Berean Builders is a K-12 Christian homeschool science curriculum created by Dr. Jay Wile, featuring hands-on experiments, a historical approach to science, and multi-level elementary courses that allow families to teach all children together.
What are Berean Builders?
Berean Builders is a comprehensive science curriculum for homeschoolers created by Dr. Jay L. Wile, the original founder of Apologia Science. After selling Apologia in 2008 and departing in 2010, Dr. Wile launched Berean Builders in 2013 to continue developing rigorous, experiment-centered science curriculum from a Christian worldview. The program spans kindergarten through 12th grade, with elementary courses designed for multi-age family learning and high school courses providing college-preparatory content. Dr. Wile holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry from the University of Rochester and has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles.
Key Takeaways
- Elementary courses (K-8) use multi-level design so all children in a family can learn together from one textbook
- Every lesson includes hands-on experiments using common household materials
- Teaches science chronologically through history, exploring discoveries in context of their time periods
- High school courses provide rigorous, college-prep content with independent study design
Elementary: Science in History Series
The elementary series takes a unique historical approach, covering multiple branches of science—physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, astronomy—within each course. Titles include "Science in the Beginning" (using creation days as the organizing theme), "Science in the Ancient World," "Science in the Scientific Revolution," "Science in the Age of Reason," and "Science in the Industrial Age." Each book includes three levels of review questions for younger, middle, and older elementary students, allowing one textbook to serve the whole family. This approach reduces costs and enables rich family discussions about scientific discoveries.
High School: Discovering Design Series
The high school courses—Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science—provide college-preparatory content designed for independent student learning. These courses are written at an upper high school level with periodic comprehension checks and detailed explanations. Students can register on Dr. Wile's website to ask questions directly about concepts or experiments. Parents consistently praise the rigor while noting that students can work through material independently, a significant advantage for families juggling multiple grade levels.
Hands-On Learning Emphasis
What sets Berean Builders apart from many competitors is its genuine experiment focus. Every lesson incorporates hands-on activities using primarily household materials—no expensive lab kits required for most experiments. For parents who feel anxious about teaching science, the curriculum provides clear step-by-step directions and the "Helps & Hints" companion books contain all answers and teaching support. This experiment-centered approach makes science tangible and memorable rather than abstract and forgettable.
Christian Perspective Approach
Berean Builders presents science from a young-earth creationist perspective, but takes a different approach than heavily apologetic curricula. Rather than spending extensive time arguing against evolution, Dr. Wile focuses on teaching science content while presenting different viewpoints—both young-earth and old-earth perspectives are discussed. The goal is developing students who think critically about science and faith, true "Bereans" who examine evidence carefully. This balanced approach appeals to families wanting a biblical worldview without constant creation-evolution debate.
The Bottom Line
Berean Builders offers homeschool families a well-designed science curriculum that combines rigorous content with practical accessibility. The multi-level elementary design saves time and money for families with multiple children, while the experiment-heavy approach makes science engaging. Dr. Wile's credentials and accessible teaching style make complex concepts approachable for both students and parents. For families seeking college-prep science from a Christian worldview with genuine hands-on learning, Berean Builders delivers exceptional value—particularly compared to more expensive alternatives.
