Journey Homeschool Academy: Middle School Science Courses

Name: Journey Homeschool Academy: Middle School Science Courses
Brand: Journey Homeschool Academyhttps://journeyhomeschoolacademy.com/

by Journey Homeschool Academyhttps://journeyhomeschoolacademy.com/

ScienceGrades 6–8

Journey Homeschool Academy: Online Christian Science with Structured Support

Journey Homeschool Academy offers online middle school science courses (grades 6-8) including astronomy and earth science, presented from a Christian worldview with video lectures, guided activities, and parent support materials. The curriculum combines online instruction with hands-on labs and observation activities that students can complete largely independently.

Best for

Christian homeschool families seeking structured online science instruction with parent oversight, particularly those wanting comprehensive astronomy and earth science coverage with biblical worldview integration

Evaluation Criteria

4 strengths · 2 neutral · 1 insufficient evidence

Knowledge RichStrength

The curriculum covers substantial science content across astronomy and earth science topics with 35 lessons per course and recommended textbooks for additional depth.

Courses address comprehensive topics like plate tectonics, rocks and minerals, geological history, weather systems, and constellation identification, with optional textbooks providing additional content foundation

Teacher TrainingStrength

The curriculum provides extensive parent support materials including guides, answer keys, lesson plans, and instructional videos.

Parents receive curriculum guides, answer keys, editable lesson plans, introductory videos, and detailed schedules to support instruction

Direct InstructionStrength

The curriculum provides strong direct instruction through 25-minute professional video lectures that explicitly teach concepts before hands-on application.

Luke Gilkerson delivers lecture videos with images and video clips, concluding with key point reviews, and students complete guided note-taking during instruction

Hands On IntegrationStrength

The curriculum effectively integrates hands-on activities with explicit instruction through structured lab videos and guided activities that reinforce lecture content.

Each lesson includes lab assignments or observations directed by detailed guides, with lab videos demonstrating procedures and activities like creating topographic maps and erosion simulations

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

The curriculum incorporates some retrieval practice through quizzes and exams, but appears to lack systematic spaced review of earlier content.

Each lesson concludes with a multiple-choice quiz requiring 70% to pass (with retake options), plus quarterly or semester exams with review materials

Scientific VocabularyNeutral

Scientific vocabulary is taught within lectures and supported by additional resources, though the approach varies between courses.

Astronomy teaches vocabulary within lectures and notes, while Earth Science adds online flashcards for vocabulary reinforcement

Ngss AlignmentInsufficient Evidence

Standards alignment is not explicitly mentioned in the available information.

No specific reference to NGSS or other science standards alignment is provided in the curriculum description

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com