The Foundations of Science introduces children to the wonders of the natural world in light of God’s providential care over creation.   Too often we hear messages that science is in conflict with faith, but Pope St. John Paul II wrote that faith and science “each can draw the other into a wider world, a world in which both can flourish.”  Foundations  seeks to spawn this flourishing in the hearts and minds of young readers, guiding them into a world that will delight their imaginations and inspire awe in the awesome power of God.   This eight-part series covers an extensive scope of scientific studies, from animals and plants, to the galaxies of outer space and the depths of the ocean, to cells and organisms, to the curiosities of chemistry and the marvels of our planet. Still more, it reveals the intricate order found beneath the surface of creation and chronicles many of the Church’s contributions to science throughout history.   In  Chemistry and Physics: Elements and Forces of the World, Adolfo Ayala explores a hidden world that lives right in our very midst. His study begins with a look at physical matter and how we apply the Scientific Method to it, before moving into Newton’s laws of motion, sound and light waves, the Atomic Theory, chemical reactions, and more. Children will discover the intricate balance and order that God has written into His creation.   Did you know . . . the earliest study of motion began with attempts to understand the movement of the planets in the night sky? the reason it is more difficult to walk through a pool than on dry land is because of a force known as hydrodynamic drag? we can see lightning before we hear the clap of thunder because light moves at an astonishing 300,000,000 m/s, while sound only travels at 340 m/s? echoes work better when they bounce off a hard surface instead of a soft one? a white-colored object is one that is reflecting the entire spectrum of light, while a black-colored surface is absorbing the whole spectrum of light? the word “electricity” is named after the Greek word for amber (electron)? In addition, children will also learn about the Church’s teaching on Transubstantiation and the importance of sacred music in our liturgy, as well as come to understand the destructive entropy that sin brings to our lives and why we need God’s grace to overcome it.   Take a journey back to when God laid the foundation of the world with this groundbreaking science curriculum!  Mr. Adolfo Ayala is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in the department of Biology and Biochemistry at Belmont Abbey College. He has been teaching high school science and math in some capacity for the past six years. He is a gifted teacher and makes learning math and science understandable and enjoyable. He has also taught courses in Chemistry and Engineering at various small colleges throughout the country. Mr. Ayala earned his MS in Chemical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame after completing his BS in Chemical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. He has a hobby of collecting math instruction books, both old and new, so he has a familiarity with a variety of teaching methods and believes that the older methods provide a better foundation for proficiency in the mathematical arts. Mr. Ayala assists his wife in homeschooling their four children. When he has free time, Mr. Ayala enjoys playing tennis, cooking, gardening, and practicing his wood working skills. You can often find him reading a book on philosophy or theology and drinking a cup of his freshly roasted coffee.