I could use some input re: science curriculums for my 3rd grader and 1st grader. I used Christian Liberty for 1st grade, did my own thing last year, but would like something concrete this year as I don't trust myself quite enough to cover what they need to know. I'm considering NOEO and REAL science. Any thoughts?
Well, this year we are going to try something a little different. I have decided to kind of do themes for science. I went through the curriculum for our state for K and 4th and wrote down everything we needed to study. Surprisingly, those grades, eventhough very far apart, study a lot of the same topics. I then found a set of books (2 sets) that covers most everything. I also have some teacher resource books that provide lessons, experiments and worksheets for the themes we will study. It sounds like it will be fun. It certainly took some planning and will require more time than the usual workbook/textbook, but I'm hoping it will be more fun. We have used Christian Liberty Press and Scott Foresman. I also like to throw in lots of experiments and creature studies. I haven't used NOEO and Real Science though. Sorry!
I have considered real science for my 4th grader. Isn't that the one that teaches chemistry and physics on an elementary school level? I haven't made a final decision on that one yet but it sounds so cool!!!
Here are my suggestions. I have purchased the kit on birds. "Home Science Adventures from Stratton House" I think this one looks excellent. I purchased just the bird kit on ebay very inexpensively. http://www.homeschoolscience.com/homeschool_science/curriculum.html Exploring Creation with Zoology. This is for elementary age children. I believe these books were written with the intention of being used with a wide range of elementary aged children in a homeschool family. I think they are geared more towards the older set of elementary age and unless you have a range of ages to use it with, including some older children, say ages 10 - 12 or so, I would recommend using something geared more for a younger child. For example, if you are teaching a child age 6 or 7 without older siblings, I would look for something less advanced. However, if you have a 5 or 6 year old AND older children also, this looks like it would be ideal to use at the same time with a range of ages. I will use it for my main text and ad in anything the Stratton House set has that it does not(if there is anything). But you do not really need both. One or the other is fine. I had not seen this before I purchased the Stratton House kit. http://www.christianbook.com/Christ...tp_id=388768&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW#details I have found a couple of field guides for birds from the Goodwill to go along with our studies and we also look on the internet regularly to try to identify the birds we see coming to our bird feeder. Today we saw a Lazuli Bunting, Black Capped Chickadee, Stellar Jays, and some others. The Stellar Jays like to pick up the peanuts we throw on the ground that are for animals - not roasted and no salt added. The peanuts also attract a Raccoon at night. http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ages?q=lazuli+bunting&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&sa=G The photo of the Lazuli Bunting looks like a bird we saw at our feeder today.
My kids are ages 6, 10, and 12. We started "Considering God's Creation" with all three a year and a half ago. It has worked very well for us, though some of the "cut and paste" are too complicated for little hands. But it's easily "tweaked". It has really helped me in my (up 'til then) haphazard way of doing science. This year, my oldest will be starting Apologia on her own, and my younger two will be doing two "Great Science Adventures" by Dinah Zike together. Apologia also has some units for elementary children that I'm told are very good!
Jackie, One I listed above is from Apologia, "Exploring Creation with Zoology" It can be purchased at cbd.com for a discount. Here is the Apologia link to the series. http://www.highschoolscience.com/ In the left hand column click on "elementary science".
I just ordered Exploring Creation with Astronomy... I read the sample pages from the website and wanted to read the book myself. LOL I've heard really good stuff about the series (Zoology, Botny etc) too.
thanks for all the thoughts! I've heard of most of these through tons of time going through my bazillion catalogs and good old google. Everything always sounds great - just need to figure out what will fit me. I don't want anything that requires too much prep on my part, thus my interest in NOEO. It seems to be ready-to-go, but not "cheesy" (or "fluffy" if that's better!). Just wondering if my assessment is on target or not.
the science that i have found and really enjoy is actually free. I got it from msnucleus.org it's pretty cool has science covered from k-6 and they are working on secondary science at the moment..... You still have to get materials to do the experiments but they aren't too hard to come up with. My oldest loves it a lot. He isn't too fond of anything to do with school but always wants to do his science. it's cool
Syele, I have purchased Exploring Creation with Zoology,Botany, and Astronomy and was having a hard time deciding which one to do first. I finally decided on Zoology 1 Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day because we have been informally studying birds anyway. We have a birdfeeder that is attracting a lot of different types of birds. The other ones in the series look so good too that I want to do them. Too bad there is only so much time in a day. :lol:
Syele, Have you seen the notebook pages on pdf you can print out for the Exploring Creation series ? They correspond with the notebook assignments in the text. They provide a place for the children to draw their illustrations and write their narrations. They are available on the Apologia website. To find them click on the Elementary Science link on the left hand column of the Apologia homepage. Then click on the notebook link under the textbook you want. http://www.highschoolscience.com/ Syele, There are also kits available of the supplies needed for the experiments/activities. The kits can be purchased at www.creationsensation.com/ http://www.creationsensation.com/MuseumStore/apologiasciencemain.htm
I looked at the site for NOEO science. It looks really interesting. I haven't seen it in person or used it but it looks very appealing on the site. I do have some of the books they use with it. We used a lot of Usborne books when my older children were younger.
Let me know what you think of Apologia's stuff for the younger kids! I might be interested in it next year. If you want schedules for the older Apologia stuff, Donna Young has them posted on her site. I just copied off her schedule for General Science. I can assign Rachael a modual every two weeks, and give her the schedule for it so she can stay on track.
Apologia Elementary Jackie, How young of children are you thinking of ? I will be using "Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day" with my 10 year old daughter. Some of the terminology used in the text may be too much for her. I am hoping it doesn't cause her to loose interest by boring her. If I see that happening I will just have to adjust how I present the material. In my opinion this book is too advanced for a child any younger than about 4th or 5th grade. Of course, that can depend on how the material is presented and what is expected of the child. I do think there is an advantage to using this type of book with more than one child because the older children will be challenged by the more advanced terminology and the younger one's will still enjoy and learn from the activities. You can also decide what to read to the younger one's and what to have them skip or even find short sections from other materials to use for the younger one's to cover certain information. Each family is different and can adjust these materials to meet their needs. My opinion is just based on having read some of the material in "Exploring Creation with Zoology 1". We have not used these materials yet. I tend to view materials I purchase as "resources" to be used the way I need or want to use them, rather than programs that are dictating to me all of the information and activities I must do with and teach my child.
I was just coming here to recommend them as well. We had a great year of science when we used them. We did birds, magnetism and astronomy. They include everything you need and it's great for a variety of ages.
Thanks for the tips. I have seen the kits as well as the workbook pages but I'm waiting for money for the kit and a working printer for the workbook I plan to take a whole year or more to get through the book because Sami is small. I also plan to read it to her. The lesson I read didn't seem to have hard vocabulary for her to understand but that dosn't mean it won't have it. If it's too advanced for even this method I'll just save it for another year or so.
Syele, When I was speaking of some advanced vocabulary I was referring to the Zoology book. Are all of the books written on the same level ? I do not know. I am wondering if they are a little more advanced as you go through them. Do they intend you to start with the first one in the series or are they to be used in any order ? Here are a few of the examples of advanced vocabulary I am seeing. Lepidoptera,phylum Chordata,Binonial Nomenclature,passerines,Passeriformes. On one page it says "This patagium was reinforced with stretchy fibers called actinofibrillae (act' in lh fib' ruh lay), which were spaced very close together. ...... But this is not the level of the vocabulary of most of the text so perhaps overall it will be fine for all of the ages the book is intended for.
OH! That sounds way to technical for me!!! I've really enjoyed doing history and science together. "Considering God's Creation" is a little too technical for my youngest, but easily adapted. And it was very good for my older two. I know my youngest did get something out of it. He may not use "Photosynthesis" in a sentence, but when my dad said something about putting "plant food" on the newly planted flowrers, he replied with, "Oh, no, Grandpa! Plants make thier own food from the sun!" So he understands the concept! How hands-on is it?
Jackie, I have been looking at these books and really like them so far. My kids are ds-11 and dd-9...do you have any other pro's or cons you could share with me on this? How extensive are the "experiments" that you do? What kind of material do you have to buy for the experiments? Thanks in advance for any info you can share with me!
Missy, where did you get the list for state? And is it simply written or was it in minutes like our old one was? Re Science, we have used Alpha Omega for ever, it has some fun experiments, but USborn books has some great science books too! I know someone here is connected with them for sure! My Mother in Law send us some and we like to read up on some of the space stuff and other things bugs are a big thing with 3rd graders as well as how a brain works hahah! My kids know how a flower is recreating more flowers, and the difference between fruit and vegies by the end of 3rd too. They can explain how a plant gets food from the soil and that it drinks in sunshine too! They have also learned aobut how plants make our air better. There are some books out there that come in Magazine form too! and Magic School bus videos are great for learning about things on a kid level with lots of info! Again check into PBS libraries! Whoo Hoo! TM
