Nature's Beautiful Order Review #hsreviews #memoriapress #classicalchristianeducation #classicalhomeschooling #classicalchristianhomeschooling

Memoria Press offers classical Christian homeschool curriculum and we have reviewed a few of their products over the years. This time the Homeschool Review Crew was offered several titles to choose from including Latin programs for elementary to high school and The Book of Trees. I talked to my girls and Alaina wanted to review Nature's Beautiful Order. 



Nature's Beautiful Order is an introduction to the study of animals taught by classical naturalists. This course is actually a branch of biological science called natural history and is a preliminary to biology. By studying natural history students gain a love for beauty and an appreciation of intelligent animals. It seems like people today are more interested in man-made things and technology than nature itself, but our ancestors were more familiar with the created world around them.  That is why this course uses the writings of Aristotle, John James Audubon, Jean-Henri Fabre, and St-George Mivart throughout the course. It is recommended for grade 6-9 and includes the Student Textbook, a Student Guide, and a Teacher Key. 
The student text is an 187-page softcover book divided into 18 chapters. The student guide is a 51-page consumable workbook that has comprehension questions for each chapter and the teacher key looks the same as the student guide except the answers are included. 

• Introduction
• Chapter 1 ~ What Is An Animal
• Chapter 2 ~ The Lobster
•  Chapter 3~ The Cuttlefish
• Chapter 4 ~ The Sea Urchin
• Chapter 5 ~ The Bee
• Chapter 6~ The Trout
• Chapter 7 ~ The Frog
• Chapter 8 ~ The Turtle
• Chapter 9 ~ The Canadian Goose
• Chapter 10 ~ The Miracle of Flight
• Chapter 11 ~ Day's Herald Bird
• Chapter 12 ~ Birds at Home
• Chapter 13 ~ The Groundhog
• Chapter 14 ~ The White-Tailed Deer
• Chapter 15 ~ The Carnivora
• Chapter 16 ~ Farm Friends
• Chapter 17 ~  Man the Upright Animal
• Chapter 18 ~ Man the Steward

I had Alaina use this curriculum. Not only did she learn about different animals she also learned history of animals as well as some Greek and Latin words. The course started with not just defining what an animal is but compares living things to non-living things. The first animal discussed is the domestic cat, its history, and basic facts about its life because children are familiar with cats. The lower animals, invertebrates, are studied next then moving on to the bee we then study about the higher animals, vertebrates, starting with the fish then moving to mammals, and ending with man. Since this is written from a Christian perspective the last chapter covers man's stewardship. 

Alaina wanted to read the text herself, but it would also be a great book to read out loud especially if your child is younger or if you want your younger kids to listen as well. The course itself is very easy to use. If your child is an independent learner like Alaina you don't have to get anything ready. The comprehension questions can be answered in a couple of sentences and I really like that there are history and vocabulary in each chapter, but it is very easy to understand and isn't overwhelming. I think by adding in the history and the Greek and Latin words make the course more fun. Alaina read the text and answered the questions then she made sure we all heard what new words she learned that the rest of us did not know. 
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If you want your children to have a classical education Memoria Press has some great resources to use in your school. The Homeschool Review Crew reviewed eight products this time and you can read those reviews on the Crew Blog.