Switched On Schoolhouse - science

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by dalynnrmc, Jan 5, 2010.

  1. dalynnrmc

    dalynnrmc New Member

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    Yeah, yeah, I know, long time no see, how ya doing, happy new year, blah blah blah. :p


    Seriously though. SOS science. Anyone used it? How much "off the computer assignments" (aka experiments) are involved? How do I determine which one my kiddo should get? Looks like he could cover what's in the 3rd grade, but he's done the 4th, and half of the 5th. Erg! Also looks like 7th covers the same stuff as 3rd but no way he's ready for jr hi science yet. So do we just start in 3rd and hope it goes quickly? (He's 5th grade age.) Or do we start in 5th and relax because he'll cover 3rd and 4th again in jr hi?

    Also, does anyone know if these can be used when purchased used? Or does it somehow "use up" with the first user? Can I buy it for my oldest and then use it again when the younger kiddos come up behind him?


    I think we're going to have to bite the bullet and do SOS for our science. :confused: Love it, but it sure is expensive! But I think it will work, and I guess that's what matters.


    Any input appreciated mucho!! :D
     
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  3. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    yes, we have used it youc an purchase it used but make sure you have the set up discs to match the years you have. You dont reallly want anything below 2006 best are 2008 and up. Also the tech people are good at giving you a new registration number if yours does not work, we had problems with computers and had to get a new number. It worked fine!
     
  4. Brooke

    Brooke New Member

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    We are using SOS science for 8th grade. We really like it a lot. It has all the experiments on video clips set up in the lesson for you, so we have only done a couple things ourselves with normal household products.

    As for getting it used....the techs will only help you if you have the current (within the past 2 years) version.

    As for a starting place, I'd recommend starting in the appropriate grade. Science repeats itself. He'll get the same info in more detail in the next few years anyway.
     
  5. my2kids

    my2kids New Member

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    Have you looked on ebay? I dont know what grade your looking for but you can buy the whole set for 79.00 or something like that.
     
  6. Sue May

    Sue May New Member

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    This is such a good topic for us. I am seriously considering using SOS for 9th grade science. SOS seems to be a well liked curriculum.

    Brooke, are the science experiments set up so the student can also do the experiments? Or is it designed for the student to just watch. I would like my son to do at least some of the experiments, but not all unless he is interested in doing all of them.
     
  7. Brooke

    Brooke New Member

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    It is set up so that you can do the experiments yourself. If I had a child that wanted/needed to do the experiments himself, you could even set up the experiment and play the clip(s) and do it with the "professor". I will give a word of warning, though. The professor that does the experiments is unecessarily put into "character". He has a persona of a "mad scientist" or just your stereotypical scientist, I suppose. My son would much prefer that the professor just be a normal guy rather than a "character". It is almost a deal-breaker for ds13. We watch the clips anyway, but it is a bit of a distraction. That being said, I'm not sure what 9th grade is like. HOPEFULLY, it will be considered too juvenile to have a character doing the experiments and SOS opts for a normal teacher doing them. I need to see if I can get a clip, or I'll get ahold of the company before I order 9th.

    There are some experiments that are required to be done that do not have clips, and these are the ones with common household items. Overall, we really like SOS science.
     
  8. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    science is the one we have used for our science up till I tried Apologia for dd cause she needed a change.
     
  9. Sue May

    Sue May New Member

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    Thanks TeacherMom. What you wrote was very helpful.
     
  10. Sue May

    Sue May New Member

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    Sorry Brooke. I should also thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my earlier message regarding experiments with SOS science. What you wrote was very helpful.

    I should read the messages more carefully.
     
  11. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    I also use other , like math this year and Science both, I have 9th grade as well I believe, so ds will go on to that after 8th.
    We have used all of them at one time for both ds and dd but I like to mix things up for thier sakes, its easier on me but I think the variety of some SOS and some hands on work works best for ds over all. DD has all her classes in SOS or MUS this year I believe
     
  12. dalynnrmc

    dalynnrmc New Member

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    Thank you all!

    No, I've not yet checked eBay - wanted to be certain that this is what we wanted to do first. They're $79 new from AOP so that's not much of a deal, unless you're talking a full 5-subject set. We're really only interested in the science at this point, though I might consider it in other subjects for my now-6yo in the future.


    Very helpful, thank you very much!!
     
  13. my2kids

    my2kids New Member

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    it is for the 5 subject.... the startin gbid is 79.00 i believe. I contacted them and asked what year it was and they said 2009 but the box looks like 2008 so i dont know. I dont know if a year makes a big difference.
     
  14. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    yeah if its for the whole pack its a good deal, really good, but I know Craigslist has had SOS as well!
    AOP also has 12% discount sales a lot, as dose cbd have sales on SOS at certain times of the year. When do you need it? If not till next year wait for April and get 40 % off!
     
  15. rhi

    rhi New Member

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    I think the science was the one my kids couldn't stand but we got them from a friend who had bought them on ebay.
     
  16. dalynnrmc

    dalynnrmc New Member

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    Yes, we won't have money until income tax return. Might wait for April. Seems a long time to wait for the science, but, he's waited this long.... LOL

    And, we're also moving in April. SO, I'm not sure if buying something then will be a good idea or not. On the one hand, we won't move until the end of the month so it coming to the wrong house won't be an issue. And, it'd be the one subject that would be doable soon after the move. But, we've always found it hard to continue schooling through a move, and our plan at this time is to get as much done between now and our move as we can! So, we'll see!

    Thanks again!
     
  17. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    have you looked at some of the online unit studies for science until then? I know that Laurence Hall of Science has a good bunch of curriculum helps and ideas to do .. we looked up some of thier links and followed info for biology with dds and co op classes

    there is also doing a study on a particular idea, such as Solar System, you can research different things on NASAkids.com or regular nasa

    these are just things that I do for extra work when the SOS is not available because of ds not putting it back whereit belongs or something else so that wekeep busy. Discovery kids ?
     
  18. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    apoligia has some free printable notebooking pages for Astronomy, maybe othr courses too?
     

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