Mostly independent science activities (or at least easy for me)?

[linguistmama]

I'm good at reading about science, having dd9 read about science, watching documentaries together and discussing science topics.  I would really like to have some hands on activities that are enjoyable and educational, but I am terrible at getting that sort of thing done!

 

Something that works is DH doing projects from a snap circuits kit and Engino simple machines kit with the kids and then I do fine discussing and reading from the project notes.  Other materials don't get used because they are not in a super convenient, self contained box with simple instructions. :)  

 

So I was thinking about Science in a Nutshell kits or something else that dd9 could do mostly one her own.  Are TOPS projects teacher intensive?  Any other suggestions for middle school level activities that would fit this criteria?  I will be hoping for a fun, educational class in our area for next year.

[duckens]

I don't know about any of the specific curriculum you have mentioned or any I can recommend that would fit what you need.  :(

The best advice I have heard (and done) is to assemble several labs at once in successive shoeboxes.  If you need things from lab #1 for use in lab #2, put a post-it note in either box. 

Example: "Will need rocks we collected for the next lab."

If there are extra supplies that you cannot afford to have buried in a lab box until you can get to it, put a post-it in the box:
 

Example: scissors, masking tape, little bears



I hope you find what works for you.

[Farrar]

Well, it's okay if a 9 yo doesn't do "labs" or "hands on" for science. So don't feel like you're failing.

 

On the other hand, if a child would enjoy it, I do think it enriches science. The TOPS stuff is not really all that independent. It might work for you in that it's really simple materials though, so there's very little to gather and it lays those out really clearly at the start with a list of what you need. On the other hand, it might not. There are K'nex and Lego kits for simple machines that might be closer to the Snap Circuits if you must have a kit. You might consider doing some nature studies like in The Nature Connection. That's a pretty easy to use guide. Or you might use the shoebox idea above. That's pretty good. Or you might just make a list, say, of a science lab a month and just make yourself do it.

[athomeontheprairie]

From your title, I was going to suggest TOPS, and I see its something you've thought about. We have REALLY enjoyed them here. Nearly everything my dd9 had done, had been independent. however, because I have her do a lot independently, sometimes she doesn't understand beyond the page. Sometimes she needs a teacher to explain it (or Mom). She LOVES being able to work on it without me. I have our TOPS units in self contained plastic storage boxes with the photocopies. I put then together at the beginning of the year (if I wait until they're needed, it won't happen).

I hope you find something that works for you. I love the Lego idea above (our at least in theory). I've purchased (cheaply, of Ebay) several older Lego gear/science sets with teacher guides and was horribly disappointed. my kids built with no understanding, and the teaching WAS (or would have been, had I done it) teacher intensive

[myfunnybunch]

My 11 & 9 y.o. are doing TOPS together fairly independently. I did order the supply kit for their unit. They can usually complete the tasks with minimal or no instruction.