Considering God's Creation vs. Apologia Elementary Science

I'm trying to plan for next year, and getting ready to go to PA's convention in a few weeks. Both of these science curriculums look good.
So, I'm hoping for some opinions- both good and bad- so I have something to go on.
(Jackie~ I know you use CGC, so tell me all about it- what you love, etc. Thanks!)

 

Heidi..

I wasn't sure which subject you were interested in ..

I have not used CGC, but have used Apologia's Exploring Creation through Astronomy this year.

We absolutely loved it..The book is beautiful and the activities easy to use since its most of the things you have at home. ...The book can easily be read by a fourth grader. The text and overall appearance is so pleasing.

The only thing for me is the young earth view that I don't agree with. But on the other hand it is hard to find something with an old earth view.I did find one...But i like the books so well, i can tweak anything :lol: Ms. Fullbright who wrote these also just came out with another called Exploring Creation through zoology.So that makes three that she has, ie. botany, astronomy and zoology.

Or were you talking about Apologia's exploring creation through general science for 7th or 8th graders? I had that book too, and it looked good. I just sold it since i won't need it for a while :wink:

We are doing chemistry next year..and i found one for that looks good by Gravitas. www.gravitaspublication.com.

Also, a homeschooler science teacher has a series that I still want to try called My World Science. www.myworldscience.com

Oh well, probably more than you wanted to know :lol:

Which subject were you considering?

Blessings
Tina

 

Tina~
I was actually considering the Apologia (elementary- not sure which subject). Then, I happened along Considering God's Creation, and it looked good too. SO, I wanted opinions on both.

What I really want is something I can use with both girls for next year. Ashley will be in 6th grade and Gracie in 1st. What are your thoughts on that?

Thanks,

 

Heidi..

I still yet to get my hands on CGC, but I heard it was good too.

I guess the reason I went with Apologia is that its so pleasing as far as text and pictures, in addition to all the experiments/activities to be done are things that most of us have around the house anyway. Of course not to mention how beautiful they bring out the scriptures to give honor where it is due :wink:

I'm waffling on the one about doing science with both girls with that much of an age spread. I find it gets harder each year. I found it hard this year with my 4th grader and 2nd grader. My 4th grader can do so much more and should be too,kwim? The way I made it work for us was by reading the material together, but I made my oldest keep a science journal as well. I would give him vocabulary words after each lesson and he would have to write them out on index cards. Then the next day or two, he would match them for review.

In addition, this year I will have to use some of Calvert's science alongside our chemistry because we will be moving by the end of this month, then rebuilding a new home. So for the next year, or so I will have to use some things from our boxed curriculum to cut down on my lesson planning that I so enjoy.

One thing, I did notice about Calvert's 4th grade and up 5th and 6th grade is that they are covering like 17 or more pages when they do science twice a week :shock:

The first lesson is like covering the material, the second lesson day that you choose in the week is like the experiments. I know that in 4th g rade and up they are really using the microscope a lot and learning that function.

So for this next year, I am really having a hard time deciding because I feel like I didn't give my oldest enough science. Some other things I learned about how to really expand it for that oldest one is to give her science compositions to write as well.

I think the Apologia will strike a nice middle ground for your 1st and 6th grader. I see some things that your first grader will need help on doing, and your 6th grader needing to expand on what they are saying.

For example, when we did the chapter on each planet, I had him write a composition in addition the science activities they were doing.

I guess to sum it up, I think the Apologia strikes a happy middle ground since it is written on a 4th grade reading level. My second grader and my Prek was even able to understand. Some of the activities are so easy for the younger to do..

Like when we melted chocolate with a magnifying glass by the heat of the sun. I made my oldest list the materials, illustrate what he did, form a hypothesis and then prove it true or false.

So I think between that, the activities they have in the book, helping his younger brothers, doing vocabulary words and writing some science compositions in between he got more out of it.

I want to do some chemistry next year with them and that is written on like 5th grade level, but still 1,2,3 explanations so that my middle one can somewhat keep up.

I think its important on whatever you get, to be sure and find out the reading level. Because some science curriculums say for 1st to 4th grade but that means YOU doing most of the reading or teaching. I guess thats why I enjoy the Apologia series because my oldest was able to read it.

All I can say is that I have EXTREMELY PLEASED :wink: with its appearance, simplicity, ease of use and user friendliness.....

Have you been able to get your hands on both of them to compare?

Blessings
Tina

 

Ashley's the same age as Rachael, then, right? Rachael will be 11 soon. We started CGC right around Christmas. I'm planning on finishing it next year. I really like it as an overview of science. Of course, any of the topics you could do a whole year's worth on if you really wanted to! I figure by the time Rachael's done with it, she'll be ready to start into Apologia. Are you planning on doing both your girls, or just Ashley? I'm doing both mine, and Phillip is joining us for some stuff. He's listening in, and I copy some of the notebook pages that I feel are approriate for him. The vocabulary include the Greek/Latin roots in the definitions, which I find useful. (I'm big on identifying the roots!) I make Rachael keep a glossary of all the terms we're using in her notebook, copying them directly from my Teacher's book. I also like the "Evolution Buster" section, that disproves Evolution. Sometimes I think the Bible Study stretches things a bit, but they are interesting and good, just the same. Over all, I've been pleased with it. Very little prep needs to go into it.

 

Tina & Jackie~

Thanks for your input. No, Tina, I haven't been able to actually "see" either curriculum yet. I am going to a used curriculum sale on the 30th and to our state's convention on May 6th and 7th. So, I'm looking forward to being able to see them both and check them out. I just wanted some feedback from those of you who are using either curriculum.

I know my girls are pretty far apart in age. They really don't get along that great, and I was kinda hoping that if we worked together on a few subjects- like science and history- that maybe working together would help them to bond a bit! LOL Anyway, Gracie is really smart and picks up on everything after the 1st time of being told, so I think she'll enjoy whatever it is we choose to do. And, I am planning on incorporating alot more notebooking into our schooling for this coming year, so I will definitely want to give Ashley more things to research and write about to include in her notebook.

Keep the ideas and feedback coming, ladies! Anyone else is welcome to jump in.
Thanks,
Heidi

 

Hey Heidi you should have told me you were interested in Considering Gods Creation. We used that this year. You could have looked at my stuff. Remind me on the 30th. That is a good one to pick up used at the sales. I got mine last yr used for $2!! The entire set!
Coincidently we are using Apologia next year for Elle, Alex, and Blaze.
We'll talk girl!! :wink:

 

$2

$2 for the set. Boy ya must have a great sale to attend. Do you all have loads of homeschoolers up that way?

 

Crystal~
Oh my gosh- I should have just asked you first! Duh! Have you gotten your Apologia for next year yet? You're probably going with one of the high school books, though, right? I was considering using one of the elementary ones for next year, so that I could incorporate it for both girls. Did you like CGC this year? Did you use it for all the kids?

I'm impressed with that $2 price tag! Can't wait for the sale!!!

 

Yes, Lorna we do have lots of homeschoolers. From what I read, my county has the largest hsing population in PA.

Yes, Heidi I am going with the Middle School Apologia. I am getting it when we go to the convention so we can check out the stand together. I have heard many good things about it.
The CGC (which I like very much) set I got was at the sale we are going to on the 30th so we can keep our eyes open for another!!

 

How many kids are you using it with, Crystal? Next year at this time, I'll be wanting an update on the Apologia!

 

books

It would be worth buying it and then sale it on this site. You may could make a few dollars. I am sure you could get your money back.

 

Lorna~
Too bad I'm a curriculum/book junkie! Once I have the stuff, I find it very difficult to part with it (unless I absolutely did not like it).
You know, I don't even like borrowing books from the library- I'd much prefer to have them for my very own!
What can I say?!

 

CGC I used for three of my kids. Apologia I havent used yet, we are starting that next yr and it will be for my 8th graders. Exploring Creation with General Science is what I will be using for them. I have also used Real Science for kids which I like. I know it is probably easier to use the same thing for all my kids and I did do that the first yr or two that I homeschooled, but they seem to be moving in such different directions right now and with the different ages I will probably continue to use different things. We also attend a co-op and some of the kids take science classes there. I really like science, now history is a totally different subject. :?

 

Heidi, I am like you. I love books and find it hard to part with any of them. I feel like you never know when you might use it again. You and I will be in heaven at the used sales - they have many books and at really great prices!

 

A heaven full of books?! Aaahhhhh, I can't wait!

Crystal~ I wish we lived just a bit closer. You know what? I don't really care much for science, but I absolutely love history! LOL (We could combine and teach what we enjoy!)

 

I know that would be great if we were closer. What do you use for history?

 

This year we did/are doing Abeka's Old World History & Geography. It's ok. It's kinda funny because I remember doing that book in 6th grade- I had just started at the Christian School that year. Anyway, we found my old book up in the attic and have enjoyed comparing the two. I mean, it's been almost 25 years; but still, how much can history change in 25 years?!

For next year, I'm just going to piece together my own American History program. I have several different books we're going to use. I want to make it so that both girls can do it, and I'll just have Ashley reading more and doing more writing and research, etc. We'll focus alot of the presidents and the states.

What I'm really interested in seeing is Mystery of History. I think it sounds like a great program, and I would like to see that- thinking about starting that the following year.

 

Boy, I wish I lived in PA I wish I could find a sale like that, that would be wonderful.
Maybe Tina and She knows of good one down here.
Good luck ladies have lots of hunting and shopping thats the fun part. :lol:

 

That was me- don't know if I'm having sign-on problems again or if I forgot to sign in!