Understanding God's World, 4th edition

Having taught science 3rd-6th for 3 years in a private school, I refused to use this book the last two years as it greatly misses the new national standard which you better start on no later than 5th grade or transitioning to jr. High with your child being on the "college path" will leave them falling behind and struggling. It is O.K. to use for average student or as a 3rd grade book, but it simply does not have the depth of knowledge required to satisfy national standards for a student to score 75% or better. I had a student that used this book as a 4th grader, and when moving to HSP national standard science book, she was greatly lacking in vocabulary and in depth elementary school concepts.
This book will work IF you supplement heavily with science vocabulary, more math to meet higher standards required in science, and more hands on experiments that use mapping and hypothesis processes.
Balancing Christian studies with science is a challenge, but we limit what us being put in a Christian science book because it might conflict with Gods creation. Our children have to have all the facts and as teachers we must guide them to accept facts, believes, and conflicts to be able to process all information in a systematic way enlightens all levels of knowledge.