DIVE Earth Science is here!
Unlike our lineup of High School Science products, DIVE Earth Science is a standalone curriculum. No extra book(s) are required, although a list of optional materials is provided for those who want to go above and beyond the basic curriculum.
DIVE Earth Science will change the way you think about the Earth! God gave us the Earth to use and manage wisely (Genesis 1:26-28). DIVE Earth Science teaches students how to use Earth’s abundant resources, while avoiding the “ditches” of overuse and overprotection.
DIVE Earth Science consists of four sections: Earth Science Basics, Flood Geology, Limnology and Oceanography, and Meteorology and Astronomy. In Earth Science Basics, students are presented with foundational ideas that are developed further in the other three sections. This method is similar to John Saxon’s successful mathematics teaching format of introducing a foundational topic early on, and reviewing and building on it later.
In many Earth Science courses, students are taught misleading arguments that withhold many facts, such as “the Big Bang is the only explanation for how the Universe was created”, “fossil fuel burning is the only cause of global warming”, “fertilizer runoff from farms is causing the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico”, “all oil is formed from dead dinosaurs”, and many others. Possibly more than any other curriculum before it, DIVE Earth Science brings clarity to these arguments, and strives to tell “the rest of the story”.
In any Earth Science course, the subject of Earth history will inevitably arise. The subject has become highly politicized, mainly by the liberal left, who falsely equate the study of history with testable, repeatable science. Today, only one creation story is dogmatically taught in most government schools and universities, and it is not the story found in Scripture. DIVE Earth Science treats the study of history honestly, which means we treat it like history, not science. And that means historical documents like Scripture are helpful and necessary.
With DIVE Earth Science, students will learn to discern between unverifiable natural history research and verifiable scientific investigation. Also, students are presented with a variety of ideas about how the Earth and Universe formed, not just one “consensus” view! The goal of DIVE Earth Science is not to support a consensus view, but to teach students how to search for truth. Christian or non-Christian, “old” earth or “young” earth, I would hope that is something we would all want to help our children do!
We have a CD-ROM version for $80, and an online subscription for $50, plus $10 for each additional family member. The online version has many advantages including access anywhere you have a computer and Internet, no CD to damage and/or lose, and maybe most importantly, automated scoring and grade tracking. Click here to learn how the online version can make grading a breeze for busy homeschool parents! DIVE Online works on Windows and Mac computers, and even though it is Flash-based, it will also work on an iPad if you use the Photon browser.
Here is a sample pdf file of the laboratory manual, which includes the yearly schedule:
Sample Earth Science Workbook and Table of Contents
Here’s a pdf file containing a list of all laboratory supplies. Many items can be purchased locally, and Internet links are provided for other supplies. There is also a list of optional reading materials, both Internet links/videos, and books/DVDs to purchase:
DIVE Earth Science Lab Instructions and Supplies List
Here’s a demo of the Getting Started lesson, plus the video lectures, lab activities, computer-based homework and facts practice for Week 3:
DIVE Earth Science will change the way science is taught. It will give your child a 21st Century Earth Science education, while strengthening their faith in the absolute truth of Scripture as a God-inspired work that is a true account of the history of Earth and the Universe.
Here is a link to our Facebook page, where I have a description of DIVE Earth Science topics covered each week. Just click on the photos, and the descriptions are attached to them.
To purchase, click here for the CD or here for the online version. Here’s a short commercial about DIVE Earth Science:
Do you have a question or comment about the new DIVE Earth Science? Post it below:
Explore posts in the same categories: DIVE Earth Science, Teaching ScienceTags: astronomy, Christian, creation, DIVE Earth Science, Earth history, Earth Science, flood geology, limnology, meteorology, oceanography, Scripture, unity and diversity
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Studying His Word and His Works 
July 20, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Any idea on the cost for this? I’m guessing it will be more than the usual $50.
July 20, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Hi Lauren,
Still $50!
As with our other products, use it on as many computers and with as many of your own children as you wish, but we do not allow reselling. Also, I would encourage you to spend some $ on lab supplies, too. If you buy the rock and mineral set, rock and mineral test kit, 100 mL graduated cylinder, digital pocket balance, and the contour model kit, you can do part or all of over a dozen lab activities. Add sand, salt, plaster of paris, and some air dry clay, and you’re up to over half the labs. Add two thermometers and you can do two more labs.
August 12, 2011 at 5:08 pm
At approximately what grade or math level (Saxon) would this be used?
August 12, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Hi Ellen, it is designed for a student who is taking pre-algebra (Saxon 8/7 or Algebra 1/2). About 8th grade is what it is designed for, but I give suggestions on the Getting Started lesson on how to add some more rigor and make it a high-school credit.
August 18, 2011 at 5:44 pm
I just sent an email to the address above… but any idea as to where I can purchase this curriculum? Thank you!
August 18, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Hi Angela, our sales office should get back with you tomorrow so you can place your order. We are not putting it online until it is completely finished. If you didn’t do so already, please email them your phone number so they can call you and make the order over the phone. Thank you!
September 30, 2011 at 8:29 pm
The DIVE website seems to be getting out of date. When will you be adding this new curriculum to the online syllabus and suggested course outline? Speaking for myself, I’d really like to see news and updates on your new Earth Science program there too instead of just here on your blog.
October 3, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Hi Lucinda,
Thank you for your comments. We are not putting Earth Science on our website until it is completely finished. You can purchase it right now by calling our sales office at 936-372-9216, but we want to have a little more one-on-one contact with the first families to use the curriculum. I am working on the remainder of it as we speak, and the whole thing should be finished by January. The first half of the curriculum is currently for sale, and we will mail you updated CDs as the remainder becomes available. For the latest updates, visit our DIVE Into Math and Science Facebook site and “like” it.
God bless,
Dr. Shormann
March 7, 2012 at 8:46 am
Reblogged this on Studying His Word and His Works and commented:
DIVE Earth Science is not just here, it is finished! This post has lots of new information since I first posted it.
God bless,
Dr. Shormann
December 13, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Dr. Shormann, earlier I found a link to a store that sells the complete lab kit for the Earth Science course. Now, when I need to order, I cannot remember where I found the link. Would you mind to give me the name of the website? Thanks so much!
Blessings,
Melinda Smith
December 13, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Hi Melinda,
It is Nature’s Workshop Plus. Here’s the link: http://www.workshopplus.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=3645&idcategory=0
December 20, 2012 at 1:35 pm
I am considering using this with my 8th and 10th grade boys next year. Are the labs and tests considered high school credit worthy or should more in depth projects and evaluations be added?
Thank you,
Michelle
January 21, 2013 at 9:11 am
Hi Michelle,
So sorry for the delayed response! If you want to make it high school level, I recommend two things. First treat the quarterly “section reviews” like an exam (no notes or other outside help allowed, must be completed in one hour). Second, have the student write a 500-600 word report each quarter on a topic of their choosing. This would be a report that is based on something they studied during the quarter, but they would add more detail to it and research it further. They should include at least three references in their report. I hope that answers your question.
God bless,
Dr. Shormann
March 7, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Are there any test with dive products for me to check my child’s progress? I’m not big on test, but have recently caught my son skimming through and not really putting in the work needed.
March 8, 2013 at 9:46 am
All of our science courses include quarterly exams that cover the prior 7 weeks. For DIVE Earth Science, we have a junior high option where we recommend you treat the exam as just another homework set, and allow the student to use their notes and definitions. If you do the high school option, then treat it as a real exam, taken in one hour.
There are actually several ways parents can track student progress using DIVE Science. In all DIVE Science courses, the student is expected to take notes on the lecture. If they take good lecture notes, pausing and rewinding the lesson if they don’t understand something, then they should do well on the homework. They also complete weekly definitions. If they took good notes, and put a good effort in on their homework, then the quarterly exams should not be that difficult. They also have a lab manual to fill out. I hope that answers your questions. If not, please let me know.
Serving Christ,
Dr. Shormann