I think I am becoming a curriculum collector! LOL! I now have purchased several science curriculums for use with my ds6 (and ds4 --as possible). I originally bought the Konos curriculum. I love the concept, the activities and the format -- but not the time requirement. So, decided to drop that until the boys are older and I'm more organized. *wink* Next, I purchased "Scientists Apprentice" and "Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space". Neither of which I have begun to use. Now, I am leaning towards Lapbooking..... All of this to say --- HELP!!!!!! I am ready to get serious about covering the science material in an organized, unit-type manner. I do read them science books (bugs, snakes, reptiles, etc.) and we watch educational shows, but they are BEGGING on a daily basis to do science school work! And I am not naturally a science-type person, so I can't just "wing-it". My goal is to pick a curriculum (or at least a unit theme), gather my supplies -- have the lessons basically spelled out for me, and run with it. We live in a rural area, so I can't make last minute trips to the store. Well, I could, but they would have NOTHING I needed. Anyone have suggestions for the best way to approach science with these ages (They are asking for more than nature walks, books, etc. We live on a ranch and have a ranching lifestyle, so they get alot of that naturally.) Sorry for rambling, but I'm throwing out all the info so you will know what I have/have not done. I guess I'm basically wanting someone to just tell me what to do! I now have TOO many choices available to me! Thanks.
When ds was 6 I bought Christian Liberty Press's science for 1st grade. It can be used as a write-in text, but we wrote our answers on separate paper to be able to use it again. I liked how it focused on different aspects of God's Creation. It was very inexpensive, was very bright with color photos, and ds loved it. When ds was a bit older and little Kindergarten/1st grade sister was learning with us, I used Considering God's Creation. Can't remember the publisher. Again, it went through the days of Creation first and then expounded on the science involved with the aspects of each day. Both kids loved it. It is designed to be used with multiple age levels. Both curricula (ums???) I shared have each lesson mapped out pretty well for you to pick it up and run with it. Considering God's Creation is much more hands-on with projects to do for every lesson. Both are a very good value.
The only thing I've used is Apologia Young Explorers. I love it, but I don't know if you would or not. We're doing a book per semester, so we've just finished astronomy, and we'll be moving into zoology next. There are 6 books (well, the 6th is being written now), so doing them on a semester basis means we can finish all 6 of them twice before starting middle school. My oldest is 4 and he's doing great. They're written so that any elementary level student can use them at their own level. We're using them as an intro this time around and will go more in depth next time around. Next time, it'll be an intro for my youngest (at the same time as my oldest, but more in depth for him). They're good for sibling use, they're reusable, etc. Again, not sure if that's what you're looking for, but I've found that they require very little prep time, and I know that older children can do them almost entirely on their own if necessary.
I was going to recommend Considering God's Creation. There's not too much pre planning to do, the lessons, etc are pretty spelled out with suggestions for further activity. My recommendation would be to buy a workbook for each child, that way you don't have to copy them! And you CAN really stretch it to two or three years and delve deeply into each area with books, etc. if you want.
Christian Light has a first grade, in five workbooks, which are very easy to use, and you can supplement with lots of books, coloring pictures found on the internet, etc. www.clp.org.
What I like to do is get a science textbook (I have a place online that I buy them for $10... let me know if you're interested and I'll find the link...I think it's textbookheaven.com) Then I like to combine the chapter with lapbooking. For example if we're reading about animal food chains... Then we'll read the chapter and I'll search online for a food chain lapbook. Most of the time you can find stuff to include in the lapbook online if not an entire lapbook already laid out for you. This approached worked best for us because for past years my ds had been very uninterested in just the reading part. We could go over a chapter and he would not remember anything by tomorrow. The lapbooking helped him remember a lot more. (like the time we had finished up a body systems one and weeks later were watching t.v. and he proudly proclaimed..."look mommy, that looks just like our intestines) We haven't been able to use that approach this year because my time has been cut drastically short. So I'm still using the texts but it seems that this year they're retaining a bit more (3rd grade). Best of luck with whatever you decide!
There have been several good threads on science curriculum. Here are some of them! http://homeschoolspot.com/showthread.php?t=19493&highlight=science+curriculum http://homeschoolspot.com/showthread.php?t=20297&highlight=science+curriculum I have used the "Good Science" Curriculum from ICR. It is intended for K - 3 or 4 - 6 grades, but you can stretch it either direction. It is entirely hands-on experiments with equipment you have right in your house or that is very easily attainable. It did come with a very small kit of some wires, etc. It is no longer available, but I picked one up on eBay very reasonably priced and totally complete, including the kit! It was the best science I ever did with my kids! It came in a 3-ring binder and had a video with it. The one I picked up had a workbook, softcover bound book (instead of the 3-ring binder), the vhs tape and the little "kit". This was the K-3 edition. I also loved the science kits in a box. They come with everything you need for several experiments on a subject, like light, the solar system, rocks and minerals, etc. They are still available if you google. I found some and posted them in that other thread, if you are interested in these. They also take only household ingredients. One box takes a month or so and is only about 10 dollars. I think the ones I found were from Ein-O or some such place. I just googled "science in a box".
I'm going to disagree with CGC. Yes, it's a great curriculum. I went through it in two years, and was pleased with it. BUT!!! Wait until your child is a bit older. There's LOTS of very tedious cut-and-paste in it, way too much to use with a first grader. Now, if you're using it with older kids and you've a younger one, that's fine. But not one that young alone. My kids were grades 3, 5, and K. I had a workbook for my older two, and then copied pages for the younger (since I decided from the beginning that I would pick and chose the pages my younger one did). Also, I found that a lot of the tedious cutting goes better if you copy them enlarged, and possibly on tag board (aka card stock!). But over all, the curriculum worked very well for me. I am using "Scientist's Apprentice" this year for a science co-op. Phillip just turned 10, Sean will be 10 soon, and Charlie is 7. Oh, and Quinn is 4. He wanders in and out, and joining in when he wants (like when we made the volcano, lol!). I'm using the book more as a spine, and adding a lot to it. I've got the boys for about 2 hours on Friday mornings. It would be a good choice for a first grader! I ABSOLUTELY HATED "Christian Kids Explore Biology"!!! There was very little substance to it!
Good points, Jackie, on CGC. My dd5 was very crafty, so she LOVED the cutting and pasting...and probably didn't get a whole lot out of the lesson material itself. :lol:
I know I JUST answered another post with this same link and I am a homschooling noob ... but science is an incredibly important topic in regards to our children's understanding of God's creation. Answers in Genesis not only teaches about creation but helps give the child the information he/she needs to go into the world and refute those around them who say that their beliefs are wrong. It provides very strong scientific proofs for biblical truths. Much is free but there are dvds that I highly recommend as well as links to other curricula sites. I can't yet post URLs ... but if you go to the Answers in Genesis website ... click on Education and poke around in there a bit. You will likely find just what you are looking for. Astronomy, Chemistry, Geology, Evolution ... hope this helps.
