky was a 15-foot chart was “Will we have room for that in our house?”

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that kids can read the chart like a book, or unfold it to view the whole chart at once. 

The chart is made of thick cardboard that is folded accordion-style, so even my youngest child had no difficulties folding the chart and flipping through the pages. This allowed my kids to really study all the detailed descriptions that are included with each picture. I think the thick cardboard will hold up to a lot of use over multiple years of studying Earth science.

My kids also had a lot of fun unfolding the chart to hang up on our wall. We put the “sky” part of the chart on the wall and then folded it on the baseboard so the “Earth” part of the chart ran along the floor. This was a really fun way to get my kids excited to study Earth science!

Check out all the homeschool curriculum from Master Books here.

Including the Big Book of Earth and Sky in an Earth Science Unit

As a former teacher, I know how important it is to make learning fun for kids. When kids are having fun with what they are learning, and they are interested in the topic, they will learn better and remember more. This chart is perfect for building interest in several ways:

• Get kids interested in learning by introducing a unit with the chart at the beginning
• Use the chart to inspire kids to want to learn more. Find topics of interest on the chart and explore those in more depth with additional resources.
• Look for Earth Science topics that kids are interested in on the chart to help them learn more.

Download a sample of the Big Book of Earth and Sky here.

Reasons to Try the Big Book of Earth and Sky

There are lots of reasons why the Big Book of Earth and Sky might be a great fit for your family. Here are a few of them.

Biblical Worldview

I am always on the lookout for Earth Science resources that present this topic from a Biblical perspective. Unfortunately, they are often difficult to find. I love that this resource not only avoids all mentions of evolution but also helps kids see how the Bible and Earth Science are related.

The chart includes numerous references to both Creation and the Flood. It clearly shows how these events impacted the geology and geography of the Earth. There are even Bible verses included right on the chart!

Check out all the Biblical Worldview resources from Master Books here.

Engages Multiple Learning Styles

As a former classroom teacher, I’m always looking for resources that make it easy for me to teach my kids at home following the best practices about how kids learn. Research shows that kids often learn better when they can engage in more than one style of learning at the same time. The Big Book of Earth and Sky is the perfect way to do this.

The chart is visually stunning, with photographs, charts, and diagrams. These help kids understand concepts like different types of precipitation, kinds of cave formations, or how erosion works. 

Auditory learners can read the text out loud to deepen their understanding of the concepts.

Many kids learn best by moving, and this is where the chart really shines. Instead of just sitting to read a book, kids can stretch out the chart along the floor and up a wall. They will have to physically move up to study the sky, weather, and layers of the atmosphere. They’ll move down to study fossils, layers of the Earth, and rock formation.

This kind of hands-on science learning through movement is a great way to keep kids focused on what they are learning.

Flexible for Homeschool Earth Science Lessons

As a homeschool parent, one of my favorite features of the Big Book of Earth and Sky the flexibility of this resource. 

My family used the chart at the beginning of our Earth Science unit. We spread out the chart down the hallway, and my son loved reading about fossils, caves, and lightning. 

Soon, he was interested and asked to learn more about those topics. He had lots of questions, and this made a perfect introduction to our unit study.

We will also be using the timeline throughout the unit to refer back to different topics and to help my kids see how the different topics are related.

This would be a perfect resource for families who are following an eclectic homeschool style or who want to learn from a variety of different sources throughout their study of earth science.

Read more reviews of the Big Book of Earth and Sky here.

Great for Multiple Ages and Ability Levels to Learn Together

Whenever I look for homeschool resources for my family, I’m always looking for opportunities for my kids to learn together. This can sometimes be a challenge since they are three years apart. I love that the Big Book of Earth and Sky is a great resource for learning at different levels and with different ages.

Younger kids will enjoy the physical movement of crawling along the timeline to explore different topics. This is a great way to help them stay focused. The pictures also make this resource accessible even for kids who aren’t reading yet.

There are plenty of facts on the chart to keep older kids in middle school and high school engaged as well. I was surprised to see how much I learned as an adult when reading through the Big Book of Earth and Sky!

Check out more homeschool curriculum options from Master Books here.

Visuals Make Science Topics Easy for Homeschoolers to Understand

My daughter is a visual learner, so I was really excited to see all the charts and diagrams that are included in the Big Book of Earth and Sky.

The diagrams take complicated concepts like the water cycle or how erosion works and make them easy to understand at a glance. There is a lot of information packed into this chart! 

The colorful photographs really help to keep my kids engaged in the topics.

Try the Big Book of Earth and Sky for Homeschool Earth Science for Your Family

If you are looking for a resource that makes Earth Science fun and interesting for your kids, while presenting these subjects with a Biblical worldview, I highly recommend the Big Book of Earth and Sky from Master Books. The beautiful photographs and illustrations, the unique format of the 15-foot chart, and the strong Biblical worldview presented throughout make this a must-have resource for families who are looking for a homeschool Earth Science curriculum.

Learn more and get a copy of the Big Book of Earth and Sky for your family today.