Master's Class High School Chemistry (Download)

Dr. Englin’s Master Class Chemistry is 28 chapters taking the student through the composition, structure, and properties of matter. I love that each science curriculum by Master Books works to not only point the student to our Creator, but also to apply concepts to real life. Students will do worksheets, lab work, quizzes and exams throughout the course, found in the Teacher’s Guide. Algebra I is a prerequisite so this course is better suited to 10th grade and above. Master Books sells a Chemistry kit to go alongside this curriculum and it is needed to do the experiments. You could piece it together on your own, but ultimately it would cost you more unless you already have a significant amount of the supplies. You will definitely want all three components: the student text book, the teacher guide and the lab kit. Each chapter has a lab, done on day four of the week. Every three or four chapters there is a review week before an exam; exams are helpful because Chemistry is a course where concepts continue to build upon each other. While this is definitely a high school level course, I appreciate how easy the text is to follow and understand.

The Master’s Class Chemistry Set is an excellent introductory science course for your upper high-school student (10th-12th grade). It is a one-year course that will earn your student 1 credit with labs. Time investment is about five hours per week. A pre-requisite of Algebra 1 is required. A Chemistry Supply Kit can be purchased through Master Books. At first glance of this course, I am so excited to go through this course with each of my kids as they experience learning Chemistry with a strong Christian worldview.

The student text is well laid out with a balance of text and colorful graphics. Each chapter lists the objectives for the lesson that are to be learned, along with new vocabulary.

If you follow the suggested schedule in the teacher guide, the reading is typically done on day 1 with the worksheet to be completed, a review on day 2 focuses on vocabulary, a quiz on day 3, followed by the lab done over days 4-5. It is very manageable for the student.

The teacher guide for this Chemistry course is a must. It contains a suggested daily schedule to complete the course in a year, a grading sheet for the year, and teacher instructions for the course. It also includes all of the worksheets and laboratory reports to go along with the student text as well as all quizzes and exams to be taken.

I appreciate the variety in the worksheets - some are matching, short answer, with the majority of the work done during the lab portion. The teacher guide lays everything out for you to easily guide your student through this course.

Most important of all though, the emphasis is placed in this study of Chemistry on God’s unchanging character and His absolute control of His creation.

This is a part of the Master's Class High School Chemistry Set. This course would be perfect for a student in 11th or 12th grade or a chemistry loving child. It seems a bit challenging at first, but it gets easier to understand with each chapter. I really like that this course shows plenty of visual examples for the labs and in explanation of different topics. It is easy to follow and great for a visual learner. The author does a great job explaining the topics and the labs.

I would highly recommend to use this course with the corresponding Master Books Academy course. It makes it more fun and enhances the understanding of the material.

Chemistry is one of those subjects that tends to intimidate people. This course is a pleasant surprise. I really like that this course has shorter lessons that allow this complex subject to be digested in bite-sized chunks.
The course is well-organized. Expect to spend an hour or so each day, five days per week on this course. It is definitely a high school level course, heavier than lower levels. Each week there are reading assignments, worksheets, a quiz, and a lab. Every 3 or 4 weeks there is a test to ensure the student is mastering the concepts. I like this design, since the concepts build on one another.
The teacher guide is consistent with other MasterBooks courses. It has the schedule, course objectives, worksheets, quizzes, exams, and answer key. I appreciate that there is a sample lab report for reference. A grade sheet is included, also.
I am so thankful that there is a Master Books Academy course to go along with it.
Overall, it is great to have a creation-based chemistry course that helps prepare the high school student for a college chemistry course and gives them a greater appreciation for the created world.

I love that Master Books is coming out with high school science courses that look a bit more traditional. Biology, Chemistry... that looks like things from my high school transcript.

Of course, what is even better is that the courses are coming from a worldview that I hold. I can't recall the worldview of my high school chemistry book, but I'm quite sure it did not emphasize Christian chemists, or talk in any way about God.

There are plenty of experiments, which has been an issue for me with other MB high school science. In Chemistry, the experiments are fairly practical and not silly.

The full-color photos draw you in (donuts? paint brushes?) and provide some answers to the "why does chemistry matter" question.

Two thumbs up from this mama.

Disclaimer: I received this ebook for free from Master Books. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received complimentary products does not guarantee a favorable review.

I just finished reading through this entire curriculum, and will use it with a student in a future semester. It looks great. I love that God is referenced throughout the text (not always frequently, but He does have a presence). I appreciate the pictures of the experiments in a step-by-step manner (in some places they are down below with multiple instructions above, and it would have been even more helpful if they were placed immediately following the instruction, so that we wouldn’t have to look back and forth). And I love the history of Christian chemists (historical and contemporary) provided in Appendix II.

The material is mostly accessible, and the pace seems very doable. I love the way it begins slowly (defining basic words/concepts like molecule and hypothesis, learning about density, metrics, solutions and solvents, molecular mass, etc.), and builds into more difficult subjects (chemical reactions, chemical equations, the Periodic Table, ionic and covalent bonds, and so forth). It is not math intensive; and is much easier/slower paced than the chemistry course I took in high school (a science-minded student may want to begin with this one in late middle school/early high school, and later complete a more advanced chemistry course). I also was so glad to see some of the final chapters on comparing nutritional labels, environmental chemistry (pollution, smog, greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect), and soil testing, as each of these areas is directly applicable to life, and awesome to learn from a Christian perspective.

The text begins very strong, and ends equally strong. There were several times (especially in the middle chapters) that I was a bit lost with what was going on, and why/how it was relevant. I called my dad (who taught many years of high school science) to ask questions; and he not only answered me, but told me multiple stories about why this and that was applicable in “real” life, which I would never have considered. I think this text needs more stories. It does have several good analogies, and makes some important connections. For example, there is an interesting note in chapter 24 about why one rotten apple can cause the rest of the apples to rot; and chapter 25 includes a fascinating apologetic discussion of how the physical and spiritual natures of reality are both present. I would love to see more insights like these throughout the text, as some of the chapters are a little dry.

I would similarly like to propose the author create a corresponding DVD with 10-15 minute lectures that begin with stories or insights, as this is what one would get from a top lecturer in a physical classroom, and is the primary factor which most parent-teachers cannot provide.

The labs look fun, and very doable. Here is my own shopping list of lab supplies I do not already have to give a general (not extensive) idea of what might be needed:
Small glass jar with disposable lid (will be damaged by experiment)
Molecular model kit
Erlenmeyer flask (250 ml)
Graduated cylinder (10 ml)
Laboratory scoop
Beaker
Filter paper
Spectroscope analysis kit (from Home Science Tools)
Bunsen burner
Long balloons
3 100 ml beakers
1 250 ml beaker
Scale (Home Science Tools has one that looks like the book’s)
Weighing boats
Multimeter
Petri dish
Zinc metal
Copper metal
Iron nails
Wire with alligator clips
pH paper
Buret
Test tubes
Stirring rod
Barium hydroxide
Sodium acetate
Lugol's solution
Barium hydroxide
Soil testing kit
4 soil samples

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Master Books.

I didn't care for chemistry in high school. My teacher was old and crusty and the textbook was boring and difficult to understand. When I opened the Chemistry text from Dr. Englin, I was amazed! This book is truly beautiful! It made me want to dive in and study science. The language is easy to follow, making somewhat difficult concepts in chemistry easy to understand. The biblical worldview is woven throughout the text and really helps the student see the Creator in His creation. In addition, the photographs are gorgeous and the layout is engaging. One of my frequent complaints about science curriculum is that lab instructions are given without diagrams and photos, making it nearly impossible to figure out exactly what we are supposed to do. Not so with this book...there are photos and diagrams with the lab instructions so the student can perform the experiments as they are intended, setting them up for success in learning the concepts. I can't wait to use this book with my son! Thank you, Dr. Englin!

We love everything about this text and Dr. Englin's approach to the study of science! Dr. Englin's heart for the Lord is in every page as he gives insight into God's creation and encourages learners to draw closer to the Lord through a study of chemistry.

Chemistry is organized, well laid out, and beautifully illustrated. Chapters cover topics thoroughly while keeping lessons within a student's ability to focus and understand the concepts being taught.

We are given an extensive study of chemistry from a Biblical perspective, including labs for each chapter. Labs are simple to follow; materials easy to acquire; and students are capable of completing each lab without constant adult assistance. Included are "Lab Insights", helping students gain a better understanding of each chapter's content. "Discoveries in Chemistry" share additional fun facts. Unlike other texts, be sure not to skip Appendix sections either. They are rich with information and helpful procedural tips. Appendix II... amazing!

We're not just happy with Chemistry, we're excited about learning and drawing closer to the Lord; thanks to Dr. Englin.