7th grade science

[Elisabet1]

I would love some science suggestions for 7th grade. Christian and not, thank you. Something that is good, but not too hard for me. I have no trouble understanding the science, I just have a big family so not a lot of time to devote by myself.

[Momling]

Ellen McHenry!

[Shellydon]

We are using and liking Rainbow Science.  Very independent.

[myfunnybunch]

One of my middle schoolers is using TOPS:

http://www.topscience.org/home.html 

 

I don't know that I'd use it for a general science overview, but it's great for topic-specific learning. I did add some additional reading, but it's because he is very interested in the topic we chose. He is able to do it fairly independently. Even though the materials are basic, I did order the supply kit that went along with the unit so that I wouldn't have to hunt down materials or try to order the few things we didn't have handy. I think the only things I had to add to the science supplies were things like a roll of tape and some scissors and such. :)

 

Cat

[helena]

Ellen McHenry!

I second this! She's fun. :) There's lots to learn, but never overwhelming or too time consuming.

 

I buy the teacher's manual and workbooks for each kid. We do it as follows:

Mon. I read the chapter

Tues. They do the activities together

Wed. They do the worksheets (rereading the chapter themselves)

Thurs. We do corrections and discuss

Fri. Nature studies  ;)

 

I supplement here and there with (preselected) books, videos, and lectures when either the kids or myself are too sick to be in class. 

It's not for everyone, but it's perfect for us. 

[freesia]

I love Ellen Mc Henry, but although my oldest has done it independently, most of the games, etc. are best done in groups. My oldest did TOPS independently, but he had a textbook to read, too. I would recommend a regular old textbook like Apologia General Science, ABeka, BJU or Prentice Hall Science Explorer. The first 3 have kits you can buy at Homescience Tools. When I used Science Explorer, I go through and pick labs ahead of time and gather supplies. My sixth grader reads, answers questions, gathers the supplies she needs for investigations and gets it done. Easy, peasy for me and so straightforward that she can control her time and "get it done". She's never loved science, but enjoys this method the best.

 

I seriously have a lurch of joy at how well science is going in our house this year. I have always designed my own program or done a parent directed program with my elementary and middle schoolers. This year the fourth and sixth grader are doing ABeka (and the oldest Kolbe Bio). Having something I don't drive is awesome!

[mom31257]

BJU 7th Life Science is phenomenal. Mrs. Vick is the teacher, and she is one awesome teacher. I have ds doing 6th grade this year with her, and I'll definitely be using 7th and 8th grades because she teaches each of those science courses. 

 

If it's too expensive and you are willing to wait until December, BJU normally sells their online courses for $99  each subject. You have to get the student books on your own, but the teacher's editions are available online as well. 

 

[happypamama]

My 7th grader reads Kingfisher, and she does the labs along with the rest of us, based on Mr. Q, which fits my 4th grader nicely.

[Elisabet1]

BJU 7th Life Science is phenomenal. Mrs. Vick is the teacher, and she is one awesome teacher. I have ds doing 6th grade this year with her, and I'll definitely be using 7th and 8th grades because she teaches each of those science courses. 

 

If it's too expensive and you are willing to wait until December, BJU normally sells their online courses for $99  each subject. You have to get the student books on your own, but the teacher's editions are available online as well. 

I might do this. I liked BJU a lot, but their prices were too high. I will just wait until Dec and focus on other things in the meantime.

[mom31257]

I might do this. I liked BJU a lot, but their prices were too high. I will just wait until Dec and focus on other things in the meantime.

 

Hopefully they will do it again this year. It's been offered at least 3 years in a row now. My ds is talking medical careers, so I feel that BJU science is worth the investment. We follow a traditional school year because my dh is a teacher meaning I paid full price. I use very inexpensive (CLE) LA, Math, and Reading, so that helps. Science is the only course I'm using online or DVD as well.

 

You should look at BJU history, too. I'm not using video for it, though. The new edition student activity manuals are great. They teach outlining and essay answers, have  mapping, super graphic organizers for summarizing info, source documents, etc. I've been more than impressed. 

[Elisabet1]

Hopefully they will do it again this year. It's been offered at least 3 years in a row now. My ds is talking medical careers, so I feel that BJU science is worth the investment. We follow a traditional school year because my dh is a teacher meaning I paid full price. I use very inexpensive (CLE) LA, Math, and Reading, so that helps. Science is the only course I'm using online or DVD as well.

 

You should look at BJU history, too. I'm not using video for it, though. The new edition student activity manuals are great. They teach outlining and essay answers, have  mapping, super graphic organizers for summarizing info, source documents, etc. I've been more than impressed. 

I use BJU English and always have. I always have liked BJU Math and my younger one uses it. My older one is using something different, but I think BJU would have done a great job too. I think if I went over to "boxed" I would just do everything BJU.