I purchased my world science to use for my 1st grader this fall and HATE it. I am looking for a good, easy to teach, non religious based curric. Any suggestions????
well first thing I would do is resale it either on ebay or to someone you know. then look on e bay they might have something you are looking for.
the lady we buy things from on E-bay has an ebay store called things4kings. We have bought from her twice, I don't know what kind of world science she has but her stuff is set up in catigories. I bought the life science its K-2 and one other one that complements this one (forgot name). I would call back the company you bought from and if you havn't used the stuff get a refund.
You could follow the science for Well Trained Mind (WTM). Basically, for first grade you'd teach about animals, plants and human body. When you start getting into science kits that are already "assembled" you start shelling out $$$$$$ for what is really nothing at all. You could go as simple as getting the McGraw Hill Science paperback book and then add in some crafts and experiments. At 1st grade they think anything is cool. I still think one of the favorites around here was the water drop race. More Mudpies to Magnets (orange book) has some great simple ideas. There is also a great source that will email you an experiment a week. You can get the archieves as well. It is http://www.krampf.com/ experiment of the week http://www.krampf.com/news.html archieves http://groups.yahoo.com/group/krampf/messages --- you sign up for this yahoo group to get them emailed to you. HTH
I would agree with She. You really don't need a curriculum for science at that age. Just cover a few topics that interests you. Plants, animals, insects, astronomy, magnets.... Then go to the library and get all kinds of info about them. Read, read, read! Get on line and find a few worksheets that go along. For example, if you are doing insects, you can do sequencing worksheets showing complete and incomplete metamorphis. You can label the three body parts on different insects. There's all kinds of activities you can find on line or in library books! Then when they get older, you can worry about getting a "curriculum"!
Take a look at this link. I use the K level science for Jeannie. I think you'll like them, and you won't spend a thing. http://intranet.cps.k12.il.us/Lessons/StructuredCurriculumTOC/SCScience/Grade_1_Science_Daily_Lessons_/grade_1_science_daily_lessons_.html
I'm also not using a curriculum for Science. I use the Core Knowledge Sequence for a guideline mostly to make me feel better that I'm not leaving stuff out. It just a list of subjects to cover And I combine grade levels here and there rather than cover them disjointedly, the library books we found on these subjects are better than science textbooks IMO. Here's what it lists to do for 1st grade Science: Unit 1: Living things and their envirnments A. Habitats (Food Chain and what animals live in what sort of homes (ie dens, trees, underground) B. Oceans and Undersea Life ~most of the earth is covered with water ~locate oceans ~Salt Water ~Coast, waves, shore, high and low tides ~Currents, the Gulf Stream (I plan to wahtch finding Nemo for part of this... the East Austrailian Current LOL) ~Landscape of Ocean Floor ~Diversity of ocean life (Plankton to giant whales) ~Dangers to Ocean life (over pollution, Oil Spills etc.) C. Envirnmental change and Habitat destruction (Rainforest clearing, pollution, litter) D. Special Classifications of Animals (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore and extinct animals) Unit 2: Human Body A. Body Systems (the names of each system and basic parts of them ie Skeletal System: Skeleton, Bones, Skull) B. Germs, Diseases, Preventing Illness (Vaccinations, exercise, nutrition etc.) Unit 3 Matter (Atoms, Solids, liquid, Gas) Unit 4 Measurement (length, Volume and Temperature) Unit 5 Intro to Electricity (Static, Circuits, Conductive/Nonconductive, safety rules) Unit 6 Intro to Astronomy (Sun, moon, Planets, stars, orbit of earth, sunrise/sunset) Unit 7 the Earth A. Geographical Features (Shape, oceans and continents, Poles) B. Inside the earth (layers, Voalcanos, Rocks and minerals) Unit 8 Biographies: Rachel Carson, Thomas Edison, Edward Jenner, Louis Pasteur Also Kinder had: 1 Plants 2 animals needs (food, offspring like parents, some animal babies cared for by parent etc) 3. Human Body (5 senses, Caring for your body) 4. Intro to Magnetism (familiar Uses and know what they will and will not stick to) (I gave the kids here magnets and had them run arund the house seeing where they'ed stick they loved that!) 5. Seasons and Weather 6. Taking Care of the Earth (Conservation, Recycleing, pollution) 7. Biographies: George Washington Carver, Jane Goodall, Wilbur and Orville Wright
Here are some science experiments to get you started. I will share more with you or anybody else that sends me an e mail and request science ideas. I love science experiments. I have a weather paragraph booklet and a short activity that goes with each. A maze, and etc. It is neat. some experiments. a rock lesson, you make edible rocks, rice crispes, layers of the earth Snicker candy bar and a hard boiled egg, Cut a hard boiled egg in half. Put a red hot candy in the center of the yolk = core and yolk, white and leave the shell on that is the crust. Tornado get a connecting piece at teacher store. Connect two big pop bottles together and it really looks like a tonado. The piece is cheap less than two dollars when I bought ours. I have a bunch of discovery bottles. That one is simple you just wad up a piece of foil and put in the bottle, it doesn't really look like a true tornado. Volanco = Melt choc chips = rocks, and this is hot lava and put the lava in the refrigerator and it gets hard and break it up into rocks. Plants Stems take a piece of celery with the leaves. Divide the stem in half. Put half in a clear glass with dark red water make with food coloring and the other with dark blue and you watch the water getting from the roots to the leaves of plants. Look at the bottom of the stem that is in the water and you can see the cells .... Grow a sweet potato in water. Watch the roots, stems and leaves develop. Next plant it in the garden or flower bed or a large pot of dirt. They make pretty house plants. After several months the plant will die and you dig up the roots and they have gotten big and formed new sweet potatoes. You boil them and when soft. peel them and put butter, marshmellows and some brown sugar on them. Oh, so yummy to eat. You can buy an extra sweet potato at the store and cook one and grow one to start the lesson. I have skeleton booklet also that I will share. Tell me science first grade when you get back with me...
I used a combo of Christian Liberty Press Science, Mailbox Magazine's Lifesavor Lessons for Science, and lots of insect studies and science experiments. I will be doing something different with ds. He'll be considered K this Fall. I am doing some little theme studies using a great set of science picture books that I found. I will add in some experiments and activities to go along with these. I'm not sure what I will really use for first grade for him. I may go with a combo thing again.
Look out!!!! I was cleaning and tossing some things - scary thought! Anyway... Have you looked into the Weekly Reader Science Spin. We got the magazine along with our regular WR but...they also send me this order form for some student practice books. They are in color and look real nice. I have no idea how much they cost but...they offer 2 for grades 1-2 and 2 for grades 3-4. www.weeklyreader.com/science 1.800.446.3355
I love those Science Spins. I also have seen the little booklets. I haven't looked into getting them yet though.
