I am interested in using Apologia Elem. Science. However, I am just wanting to read it and not do the journaling or notebook. So would it be enough to just read through it or do you need to more than that? Also, do you need to do them in order 1-6 or can you skip around? TIA
You do not need to do them in any order. We are using Swimming Creatures this year with our co-op. You do not need the journal but I really like it. We chose the jr. journal since it is not quite as intense. Since it looks like your ds will on be in first grade I would say you could skip it.
This blog has a really neat unit on human anatomy - based on the Apologia book. My 6yo and 4 yo are doing it right now. We are using her resources, and have bought an elementary anatomy colouring book, but we didn't buy the Apologia book this time. But I'm thinking of using one of their books next year. Thought you might find the link interesting anyway. Blessings,
We did Astronomy last year and Zoology 1 this year. We haven't used the journals but we have made our own notebook pages and drawings for a few things if my sons were in the mood. We also do several, but not all, of the activities. You definitely don't need the journal if you don't want to use it. You can go in any order you choose. We really enjoy Apologia and are sticking with it for next year as well.
We're working through the last book now (out of order... doing Botany). You can certainly just read them. You don't have to do anything else. You'll probably find that you want to, though! (Especially the chocolate one in Astronomy! LOL)
Alexis read them all.... refused to do "paperwork" on them - but would talk NON-STOP about them! Worked for her and she was even able to tell her PS teacher last year she was wrong about something based on what she "tangented" off too (pink dolphins) forgot to say - she read by "mood" no logic to her thinking as far as I could see!
We love Apologia. You don't need the journals, we keep our own so it's truly their work inside. You don't have to use in order.
We use Apologia. We started with flying creatures since that's where my son's interests were. We didn't use the notebook for that book as he took it with co-op and they did their own 'notebooking' which was not based on the Apologia notebook. I did however buy the notbook for it. Now we have swimming creatures and the Jr Notebook-AWESOME! Great for kids who don't like to write as much. Notebooking isn't needed, but we really like it. But I honestly see no reason you couldn't do it on your own if the money is an issue. I bought the 1st notebook because it was our first year and I thought we needed it for co-op, but we didn't, so it didnt' get used (So I'm saving it for 2nd kid) I did however really want the Jr Notebook this year so we got it.
Can you all share info about the jr journals please?! I'm going to be placing an order for our books soon and not sure if I should get the journal. I was planning on it, but now I'm not so sure!
The Jr Journal are for lower elementary grades or for kids who don't like to write as much, there are many coloring pages (which works well for us because I often try to print out a coloring page related to what we are reading or hand my kids a blank page to draw about what we are reading-I find it helps them focus on the reading, keeps their hands busy, their moths closed and ears open plus it helps with recall later.) Jr notebooks also use penmanship lines. Very few cross word puzzles where as the regular notebooks seem to be heavy on those. It's just for younger kids really. My 2nd grader and my prek/k both use the Jr notebook. Being as how my oldest hates to write, I'd probably go with a Jr notebook again next year if it's available for what ever science we go with next year. (if memory serves, not all of the books in the series have Jr notebooks available yet.) I would venture to guess if your child is on grade level with reading/writing skills and it isn't like pulling teeth to get them to do a worksheet that Jr notebooks would be ideal for up to 2nd grade then switch to regular notebooks in 3rd grade...
Since we did Swimming Creatures as an additional Science this year we choose the jr journal (dd is 3rd grade). The lines for writing were much to big for her (she complained) and there was not always enough space to write what she wanted to. What I did to solve the problem was to just draw over the dotted line so it created smaller spaces and more lines to use. The book then was just what we needed.
Thanks! I was wondering if the journal, jr or regular journal was needed at all, though I do see how coloring/activity pages would help in learning!
