This book offers thirty-six stories about God's amazing world that very nicely brings science back to its creator and helps children make connections between faith and reason. We've had the earlier edition of this book for a number of years and I have found many tidbits about nature that were new and very interesting to me - especially information about why God made things the way that he did and what is good and useful about his creation.

This new edition includes many new stories and looks more like a grade school workbook - in size and appearance as well as having space for the students to answer the chapter questions right in the book. In addition to the Catholic content I really like this book because 1. it is loaded with interesting content, 2. it is written in an appealing story-like format, 3. it is not "dumbed-down" or written in a condescending tone like so many textbooks. Here's a brief excerpt to give you a sense of the style and content:

"God has a similar system for supplying water to places that don't get much rain in the summer. Instead of a freezer, God uses tall, snow-covered mountains to store up icy snow. In some mountain ranges, like the Rocky Mountains that stretch north and south across Canada and the United States, peaks often receive thirty or forty feet of snow each year. That is nearly enough snow to bury a Ferris wheel! Even after winter has passed, the cool mountain air allows the snow to melt very slowly. Melting snow slips into creeks and rivers that carry needed water to farms and cities far away. Some of those farms and cities don't get much rain in the summer. Some of them don't even have snow in the winter. But the people who live there are happy to drink and swim in the water that came from God's faraway frozen mountains." (from "Merciful Rain" pgs. 59-61)

Click here to read more about Catholic Heritage Curricula's 2nd grade science program

Do your children like to play Monopoly™? Then, they might enjoy this Catholic alternative. Rather than encouraging children to attain as much wealth as possible as in Monopoly™, the goal of the game is to build as many churches and cathedrals as possible in order to "spread the Word of the Lord."

Each game comes with instructions, game board, play money, churches and cathedrals instead of houses and hotels, "Biblical" tokens, such as an angel, ark, or chalice, to move around the board, Faith cards, Community Service cards, deed cards, and dice. The game board includes countries of the world, such as Poland and Ireland; continents, such as South America and Africa; and famous or important Catholic sites, such as the Vatican, Jerusalem, and Mount Sinai, instead of streets; and famous shrines and cathedrals instead of utilities and railroads. The alternative to "Go to Jail" is "Go to Confession" and the alternative for "Just visiting" is "Just Praying."

On the back of the "deed cards," are several interesting Catholic facts, such as the Apparition at Fatima on the Portugal card or the first parish established in the U.S. on the U.S.A. card. Biblical locations include facts about why these places are important, such as "Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist at the river Jordan", and a scripture passage to look up in the Bible. An example of a Faith card, which replaces a Chance card, is "Your novena has been answered. Advance to 'In The Beginning.' Collect $200." An example of a Community Service card, which replaces a Community Chest card, is "collect $30 as a blessing for being Youth Group leader.

As you move your token around the board, you will be learning interesting Catholic facts on the back of the various deed cards as you collect them and build churches and cathedrals. For those who don't want to spend hours playing the game, a shortened version is also offered.