We've used (and are still using) both the Botany book and the Astronomy book. We were doing super great with the botany book, with my daughter enjoying it and learning from it, when she happened to see the astronomy book on my desk and asked to "learn about space" instead. So we switched gears and went on her interest. We'll return to botany, though, most definitely!

These science books by Jeannie Fulbright, are the most "conversational" science, engaging science, and most complete and God praising science I've seen for elementary level. And it was cost effective as I plan to use it through two age levels of rotation. (The cost analysis would be even better for families with multiple children.)

On her email list Jeannie Fulbright mentioned, that she WROTE these books to be "semester long studies".. but Dr. Wile thought they were RICH enough, and decided to promote them as year-long studies. So that is how they're touted. Regardless, I know people have drawn them out for a lengthy study, while others (especially those in the higher age range) have gone through them at a quick pace.

Anyway, there are samples at the website www.highschoolscience.com and they are EXACT chapters. The books LOOK shiny and prestine like textbooks, but don't let that fool you or scare you off! They are ENGAGING, conversational in tone, and really just plain FUN! As the homeschool teacher, you can just read through it, letting the kids ask questions as they need to (though my daughter has learned .. LOL.. that usually the very question she asks me is answered in the very next paragraph!LOL) and after the session's read aloud, just naturally and conversationally ask them what they remember (there are these types of questions/prompts strewn throughout the text.) There are activities to do at the end of each chapter. (or not)
and notebooking suggestions (or not.) You can buy the science kits from
www.creationsensation.com (We did and LOVE THEM) or not and just gather up the stuff
yourself.

So yes, I  Apologia Elementary Science!