I still can not decide what to do for 2nd grade science!

I've finally made up my mind on the other subjects but can not for the life of me decide what to get Gracie for science. I have looked into Real Science for Kids and Neo Science but I am on a tight budget and can't afford that. I was set to do CLE for science but after really looking at it I wonder if it is enough. Tomorrow I am placing my order for CLE's reading and LA and more than likely social studies but I need to figure this science thing out. Do the rest of you have the same problem being indecisive over curriculum or is it just me?

 

I've had a TERRIBLE time!! I finally decided on Ellen McHenry's "The Elements" for science, but that might be a little advanced for a 2nd grader.

 

I have more trouble figuring out what to do for the lower grades, K, 1, and 2, more than from 3 on up. Is it enough? Is it too much? Will it need supplementation? What kind? Yadayadayada...

For second grade I kind of like the CLASS (Christian Liberty) science. It's easy to do, you just read a couple of pages and discuss, sometimes there are activities you can do or not, it's easy to supplement if you want to, but if you look at what public/private schools do for first and second grades, there really isn't a whole lot there that can't be piicked up in the higher grades. Even just reading lots of library books (fiction and nonfiction) would be sufficient. But the CLASS one follows the days of Creation, and there are little review activities (like a worksheet) if you want to do that, and there are little tests you can give if you need stuff like that for documentation... and it's colorful... and very inexpensive!

 

Have you looked at Mcruffy Press's science??? I just bought the K and can't wait to get it!

 

I agree with McRuffy, if you have already looked into Noeo and RSK you will like McRuffy.

 

We worked through a series of Usborne "Science with..." books for 2nd grade. They were really fun! Here's an Amazon link to some of them, so you can see what they look like.

 

oh, there there is also http://www.elementalscience.com/ I have heard good things about it also.

 

Thanks ladies for the suggestions and links. I was going to place orders today but decided to wait until I found exactly what I want in all subjects so I don't end up paying more shipping if I do order it all from CLE. Now I have more time to browse! Gosh I hope I choose the right thing.

 

I can't remember if anyone has already brought this up, but what about apologia?

 

I am using Apologia this year for both my 1st grader and 3rd grader and we love it! We plan to continue to use it.

 

I found the Christian Kids explore series, and that's what I'm using next year for science. We are going to do the Earth and Space one, but there's tons of them...http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=1655449&sp=1016 you can view samples there and see what you think. I really liked the layout.

 

Holy moly I think I actually have a plan!

Well ladies I had a complete plan for 2nd grade with the exception of science. Then I went looking at curriculum and my entire plan went out the window! I began to change things here and then there and now I have actually got a full 2nd grade plan that I am totally happy with!!!:lol:

So here it goes and I would love feedback.....................

Year 2 - Book List​

　
　
　
Writing
Copywork – (M)poetry, (T)literature, (W)Bible, (TH)history (none of Friday)

Language Arts
Christian Light Education

Reading
CLE – *Helping Hands reader, Light Units 201 – 205, Teacher’s Guide
** Happy Hearts reader, Light Units 206 – 210, Teacher’s Guide

Poetry (library)
*Walter De La Mare
**Eugene Field
**James Whitcombe Riley
***Paul Revere's Ride Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
***Sing Song Christina Rossetti

Literature (free time fun reading with mom throughout the year)
Understood Betsy – by Dorothy Fisher
The Courage of Sarah Noble
The Wind in the Willows
Pollyanna
Black Beauty
Wizard of Oz
Heidi
Pied Pipe of Hamlin
Little House on the Prairie
Farmer Boy
Mary Poppins
Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales
　
　
Natural History/Science
Christian Light Education
Magic School Bus books
　

American History
(Explorers - Pilgrims 1629 )
This Country Of Ours by H.E. Marshall
A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla
If you Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern
Pocahontas by D’Aulaire
Squanto, Friend of Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla
North American Indians by Gorsline

Student Notebook – "My America" – includes history copywork, drawn narration, maps

<U>Sections

• </U>
• Explorers, Colonies
• Colonies, Revolutionary War
• A New Nation, Civil War, Growth of America

<U>Maps

• </U>
• 13 Colonies
• Map of Civil War
• Blank US Map

The notebook will be fairly simple and kept in a 3 ring binder. It will be similar to a Book of Centuries only for a younger child and just for US History. This book will be added to over the next 3 years.

I order tomorrow! Woo Hoo! I am really excited about this. I love having an actual plan. Oh yes and math is missing because we already have begun 2nd grade math. We got a big fat workbook for 2nd grade from Sam's.

So whatch think?

 

looks good!

 

Sounds good to me

 

I'm so excited I get to order this morning!! I went over this with my husband last night, not to get approval or anything because he doesn't care what I use, but just because I was excited to have the plane laid out and excited about the curriculum and he was amussed at how excited buying curriculum made me. I haven't bought anything in a long time.

I decided to go with CLE science becuase I want to keep somewhat of a CM feel and this science is heavy on animals and nature. I was going to go with CLE for history but it is a social studies proram that focuses on community and families and I want her to have a better historical background. I've now got a four year plan ladi out for history and in the 4th year we will also add Texas history. I loved teaching TX history to dd13 a few years back.

 

Boy Tiff you must be excited... you have a plane laid out in your house!!! I did hear about a plane crashing into a house in TX the other day... little did I know it was YOUR house!! How cool!!

Sorry couldn't resist

 

Oh... did you cover the American Indians already? Don't forget them, they were here before the Explorers

 

Or don't use any"thing" at all. Just read library books and maybe do some simple household experiments that again could probably be found in a library book. She won't have to cover everything right now, it will be covered again later. Plus, it may be too much for some kids to do so much "school" type work.

 

I did it!

I placed the orders! One to CLE and one to Amazon. Yippee!

Until the orders arrive we are doing math, reading Little House on the Prairie and doing a short unit on alligators. Ps is out here for spring break in a couple of weeks and I'm thinking of taking the kids to a local state park to view some gators. I'm also thinking of booking a couple of nights in one of the screened shelters and camping out provided it isn't going to be too horribly cold. Dh won't be able to go because of work but I think a girls trip would be fun.

 

Sounds like a blast!

You know, I had so much fun picking and planning for next year.. yesterday I bought, and now I'm like what do I do now? I love the hunt for the right thing!