Master Books God’s Design for Life Flip-Through and Honest Review
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I’ll be honest—science hasn’t always been my favorite subject to teach.
It’s not that I don’t value it (I absolutely do), but between gathering experiment supplies, trying to explain complex topics, and keeping multiple kids engaged…well, let’s just say it’s easy for science to get bumped to “tomorrow.”
But every now and then, I come across a curriculum that makes me think, Okay…this might actually work for us. That’s exactly how I felt when I opened up God’s Design for Life from Master Books.
Even though we won’t be using this one in our homeschool for another year or two, I wanted to take some time to flip through it, explore the structure, and share everything I found with you—because I know how hard it can be to choose a science program that’s solid academically and rooted in a biblical worldview.
In this post, I’ll walk you through what’s included in this Master Books science curriculum, how it’s laid out, the kinds of activities your kids will be doing, and who I think this curriculum is best suited for.
If you’ve been wondering whether Master Books science is a good fit for your homeschool, I hope this gives you a clear picture!
Quick Overview: God’s Design for Life by Master Books
🎯 Target Grades: 3rd–8th grade (can be used with multiple ages together)
⏱️ Lesson Length & Schedule: ~45 minutes per lesson, 4 days per week (Complete in one school year)
📒 Course Includes:
- Student Text (full-color reading and activities)
- Teacher Guide (worksheets, quizzes, tests, answer keys, schedule, and supply lists)
🧪 Hands-On Activities: Yes – experiments and interactive projects included
✝️ Biblical Worldview: Young-earth creationist perspective, deeply integrated with Scripture
🧠 Critical Thinking: Built into lesson questions and challenge activities for older students
👨👩👧👦 Ideal For: Families teaching multiple kids across upper elementary and middle school
🧰 Optional Add-Ons:
- Science experiment supply kit
- Video-based course via Master Books Academy
- Beginner version available for K–2
What Is the God’s Design Science Series?
Master Books is well-known in the homeschool community for offering curriculum with a strong Biblical foundation, easy-to-follow lessons, and resources that really support homeschool families.
The God’s Design science series is perfect for families looking for a solid science curriculum that’s also rooted in a creation-based, biblical worldview.
There are six books in the series—two of those are for kids around kindergarten through second grade, and the other four books are geared for grades 3 through 8 and cover topics from life science and earth science to chemistry and physics.
Each book is designed as a one-year course and includes hands-on activities, engaging lessons, and a strong emphasis on how science supports the Bible.
About God’s Design for Life
This particular set—God’s Design for Life—is for grades 3-8 and is all about biology. Over the course of the year, your kids will study three big units:
Everything you’ll need to get started teaching this curriculum (aside from any experiment supplies) is included in just two books: a Student Text and a Teacher Guide.
So, let’s take a look inside.
This Is the Help I Need in a Science Curriculum
I was kind of expecting this to be similar to other teacher guides I’ve seen—simply a replica of the student textbook with some answer keys—but it’s NOT like that.
This book actually includes all of the worksheets, quizzes, and tests a student will need to use throughout the course, plus the answer keys.
There is a supply list at the beginning of each individual lesson, but if you like to have everything prepared all at once, the master list is super helpful!
Course Introduction + Suggested Schedule
The curriculum is divided into three sections—The World of Plants, The World of Animals, and The Human Body—and includes 105 lessons total, plus a final project.
I LOVE how Master Books includes checklists and schedules in their curriculum—it makes it so easy to just open up the book and go, keep track of where you’re at, AND track grades if that’s something you need to do.
They suggest a 4-day per week schedule, and if you stick with that, you’ll complete the course in one school year, spending about 40–45 minutes on each lesson.
But of course, that’s totally flexible. You could spread things out a bit or spend more time on topics that interest your kids. I saw a suggestion from another mom who split the course into three semesters and did one unit per semester—I thought that was a great idea!
Creation vs. Evolution
This is often a big question when looking for a Christian science curriculum: is it taught from a young-earth or an old-earth viewpoint?
Master Books unapologetically teaches from a young-earth creation viewpoint, and they explain how the curriculum presents this perspective.
Throughout the lessons, students are encouraged to view science through the lens of Scripture—recognizing God as Creator and using the Bible as the foundation for understanding the natural world.
If your family values a biblical worldview that aligns with a literal reading of Genesis, this curriculum will feel like a great fit. It’s clear, intentional, and consistent in pointing kids back to God’s design in all aspects of life science.
Worksheets and Assessments
Worksheets make up the majority of the teacher guide. There’s one for each lesson, clearly labeled with the unit, lesson number, and day.
The worksheets are 3-hole punched and perforated, which is great if you want to tear them out and store them in a binder. Each worksheet includes:
You also get quizzes and final exams—six quizzes and one final exam per unit. Each quiz includes a front side for all students and a back side for those completing the older student challenge sections.
And of course, you have answer keys for everything, including the quizzes and exams, AND they make grading really simple with thorough explanations on how to grade the quizzes and tests.
Inside the Student Textbook
Every lesson in this curriculum includes:
- New vocabulary words
- A short reading passage
- Activity in a blue box (for all students)
- Green “challenge” boxes for older students
- Review and comprehension questions
Icons and color-coded sections clearly show what’s for younger kids vs. older students. All kids are encouraged to read the special features, do the final project, and take the quizzes and exams.
Each lesson is structured consistently, which makes it really easy to follow. There are also fun facts, colorful photos, and clear instructions.
This curriculum really supports critical thinking, especially compared to Master Books’ other series (Let’s Talk Science), which is a bit more simplified and designed for younger students. We’re actually going to be using Let’s Talk Science with my 1st grader this year, and I’m looking forward to moving into God’s Design for Life when he’s in 3rd grade!
| Feature | Let’s Talk Science | God’s Design for Life |
| Target Grades | K–4 | 3–8 |
| Learning Style | Hands-on, visual | Hands-on + critical thinking |
| Biblical Integration | Yes, simplified | Yes, deeply integrated |
| Lesson Depth | Light | Deeper, more analytical |
| Parent Involvement Needed | Higher | More independent-ready |
| Copywork/Notebooking | Yes | Minimal |
Master Books Science Optional Resources
Master Books also offers a few optional add-ons for this course:
- A Science Experiment Supply Kit
- A video-based course at Master Books Academy
- God’s Design for Life: For Beginners, for K–2nd grade
These make it easy to teach science in a family-style setting if that works best for your homeschool.
👍 What I Love & 🧐 Things to Consider
I always appreciate it when reviews include an honest list of pros and cons—so here’s mine after spending time flipping through God’s Design for Life and looking at how it’s structured.
👍 What I Love:
- Truly open-and-go – With the daily schedule, supply lists, and lesson format all laid out, parents don’t have to do much prep at all.
- Strong biblical worldview – I love how this curriculum consistently points my kids back to Scripture and reinforces that God is the Creator of all life.
- Multi-grade friendly – I can see this working really well for families with a mix of upper elementary and middle schoolers.
- Engaging without being overwhelming – The reading isn’t super long, and the hands-on activities add variety without feeling like busywork.
- Worksheets + assessments included – I really like having everything in one place—worksheets, quizzes, tests, and answer keys—especially if I need to keep records.
🧐 Things to Consider:
- Time commitment – Lessons are scheduled for four days a week at around 45 minutes each, which could feel like a lot depending on your homeschool rhythm.
- Experiments require supplies – There is a supply kit available (which I recommend!), but if you don’t have it, you’ll need to gather materials yourself to do the hands-on parts.
- Very worldview-specific – This is written from a young-earth creationist perspective, which I love, but it may not be a fit for every homeschool family.
- Worksheets may feel formal – While they’re super helpful, some families who prefer a more relaxed or notebooking-style science might feel like this is a little more structured.
🙋♀️ Frequently Asked Questions about God’s Design for Life
Q: What grades is this curriculum best for?
A: God’s Design for Life is designed for grades 3–8, and it’s really flexible. You can easily use it with multiple children across those grade levels. There are options built into each lesson for younger and older learners, so everyone can participate at their own level.
Q: How long are the lessons and how often do you use it?
A: The suggested schedule is four lessons per week, with each lesson taking about 40–45 minutes. That might sound like a lot, but it includes reading, hands-on activities, and review questions. Of course, you can go at your own pace! Some families stretch it out, others combine lessons—it’s very adaptable.
Q: Is it really open-and-go?
A: Yes! That’s one of my favorite things about Master Books. You’ve got the daily schedule, worksheets, quizzes, and even supply lists all laid out for you. You can literally just open the book and get started—no hours of planning required.
Q: Can I skip the experiments if I don’t have the supplies?
A: You can, but I wouldn’t recommend skipping all of them—there are so many fun hands-on elements that bring the lessons to life. If gathering supplies is overwhelming (like it is for me sometimes!), you might want to grab the optional supply kit to make it easier.
Q: What if I want to use this with a younger or older sibling?
A: Master Books actually has a God’s Design for Life: For Beginners version for K–2nd grade, which follows the same general topics but at a younger level. You could definitely do a family-style science study with both versions running side-by-side.
Q: What kind of biblical worldview is included?
A: The curriculum is written from a young-earth creationist perspective. It’s very intentional about reinforcing the authority of Scripture and helping students understand how science supports the Bible. If that’s important to your family, you’ll love how deeply it’s woven throughout.
Final Thoughts on God’s Design Science
If you’re feeling unsure about how to teach science in a way that honors God and builds your child’s understanding of the world—this curriculum really does make it easier. You don’t have to be a scientist to do this well. With God’s Design for Life and the support Master Books offers, you’ve got everything you need to guide your kids and point them to truth while learning science together. 💛
Have you used this curriculum before? I’d love to hear what you think—drop a comment below!
Want to Try It in Your Homeschool?
If you’ve been thinking about using God’s Design Science in your homeschool, here’s a fun opportunity—Master Books is giving away one level of the curriculum!
Whether you’ve got younger kids just starting out or older students ready for a full year of science, the winner will get to choose from any of the following levels:
- God’s Design for Life: For Beginners
- God’s Design for Heaven & Earth: For Beginners
- God’s Design for Life Set
- God’s Design for Heaven & Earth Set
- God’s Design for the Physical World Set
- God’s Design for Chemistry & Ecology Set
Use the form below to enter for your chance to win—and be sure to let your homeschool friends know too!
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