Text Only
(Printer-Friendly)
Contents
Introduction
Trivium
Grammar
Dialectic
Rhetoric
Homeschool
curriculum
CCH FAQ
CE Links
Favorite
Reciprocal
What’s New
About CCH
Search CCH
Art History
Classical Christian
Homeschooling:
Classical Education
at Home
WebMaster:
Christine
Miller
Classical Christian
Homeschooling Online Catalog: Rhetoric Stage Science
www.clas...ling.org/curriculum/science-rhetoric.html
This page last revised:
May 2003
Copyright
© 1997-2003 |
Rhetoric Stage
Science Curriculum
Option 1: History, Philosophy, & Nature of Science
For all rhetoric stage students, especially those considering careers in the sciences.
Science as a discipline is actually a subset of the study of philosophy. Philosophy asks
“What is true?” about the universe in all its aspects; science merely seeks to
know what is true about the natural, physical world, a much smaller field of study. The
search for truth, and thus scientific investigation, is governed by the principles of
philosophy. How can we know what is true? And how does this relate to scientific
investigation and the interpretation of scientific facts? This necessary, governing study
is often neglected at the university level for science majors and so is doubly important
now as a foundation.
Option 2: Hard Sciences
The hard sciences are biology, chemistry, and physics, and in this respect this study
resembles a more traditional high school study of science. On whether to study the hard
sciences in high school or not: freshman biology, chemistry and physics courses at
university are a repeat of AP-level hard science courses, as these are. In order to do
well in the chemistry course, Algebra I should have been completed. In order to do well in
the physics course, Trigonometry should have been completed, or at least be taken
concurrently.
History, Philosophy, & Nature of Science
 Children of Prometheus
Dr. James MacLachlan
For 10th grade. Children of Prometheus: A History of Science
and Technology is a single-volume, integrated survey of the history of Western science
and technology and is ideal as an introduction in the history of science and technology
for non-scientists. It provides a clear, non-technical exposition of all the major issues
and events from Plato to the present. This volume assumes the truth of molecules-to-man
neo-darwinism. This deficiency in the text is addressed by the other rhetoric stage
resources suggested on this page. James H. MacLachlan is a writer on history and science
topics living in Toronto, formerly Professor of History at Ryerson Polytechnic University.
He holds a B.A.Sc. in Engineering Physics from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in
the History of Science from Harvard University. Plan to take the school year to read, take
notes on, discuss, and write papers about the issues brought to light in the book.
 Biblical Basis for Modern
Science
Dr. Henry M. Morris
For 11th grade. Dr. Morris’ classic work on the biblical
worldview as the underpinning set of axioms foundational to all branches of science has
been newly revised and updated with the most recent discoveries in science. The
Biblical Basis for Modern Science lays the foundation first in Science and True
Christianity with Theology, the Queen of the Sciences; Cosmology, Christ and the Cosmos;
Supernaturalism, Miracles and the Laws of Nature; and Evolutionism, Science Falsely So
Called. Secondly the Physical Sciences are explored with Cosmogony, Creation of the World;
Astronomy, the Host of Heaven; Thermodynamics, the Power of Heat; and Chemistry and
Physics, the Dust of the Earth. The text then turns to the Earth Sciences with Geophysics,
the Foundation of the World; Hydrology and Meteorology, Water and the Word; Geology,
Overflowed with Water; and Paleontology, Fossils and the Flood. Lastly the Life Sciences
are examined with Biology, the Life of the Flesh; Anthropology, Man in the Image of God;
Demography and Linguistics, Babel and the World Population; and Ethnology, God and the
Nations. Appendices include Bible-believing scientists of the past, and global processes
indicating recent creation, among many other useful appendices on relevant topics. For the
non-scientist. Plan to take the school year to read, take notes on, discuss, and write
papers about the issues brought to light in the book.
In 12th grade, students will study one essay and two books on the
philosophy of science. They disagree with each other in parts in their conclusions, but
much can be learned about the nature of science by digesting the history, philosophy, and
writings of scientific philosophers presented in each to make the respective cases. As to
which point of view presents the “right” view, or even whether a
“right” view can be known: Well, this would be an excellent topic for the senior
research paper.
Preface this year’s study with an introduction to the philosophy of
science. I recommend the essay, “Naturalism versus Science” by Dr. Walter James
ReMine, found beginning on page 29 of his book, The Biotic Message. The most relevant
sections of the essay are from pages 29 through 35: Naturalism versus Science, What is
Science?, Science is Tentative, and Double Standards; however, the entire essay is
instructive and can be read with profit.
 Philosophy of Science
and Belief in God
Dr. Gordon H. Clark
For 12th grade. For the past two centuries Christianity has been
subjected to an unrelenting barrage of criticism from scientists who have argued that many
historical statements in the Bible are wrong; that man, and the universe as well, evolved
-- they were not created; that the Bible’s view of the universe is primitive and
mythological; and that the Christian view of God and man cannot be reconciled with our
modern scientific discoveries. In the popular mind, the modern phrase, “It has been
scientifically proved” has replaced the biblical phrase “thus says the
Lord,” as the final court of appeal. In Philosophy of Science and Belief in God,
Dr. Gordon H. Clark analyzes science from a biblical and logical perspective. His
conclusions are rather startling ... to laymen who have been deceived by the modern
idolatry of science. Science, says Dr. Clark, can offer no objection to either God or the
Bible, for science can never discover truth. It is ever learning but never able to come to
the knowledge of truth. Dr. Clark was an eminent Christian philosopher and theologian, the
author of 40 books, and the former Chairman of the Department of Philosophy at Butler
University. He died in 1985.
Out of print. Search AddAll.com or BookFinder.com
via a title search using “philosophy of science and belief in god” and an author
search using “clark.” If a used copy of the book cannot be found, request your
public library to interlibrary loan a copy in for you, and when it comes in, copy it and
bind it at a copy store, and return the book to the library. The U.S. Copyright Law contains a fair use provision
which allows an educator to make a single copy of out-of-print materials if needed for use
in teaching (not for profit or publication).
 Christianity and the
Nature of Science
Dr. J. P. Moreland
For 12th grade. Dr. Moreland, professor of philosophy of religion
at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, who also holds degrees in chemistry,
theology, and philosophy, is well-qualified to write on the intersection of science and
faith and their relationship to truth. In Christianity and the Nature of Science: A
Philosophical Investigation, he makes the claim that science and theology have, do,
and should interact with each other. In order to defend this claim, the discussion in this
book centers around questions of philosophy, especially the philosophy of science,
“because how science and theology should interact is primarily a philosophical
question (though science and theology are involved).” The three premises he puts
forward in this book are as follows: First, “there is no definition of science, no
set of necessary and sufficient conditions for something to count as science ... that can
be used to draw a line of demarcation between science and non-science.” Second,
limits to science exist, and those limits deprive science of its claim to overrule
theology and philosophy when they come in conflict. Third, when attempting to integrate
the truths of science with the truths of theology, one should not assume scientific
realism: the view that successful scientific theories are true models of the world.
Absorbing reading, with much food for thought, research (excellent bibliography included),
and discussion.
Out of print. Search AddAll.com or BookFinder.com
via a title search using “christianity and the nature of science” and an author
search using “moreland.” If a used copy of the book cannot be found, request
your public library to interlibrary loan a copy in for you, and when it comes in, copy it
and bind it at a copy store, and return the book to the library. The U.S. Copyright Law contains a fair use provision
which allows an educator to make a single copy of out-of-print materials if needed for use
in teaching (not for profit or publication).
Hard Sciences
 Exploring Creation with Biology
Dr. Jay Wile
For 10th grade. This course is designed to be the student’s
first high school science course. Algebra I ought to have been completed, or taken
concurrently, with this course. Exploring Creation With Biology is a college-prep
biology course that provides a detailed introduction to the methods and concepts of
general biology. Heavily emphasizing the vocabulary of biology, it provides the student
with a strong background in the scientific method, the five-kingdom classification scheme,
microscopy, biochemistry, cellular biology, molecular and Mendelian genetics, evolution,
dissection, and ecosystems. It also provides a complete survey of the five kingdoms in
Creation. The 2 volume set includes the hardbound student text, with all lessons, labs,
and exercises; and the softbound teacher’s solutions and tests manual. The
information page for purchasing this text contains table of contents, sample module, and
all information necessary for the labs. To order the text once at the publisher’s
website, click on this Shopping Cart link.
 Exploring Creation with
Chemistry
Dr. Jay Wile
For 11th grade. In order to understand this text, the student
must have completed Algebra I. This course is designed to be a first-year high school
chemistry course and gives the student a rigorous foundation in chemistry, in order to
prepare him or her for a college-level course. The course covers significant figures,
units, classification, the mole concept, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, thermodynamics,
kinetics, acids and bases, redox reactions, solutions, atomic structure, Lewis structures,
molecular geometry, the gas laws, and equilibrium. The 2 volume set includes the hardbound
student text, with all lessons, labs, and exercises; and the softbound teacher’s
solutions and tests manual. The information page for purchasing this text contains table
of contents, sample module, and all information necessary for the labs. To order the text
once at the publisher’s website, click on this Shopping Cart
link.
 Exploring Creation with Physics
Dr. Jay Wile
For 12th grade. In order to understand this text, the student
must have completed, or be taking concurrently, Trigonometry. Exploring Creation With
Physics provides a detailed introduction to the methods and concepts of general
physics. Heavily emphasizing vector analysis, this text is ideal preparation for a
university-level physics course. It provides the student with a strong background in
units, measurement, one-dimensional and two-dimensional motion, Newton’s laws and
their application, gravity, work and energy, momentum, periodic motion, waves, optics,
electrostatics, electrodynamics, electrical circuits, and magnetism. The 2 volume set
includes the hardbound student text, with all lessons, labs, and exercises; and the
softbound teacher’s solutions and tests manual. The information page for purchasing
this text contains table of contents, sample module, and all information necessary for the
labs. To order the text once at the publisher’s website, click on this Shopping Cart
link.
If one of your children can’t get enough science (as one of my
children couldn’t), the Hard Sciences option can be completed along with the History, Philosophy, and Nature of Science suggestions as an elective.
Advanced science courses are also available from Dr. Jay Wile, which may also count toward
filling a student’s electives requirement for graduation. They include: The Human
Body: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (prerequisite: biology and chemistry, above;
credit should be given for one semester of Human Anatomy and one semester of Cell Biology
upon completion); Advanced Chemistry in Creation (prerequisite: chemistry, above; credit
should be given for one year of Advanced or AP Chemistry upon completion); and Advanced Physics
in Creation (prerequisite: physics and trigonometry, above; credit should be given for
one year of Advanced or AP Physics upon completion). To order any of Dr. Wile’s
advanced science courses, click on this Shopping Cart
link. A child with a passion for science can also study any (or all) of the Origins Science Debate recommendations in depth, keeping a
topic notebook, taking notes, and analyzing the arguments made, presenting a paper on a
thesis addressed on the completion of each book (a la On the Use
of Real Books in the Secondary Curriculum.) A child which does this ought to receive
credit commiserate to the time put into the study: one semester for 60 hours of research
and analyzation, and one year for 120 hours.
Using the Online Catalog
 This online catalog is made possible through an association with Barnes&Noble.com. Clicking on the book title or book cover will take
you to Barnes&Noble.com’s information page about that book. You can look at its
price, availability, any discounts currently taken for that title, reviews of the book,
and other information, as well as order it if you decide to purchase the book. You can
even place books in your shopping cart and save them for purchase at a later time. You can
continue to add or delete books from your shopping cart until you are satisfied with your
order and ready to purchase. Clicking on any link to Barnes&Noble.com will open a new
window; to return to CCH, click on the “Window” menu on your browser’s menu
bar, and choose Classical Christian Homeschooling.
Sometimes books go out of print, or the publisher runs out of stock. Any
book not available from Barnes&Noble.com for any reason can be searched using AddAll.com, a book shopping site which
will scan Barnes&Noble.com as well as Amazon.com, Powell’s Books, Book Close Outs
and many other new and used book sites. Be sure to also check BookFinder.com for out of print book
searches.
Still have questions? Ask
me!
 
|
