Light, Optics, & Color: An Exploration-Based Science Curriculum is a fascinating new science program for middle school students (ages 11-14). Its creator, Carolyn Schmidt Balch, has designed an exceptional program which can be used in homeschools as well as in public or private schools. Completing the program provides one unit of study for students. The book can be purchased in print form or as a PDF; and the accompanying teaching video is available as a DVD, or can be streamed from YouTube via the company website (https://www.engagingsciencelabs.com/). We were able to use and review the softcover book and its companion DVD.

The design of Light, Optics, & Color is quite unique. Rather than a plan or a book which teaches a lot of information, then follows that with a quick experiment or two, this curriculum is comprised of experiments which illustrate and teach the principles to students as they perform them. Ms. Balch developed this system after years of teaching, as she observed how much students learned as they did what real scientists do; performing experiments and investigating principles by actually doing the science, instead of just reading about it. The result was this book, which is filled with simple yet profound experiments and teaching activities. These can be completed by students on their own or with a teacher/parent. With these, the book instructs students in principles of light, optics, and color very thoroughly and clearly. And in addition to the 20 engrossing experiments, there are additional “explorations” including Bible study, artistic connections, a graphic organizer, history, and dictations. All of these enrich the experiments and the science, by focusing on the bigger picture that the science fits into. (Also included is a unit review.)

The Light, Optics, & Color DVD contains filmed video of the twenty experiments conducted in the book. Each experiment ranges from about two minutes to over eleven minutes apiece, and the video can be used in conjunction with the book. We found these very helpful; after we conducted the experiments and my son journaled his findings, we’d watch the videos which reinforced what we’d learned and in some ways, explained things more fully. (Parents might especially appreciate the eye anatomy and dissection video.)

The experiments are genuinely incredible, and will captivate both the student and the parent. Optical lenses demonstrate magnification, minification, focal length, and more. The colors in light are explored with filters, flashlights, spectroscopes and even skim milk. The anatomy of the eye is displayed and investigated, in addition to teaching why the eye sees a blue sky or a red sunset. And these are just a few of the fascinating concepts that are taught! By the end of the curriculum, the student will have an effective grasp of optics, light, and color which will benefit him in, as well as prepare him for, his future science studies.

I have to admit that Light, Optics, & Color is one of my new favorites, out of the many science curricula we’ve used over our homeschooling years. My son and I found this curriculum to be absolutely fascinating—as well as one of the most exciting learning processes we’ve used before. He is at the upper end of the recommended age group, at 14, and yet we found that the book was written quite understandably for him. (In fact, I really think that older students could easily benefit from its clear explanations and presentations. This program could definitely be integrated into older students’ coursework as a lab, in my opinion.) Also, I found Light, Optics, & Color to be very user-friendly. While it is designed for students to work through on their own and at their own pace, it’s equally as effective for a parent and child to use together. And in addition to providing exceptional learning opportunities, the experiments are both enjoyable and illuminating. They plainly explain concepts that might be difficult for students to grasp; it’s very evident that Carolyn Schmidt Balch is quite experienced at teaching science.

I also enjoyed the Biblical perspective that this course is taught from. Ms. Balch is able to weave together Scriptural truths with scientific principles concisely and beautifully. And some of these truths are just spectacular, and plainly taught in Scripture. Yet, I really needed a scientist to connect the dots for me between the two; and the author ably does so.

While some of the ingredients for the experiments are items many families will already have at home, others were not. I purchased about half of those I needed online (from scientific and educational equipment companies, via Amazon).  And they were worth every penny. Actually having concave and convex lenses, or polarizing filters, or spectroscopes, not only increased the “wow” factor of the experiments but made the scientific principles very clear and memorable. I found that having this equipment for our experiments partnered beautifully with the curriculum. And we kept talking all that we’d learned, even after the experiments were over!

I highly recommend Light, Optics, & Color for homeschooling families. It is just a fantastic learning experience…as well as an excellent science curriculum. I believe that both parents and children will be amazed at what they can learn—and thrilled with every experience!

-Product review by Melanie Reynolds, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, August, 2016