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Science program a 9 year old can do (mostly) independently?


Heather R
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I'm looking for a science program that my 9.5 year old dd could complete mostly on her own.  Life has been a little crazy since we added our newest son from Ethiopia in August and we haven't done anything for Science this year.  She is missing it and I would like to get her something she can work at on her own.  In recent years we have done REAL Science Biology, Apologia Astronomy, our own weather unit, and random science books and field trips.  

 

She is a strong reader and an average-for-grade writer.  She wants something with experiments.  I am willing to help her gather basic supplies, but a kit would be great for the obscure items.  I'd prefer something with a living books approach, but wouldn't rule out a well-written textbook.  

 

I looked at NOEO, probably Chemistry 2.  My hesitation is the use of the Young Scientist Club kits, as we have the space set (11) and were not impressed with the quality.  But maybe that is a dud and the rest are better?  Any thoughts on NOEO?

 

Any other suggestions?  We are Christians but don't object to secular materials.  Must be available to ship to Canada.

 

Thanks in advance!

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Hmmm - not a curriculum but what about signing up for The Happy Scientist? And offering loads of living science books (I have a link on my other computer I can add later). Steve Spangler videos on YouTube. Disneys science of imagineering DVDs.

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Hmmm - not a curriculum but what about signing up for The Happy Scientist? And offering loads of living science books (I have a link on my other computer I can add later). Steve Spangler videos on YouTube. Disneys science of imagineering DVDs.

 

I forgot to say, she is not super self-directed.  I mean, she's motivated and eager to do more science, but I can see her being all, "But what do I DOOOOO next?"  I think for this approach to work, I'd have to come up with a schedule for her, and right now, that's more than I can realistically do.  Thanks, though! :)

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Exploration education is just physical science, but it covers a whole year. Lots of kids spend a year on a single science topic.

 

TOPS is great BUT it is only as great as you make it, lol. I love TOPS and suggest it often, but I always warn that the work is front loaded. The teacher is expected to take time, a weekend or two maybe? and get a sort of a science station ready. The program is written to the student, and it is all hands on, but it will only be as good as your prep. A friend showed me how she would use a couple dishpans or milk crate type boxes to store the prepped material and would pull it out for science. When she didn't have toddlers she could just let it all sit on a small table, ready to go.

 

I don't have any problem with gathering material and getting it ready, but if you want an open and go kit then TOPS isn't right for you. And if you are the sort who decided that today is a science day so you had better start looking around the house to see what you have to make today's assignment work, then it really isn't for you. Unless, of course, you are the type to have 7 baby food jar lids, 12 bottle caps, 3 two liter bottles and a milk carton sitting around.

 

TOPS is just the hands on part and that is where the learning is. But, that might be great  for you because you then supplement with living books. However, they don't tell you want books to use, that is up to you. And lots of people find a TOPS unit to be sufficient on its own.

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Sorry, I lost track of this thread... I think we might try Exploration Education.  It covers lots of "general science" topics that I've been meaning to get to, but haven't!  :mellow:  So I feel like maybe it would be a good "catch up year" for 4th/5th and then we can continue with more discipline-specific studies in the end of 5th and on into 6th.  Of course, I feel compelled to add books for each unit, but the library should be sufficient for that.

 

Thanks again for all the feedback!

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I don't know if you can stream them in Canada, but the Georgia Public Broadcasting has chemistry and physics videos that create a complete curriculum. I am currently using them with my nine year old as more independent curriculum. And it works incredibly well. You would need to print off the note taking guide and the worksheets for each video lesson. The lessons are 30 minutes long approximately, and cover the basics. Combined with a list do living books it would be a solid curriculum. They include experiments, though we have not done that portion.

The whole thing is free. You might give it a try.
http://www.gpb.org/chemistry-physics

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For a year where you just need to get it done, Starline Press (secular) or ACE (Christian) make good self-directed studies...they mostly just read and fill in the blanks and take a comprehension test at the end.  There may be a few very simple experiments, but they are minimal.  There is no teaching to do, other than making sure they completed more pages in their "pace" (workbook).  You can do something more experiment heavy another year.  All my 4 kids enjoyed the format and independence (the two oldest felt ACE science was oversimplified, but they were doing 5-6th grade materials in 7th and 8th, which may be why they felt that way.)

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How about Science Fusion....it's computer based but she would also have a work text to go along with it....there are virtual experiments and hands on experiments....add some library books or Usborne books....videos. I purchased our SF on homeschool buyers co-op for a great deal...so keep a look out for that. You can also purchase them on Rainbow Resource.
http://www.rainbowresource.com/searchspring.php?q=Science+fusion

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We are finding Abeka Science to be very independent. Both my grade 4 and grade 2 children read their own book and do the activities to go with it. If they need help, I am right there. But for the reading, they both do that on their own. My grade 4 girl does most of her activities on her own too.

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I don't know if you can stream them in Canada, but the Georgia Public Broadcasting has chemistry and physics videos that create a complete curriculum. I am currently using them with my nine year old as more independent curriculum. And it works incredibly well. You would need to print off the note taking guide and the worksheets for each video lesson. The lessons are 30 minutes long approximately, and cover the basics. Combined with a list do living books it would be a solid curriculum. They include experiments, though we have not done that portion.

The whole thing is free. You might give it a try.
http://www.gpb.org/chemistry-physics

Can you please inform me... what is a "do living book?"  Thanks!

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Christian Light Education (CLE), ACE, Starline Press (I am an authorized re-seller). They are all independent, workbook style that require very little teacher help.

 

That said, we are using Apologia Zoology 2 this upcoming year. My daughter is very independent and after looking through the textbook, notebooking book and supplies it is something she will be able to do on her own, with very little help on the experiments.

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Can you please inform me... what is a "do living book?" Thanks!


That was the auto correct on my iPad. Sorry it was suppose to say good living books. The chemistry is like Che is try lite. It isn't going to have your kid kicking butt on the AP exam, but it is a solid program. You mentioned living books approach, and it isn't that. It is just a good way to present material independently that is not mind melting, do a few worksheets to show they get what they are learning. If you added chemistry living books (my son is young so we do read alouds) then it would work pretty well.

Sorry for the confusion.
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