What are you using for science?

[Janeway]

It feels like no one is using anything that I own for science. I am starting to feel like I should sell off what I have and start over. Please tell me about what you like and don't like. You can include things you are not currently using.

Edited May 16, 2016 by Janeway

[regentrude]

We have been using assorted non fiction books, documentaries, and field trips until high school. No scripted curricula.

For high school, we use introductory college texts for non majors.

[Targhee]

I don't start using curriculum until middle grades. Prior to that we do mom-designed science, and follow interests. (Although I highly recommend BFSU to anyone who doesn't feel comfortable shooting from the hip in science).

 

Why tried RS4K intermediate chemistry and neither I nor DD liked it at all. The topics were poorly curated, IMO, with sometimes too much depth and some glaring missing components (like periodicity).

 

We tried MPH science before the revisions a couple of years ago. Although the science was sound, it was very school-ish and harder to adapt to home.

 

I was very pleased with RSO Biology 2 this year for my science-loving 5th grader. The text was still in manageable chunks and language a 10-14 year old can easily take in. The investigations were well thought out, and I appreciated the short quizzes and the test, as well as the Famous Scientist Series (though we didn't do them all). It is easy to take what you want and leave what you don't. It is secular, and covers evolution which I believe important even if it contradicts your personal beliefs (in order to be scientifically literate), and it does so in a way that amenable to conversation about the disputes around evolution.

 

Next year my 6th grader is going to using The Elements as he tags along with older sister's chemistry course. This isn't a full year curriculum, but I think we can stretch it with other things from older sister's work (possibly with ACS curriculum too, though I haven't read all the way through it).

 

In my estimation (as a former science teacher) middle school is a great time to firmly establish scientific process, begin using quantitative skills, and really help them understand science as a pursuit rather than a conglomerate of facts and theories. I use that as the meter stick for evaluating curricula.

Edited May 16, 2016 by Targhee

[Mrs Twain]

I did all of BFSU volume 1 with my kids. I loved it but they thought it was dull. I don't think they retained much info.

 

My youngest started Mystery Science (online) this year, and she loves it. The authors know Dr. Nebel and modeled their program somewhat like BFSU. Mystery Science seems to be a very solid program from our experience so far I will continue it for 4th grade for my daughter next year.

 

After that I use BJU Science 6,7, and 8, distance leaning online programs (DLO). This is very high quality and advanced. I couldn't be more impressed with what my kids have learned. It is very difficult, but it has been a helpful experience for my kids to learn note-taking and how to study for nit-picky, detailed science tests.

 

My eldest will take a science class with Landry Academy (live online) next year. The jury is out on that one.

[ScoutTN]

We did human anatomy this year using Blood and Guts and lots of library books,and some DVDs. Guest Hollow's list with a few additions. Some writing and drawing as output. 

 

We are doing Botany now using Quark Chronicles and lots of library books and our garden. Hoping the output will be edible!

 

Next year my 6th grader will do WP Equine Science.

 

[tmstranger]

We're currently using The Brain by Ellen McHenry.  We like it.  It's fun and the kids seem to be retaining a lot.

[SilverMoon]

.

Edited April 17, 2023 by SilverMoon

[Janeway]

I have RS4Ks, most of their sets, elementary series, most books, and Considering Gods Creation. I have only used CGC and loved it. I have a ton of books on the shelves and nothing really happens here. I am trying to decide if I should save them and try to use them with the youngers, or get rid of some of them. No one on these boards ever mention using RS4Kids.

[SilverMoon]

I have RS4Ks, most of their sets, elementary series, most books, and Considering Gods Creation. I have only used CGC and loved it. I have a ton of books on the shelves and nothing really happens here. I am trying to decide if I should save them and try to use them with the youngers, or get rid of some of them. No one on these boards ever mention using RS4Kids.

If you loved and used those, your kids learned well, and can easily see yourself using them again, I suggest you stop looking to see how green the grass is in others' yards. :)

 

(FWIW, I don't even have grass to be jealous of. We have sand. Plain, boring sand. LOL)

[2_girls_mommy]

For my kids this year, they did what co-op was using and it was a biology year.  We haven't been able to stay totally on our WTM 4 yr cycle doing science with co-op, but it has been much easier for me to get it done this way.

 

So for 6th and 8th grades they used Apologia Exploring Creation with Anatomy for the middle school and Exploring Creation with Biology for early high school this year. (our upper high schoolers did Apologia Advanced Anatomy.)

 

These aren't my choices, but they work for us.

 

Next year my 9th grader through co-op will do Chemistry using some public school text her teacher found and middle schooler will do the new Wyle series, Science in the Age of Reason. (we will be in the ancients at home, so this is really going to be a mis matched year for her, but again, it gets done!)

[Mrs Twain]

We end up doing something different every year. My teens had to go through Apologia and I won't be doing those again. :tongue_smilie:

 

What's worked well for my middle two has been choosing a main spine and adding extra readers to the side of it. This year they did Guesthollow's chemistry schedule as the spine. We dropped some of the more elementary looking books and added a stack of extra readers for them to pick through on the side. This scheduled McHenry's Elements and Carbon Chemistry (kids give it two thumbs up), CKE chem (meh, it got the job done, but I probably wouldn't use just that), and RS4K chem (could have skipped this entirely). We added the Chemistry 101 videos too.

 

Last year the then 6th grader had his science aligned with his history in Adventures in the Sea and Sky (Winter Promise). And the younger one used Bite-size Physics by Science Jim. Two hearty thumbs up for both of those programs from us.

 

This year the rising 8th grader wants high school biology, so he's stepping up to his first textbook course with Biology: Concepts and Connections by Campbell. The 6th/7th grader will use Hoagland's Exploring the Way Life Works with the extra readers and activities on the side. She'll probably use some sections of Cambell's Biology: Exploring Life too.

What are the Chemistry 101 videos? They sound intriguing.

[daijobu]

Hard core BFSU user here, all 3 volumes.  Loved it.  

[SilverMoon]

What are the Chemistry 101 videos? They sound intriguing.

 

http://www.the101series.com/chem/

 

The website calls them full high school courses, but they are super, super light. Like my science is kryptonite teen did the Biology 101 course in 9 weeks, *with* extra living books padded into the schedule. I'd call them middle school supplements. My middle school two really enjoyed the chem videos this year, which are meatier than the bio videos.

[SilverMoon]

double post, internet burped

Edited May 17, 2016 by SilverMoon

[Momto6inIN]

We have tried and discarded several things for elementary:

Apologia's elementary was an awful flop here. I know others like it, but we didn't even make it through 1 lesson before we were bored out of our minds. We wanted to read something short and to the point and then try it out ourselves, not read and then narrate.

Science in the Beginning was great, but I didn't like the chronological study of science in the later books.

Mr. Q was good for life science and earth & space science, but I wasn't as crazy about the physical science and chemistry books.

 

What has worked and what I will likely do again for elementary:

Magic School Bus kits and videos for K-2nd

God's Design for Science for 3rd-6th

 

Middle school and high school science has gone much more smoothly for us. We love the Apologia series for these grades ... with the caveat that they are the ones written by Dr. Wile, not the more recent revisions without his name on the cover.

[cintinative]

 

Mr. Q was good for life science and earth & space science, but I wasn't as crazy about the physical science and chemistry books.

 

 

When did you do the earth and space science? We had the same experience as you in that we liked the life science book but the chemistry book we did last year bombed for us. I quit using it halfway through and switched to The Elements by Ellen McHenry. We would be doing Earth Science in 2017-2018 so the kids will be a bit older. Just curious if you think older ages will make it more enjoyable or if the writing is better, etc.

[Momto6inIN]

When did you do the earth and space science? We had the same experience as you in that we liked the life science book but the chemistry book we did last year bombed for us. I quit using it halfway through and switched to The Elements by Ellen McHenry. We would be doing Earth Science in 2017-2018 so the kids will be a bit older. Just curious if you think older ages will make it more enjoyable or if the writing is better, etc.

DD was in 5th grade. It was fun and she remembers a lot of it.

 

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

[2_girls_mommy]

For elementary, WTM's suggestions were great for us.  Nobody ever mentions it.   We read a page from the encyclopedia.  We read books from the library and did the experiments or activities in them.  We made notebook pages or lab pages.  We watched videos and went to museum exhibits.  Lots of fun, hands on.  By 3rd grade we did the Atoms and Molecules book she suggests. It was small, not pretty, and inexpensive.  It cost all of $8.  We did an experiment a week, did the definitions, read the corresponding info in the science encyclopedia.  We entered a science fair that year.

 

Then we started science with co-op a couple of years after that, so the younger dd switched to mostly Apologia with them younger than the older did.  I had to buy her $50 dollar Apologia text books and $20 notebooking journals all to do the same activities that the $8 WTM suggested book did with us and that was already on our shelf.  SIGH.  

 

But for me, I just arrived at a time when I needed science to be outsourced, so an expensive wordy book that my dd enjoys and that keeps her on track with her class it is.

[AdventuresinHomeschooling]

I have RS4Ks, most of their sets, elementary series, most books, and Considering Gods Creation. I have only used CGC and loved it. I have a ton of books on the shelves and nothing really happens here. I am trying to decide if I should save them and try to use them with the youngers, or get rid of some of them. No one on these boards ever mention using RS4Kids.

This is exactly what we are using next year. We have done elemental science along with some of our own thing up til now. I have seen them mentioned several times. We are starting with chemistry and then going to try geology.

[MerryAtHope]

It feels like no one is using anything that I own for science. I am starting to feel like I should sell off what I have and start over. Please tell me about what you like and don't like. You can include things you are not currently using.

 

What's important is, do you like what you own? If you do, it doesn't matter what anyone else is using. 

 

But for 5th-8th grades, some of the things we used:

 

Noeo Biology II

Apologia Elementary series-- Astronomy, Botany, Anatomy

Apologia General and Physical Science

Supercharged Science

Sonlight Science F

the Tiner books

 

My oldest preferred more of the text-book approach, and my youngest liked a more eclectic, self-directed approach (we chose a variety of materials together, and then she worked for 30-45 minutes per day but could read, journal, do experiments etc..., pretty much whatever she wanted for that time as long as she told me what she was up to a couple of times a week, and wrote something in her science notebook at least once a week. She is more science oriented and may go into a STEM field--she'll be a senior this year.)

 

Anyway...see what appeals to you. The important thing for this age group is mainly to develop interest. I don't think it matters all that much what you cover.

[Miss Tick]

We will finish the third BFSU book in 6th (probably). Then for 7th and 8th, perhaps Earth Science with the Tarbuck book and Biology? Found a copy of Campbell's Conceptual Biology at the library sale last month.

[HS Mom in NC]

The curriculum written by The National Science Teacher's Association and Johns Hopkins University that uses Joy Hakim's The Story of Science Vols. 1-3. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=joy+hakim+story+of+science&sprefix=joy+hakim%2Caps%2C251 as the spine.

 Each of the 3 books has a workbook and teacher's guide that go with it.  They go chronologically through history.   It's for middle school, so we're using it for 6th, 7th and 8th grades, starting in the fall.

[Tumbatoo]

We've used Sonlight and NOEO science for K-5, currently using the Tiner books and Story of Science for 6th/7th. The plan is to do either Conceptual Physical science next unless the co-op does Biology, in which case it will be Apologia. I would prefer Shepherd Biology.

[Holly]

We've been using Christian Kids Explore books.  I like that we can keep our lessons short or add in tons of materials if we want.  Some weeks we do the short lesson from the book and other weeks we add in library books, youtube videos, and science kits.

 

Next year we'll be using CKE Physics, Physics 101 DVDs, and Thames & Kosmos Physics Workshop.  And we'll also be using SCM's Outdoor Secrets for a bit of nature study, since I think a year of physics seems pretty dry.  

Edited May 22, 2016 by Holly

[Lisa in the UP of MI]

Our favorites so far have been the Harcourt texts for grades 4 and 6.  Fourth grade ds loves getting texts on various topics from the library to read, especially weather, natural disasters, and physics.  Next year oldest dd will be using Apologia Chemistry.

[mom31257]

We are part of a co-op that has done some science, so a couple of my choices have been decided for me. Next year, though, I am using a different curriculum at home. The 8th grade and up will be doing biology labs with Apologia Biology. I'm using BJU Life Science with DVD at home. There was no way I was going to miss that course while ds was in middle school. It is fabulous, and dd really enjoyed it. In fact, ds would watch the videos along with her. He was in 2nd grade. I'm rearranging the chapters to more closely align with the labs he'll do at co-op. I think between the two, he's going to learn a lot over the next year.

 

These last few years have gone like this.

 

4th: Abeka 4th grade: Ds really enjoyed this book and the emphasis on birds

 

5th: Co-Op Apologia Chemistry and Physics (Hated this book for several reasons.)

 

Stayed out of co-op for 6th during dd's senior year

6th: BJU 6th Science with DVD (wonderful course with a variety of topics; It was a fun year despite being home alone.)

 

7th: Co-Op Apologia Physical Science (I taught this class, so I decided to have ds do it as well. He didn't enjoy the textbook as much as other textbooks. 

 

 

 

[PeachyDoodle]

For the past two years, we've used Noeo, Biology last year and just finished up Physics this year. Before that, we did a homegrown Chemistry based off WTM recommendations, but that didn't go so well for us. I need more direction for science. Noeo has been a good fit for us because it's all laid out for me but uses living books instead of textbooks, which dd and I both like. Bio Level II was a little on the easy side, so we bumped up to Level III for Physics, which was a great challenge for her.

 

Unfortunately, she has asked to study Geology next year, and Noeo doesn't offer that. :(

 

After some deliberation, I think we have decided on Elemental Science Earth and Space. We came very close to using Mr. Q, but Elemental uses the Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia as its spine, and she has liked using the Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, so that was a draw.

[LindaOz]

My 6th grade son is using SL Science E and he is really liking it. It's a lot about magnetism and electricity which involves lots of work with batteries and circuits etc. Yesterday he was building a mini model engine. Going great.

[LindaOz]

Sorry. Double post.

Edited May 31, 2016 by LindaOz

[Guest]

We have been very happy with course plans and science texts purchased through Kolbe Academy. :)

[boscopup]

We're using Apologia General Science. My son did half the book in 6th grade and will do the other half in 7th. I gave him a choice of doing Wayfarers science for 7th (since we're using it for everything else), but he wanted to stick with Apologia. He likes the book. :) I've always enjoyed the Wile books. Like a PP, I wasn't crazy about Apologia's elementary series (she gets into theological stuff that I disagree with and has absolutely nothing to do with the science being taught anyway).

 

We've used Virtual Homeschool Co-Op's self-paced course to get a lecture and online quizzes/tests. I have him outline the chapters as he reads, and he does most of the experiments listed (there are a few we skip). I've been so pleased this year that he was able to gather supplies and perform the experiments without me involved! Yay for maturity! :)

[SparklyUnicorn]

I plan to use CPO.  I have the Life and Earth science books. 

 

 

[brookspr]

We've done Ellen McHenry's Cells and Botany, we've read non-fiction books like the Physics of War, Joy Hakim's History of Science series, Wicked Bugs, Wicked Plants, etc...loosely followed GuestHollow's biology curriculum, and more. We've done science more like a unit study, where we take a month or so and study something of interest. 

[....]

What ages?

 

14 year-old is using Classical Astronomy: Signs and Seasons with Field Guide.  She also has a big stack of science books she's reading...stuff like Smithsonian: Earth, Smithsonian: The Planets, plus all the science books from AO Y7 (except the chemistry book).

 

13 year-old is reading History of Medicine, The Way We Work, Human Anatomy Coloring Book and Smithsonian: Earth.

 

11 year-old is doing chemistry, but we are putting it together.  She's going to do Ellen McHenry's Carbon Chemistry + some internet resources + books from the library.

 

 

 

Edited May 31, 2016 by Evanthe

[J&JMom]

I have used a cheap textbook series as a guide for the year's topics, do tons of hands-on labs, read supplemental books and documentaries including BrainPop, and field trips.  For 2nd-5th, I used Harcourt Science and 6th-8th Glencoe Science.   Most of the labs come from the books or online virtual labs (Glencoe), but I have thrown in ideas I get from other places.  I have a year in review blog post of our activities:  https://kidblog.org/class/ZeyAcademy/posts/8rynl22npjabizxdnvli6lwis

 

[Classically Minded]

We follow the WTM method of encyclopedia study and I have several other resources we use (books, videos, kits, etc.)  My dd12 just finished up the Biology 101 DVD and she loved it but we just used it as a resource not a full curriculum as it can be used in high school.  I also use Considering God's Creation as an extra resource.

[Cindyz]

We are using a mix of CPO Life Science and Real Science Odyssey Life.  RSO would be good enough on it's own, and seems to have taken the best parts of the CPO book and made it more homeschool friendly, and quite doable.

[Peaceful Isle]

I can tell you what I am using for my kiddos for science next year and their grades. Not sure if it will be helpful , but I am using a combo and picking what I like out of them.

 

My youngest is five. He will be using Calvert k for his science. We are also going to use an online component like brain pop Jr or science 4 us.

 

My 10 year old son is using Oak Meadow science and Sassafras science. We also may do some online extra like time4 learning.

 

My 12 year old daughter is a bit harder for me to choose. I am not sure what I will use for her 😳

 

 

My 14 year old will be using Acellus for her Physical science class. I will get her the BJU textbook to go with it as well for extra assignments.

 

As you can tell, I really like to use a variety of curriculum.

[kagmypts]

I have used a cheap textbook series as a guide for the year's topics, do tons of hands-on labs, read supplemental books and documentaries including BrainPop, and field trips.  For 2nd-5th, I used Harcourt Science and 6th-8th Glencoe Science.   Most of the labs come from the books or online virtual labs (Glencoe), but I have thrown in ideas I get from other places.  I have a year in review blog post of our activities:  https://kidblog.org/class/ZeyAcademy/posts/8rynl22npjabizxdnvli6lwis

 

Where did you buy your Glencoe science materials?  Did you have a workbook and teacher's manual?  I am about ready to pull my hair out deciding on a middle school science program!

[J&JMom]

Where did you buy your Glencoe science materials?  Did you have a workbook and teacher's manual?  I am about ready to pull my hair out deciding on a middle school science program!

I bought mine on eBay. You can check Amazon, too.  Here is a sale on what I use/used for 6th grade:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Glencoe-Florida-Science-Student-Text-CD-Bundle-lot-of-2-VG-R4s2-F-k878-/131834830960?hash=item1eb1f7e070:g:Q0cAAOSwnNBXTzlv  $10 includes the Text & CD shipped.  The CD includes workbooks and lab manual pdfs you can print as well as the audio of the textbook.  The teacher edition can be hard to find, and honestly isn't necessary. You can use the companion website for tests, quizzes, vocabulary games,  virtual labs, brainpop videos, etc. This series is for grades 6-8 and BookMan Kevin on eBay has the bundles.

Here is the link to the website: http://glencoe.mheducation.com/sites/007869387x/index.html

Below are the links to the 6-8 bundles on eBay:

Grade 6: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Glencoe-Science-grade-6-student-textbook-1-workbook-CD-2007-R4F-/130529855223?hash=item1e642f86f7:m:mVq_310JVRyr8Nb8Cy0mgdg

Grade 7: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Glencoe-Science-grade-7-textbook-and-workbooks-bundle-/130529840055?hash=item1e642f4bb7:m:mlNR_XemvHyCW1OhSYkVrgw

Grade 8: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Glencoe-Science-Student-Text-Workbook-CD-Bundle-Grade-8-lot-of-3-VG-R4F-915-/140560837721?hash=item20ba142c59:m:mS5oSTjoZXjaqUSShIIRwoA

Edited June 6, 2016 by J&JMom

[Jess4879]

We have used such a mix of things.  We followed the public school for the first two years, covering color mixing, floating/sinking, planting a seed in a cup, etc.  Then we used Mr. Q's Life Science with a lot of tweaking.  We didn't really enjoy it, so of course, I went ahead and bought Mr. Q's Earth Science.  Haha. We made it through half and then tossed it.  I want to love Mr.Q's, I really do.  The author clearly has such a passion for science and the text has some cute humor thrown in, but honestly the info was just over my kids heads. I spent so much time explaining everything that their eyes glazed over.  Then we used RS4K Physics and that was awesome.  We all really liked it.  We used RS4K Chemistry this year, and as a previous poster mentioned, the love died there.  I was bummed because we had really liked the physics.  I debated about trying the earth or biology books, but they are so pricey for such short units.  We are trying Apologia Zoology 3 this year.  We'll see how it goes. 

[Colleen from Austin]

We are switching to Elemental Science this year, and are starting with Biology for the Logic stage for my 5th grader. I just spent a lot of time reviewing the text, and am really excited about it ... very compatible with WTM approach, but a lot of the work already done for me.

 

http://elementalscience.com/collections/biology-for-the-logic-stage/products/biology-for-the-logic-stage-printed-combo

 

I was initially nervous about buying all the "reference" books, but was able to find most of them VERY cheap on Amazon.com used books. The Elemental Science Amazon Store link made it VERY easy to find the right versions of the books recommended in the text. 

 

http://astore.amazon.com/elemescien-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=8

 

We used NOEO last year, same ideas, but I like that this has more reference material incorporated. 

 

Colleen

 

[laughing lioness]

We use NOAA and NASA web-sites, the Tiner series, Bridgeway academy and co-op labs, CC's science reports, illustrations, tons of being outside and observing nature. The Apologia Eled Mp3's are good, and we appreciate Apologia General Science on up ( the ones written by Wile).  Next year dd will be creating a science timeline of famous scientists and participating in a science fair. 

[Bluegoat]

THis year for grade 5, we've used:

 

A lot of Outdoor hour resources

Read Fabre's book of Insects

Read parts of a very old biology text that I had when I was a kid

Read parts of The Amateur Naturalist

dd read a few scientist biographies - one on Mendel which was actually a picture book but she got quite a lot out of

Dd also was part of a group for tweens/younger teens at the Young Naturalist's Club that did field trips every Saturday for about two months, mostly looking at plant life in local ecosystems.

She kept a weather chart all through last summer, mostly this was an exercise in collecting data carefully and regularly.

[TKDmom]

My 6th grader wants to study astronomy, so I'm collecting books for that. He started MP Astronomy a few years ago, and never finished it. He said he wanted to finish it, but doesn't like writing out the memory work all the time. I discovered The Stars by H.A. Rey has all the same content--except it's interesting.

 

I'm adding in:

The Constellations by H.A. Rey

Exploring Our Solar System by Sally Ride

Along Came Galileo

Various space books by Seymor Simon

Probably some documentaries

 

I expect this to last a semester, then we will do something else.

 

My 12yo will be doing a few of Tiner's science books (currently Exploring the World of Physics), then we will move into Conceptual Chemistry. (He likes Chemistry, and this is a fairly light book--he can take AP Chem in high school).

He used Apologia General Science last year, and begged to quit about 2/3 of the way through. Actually, as soon as the debate on the age of the earth came up, he was ready to be done. Note to self: no matter how lovely and easy the religious science texts look, we need to stick with secular science options.

 

My oldest (in high school) will finish Campell's Biology and then do Conceptual Chemistry with her brother.

 

I really liked Ellen McHenry's The Elements. I might try more of her work later this year. Tiner's books have also been a hit so far--especially Exploring the History of Medicine.

 

Anything that does a 4-year cycle of science has been a bust in our house. I've moved to interest-led science for most of K-8. I've also discovered that I won't do programs that require a lot of experiments. Especially physics "experiments" that need to be tweaked over and over until they work the way they are supposed to. So I read and discuss and watch things together, then send kids to outside classes for hands-on things like robotics.

Edited June 21, 2016 by TKDmom

[Peaceful Isle]

I can tell you what I am using for my kiddos for science next year and their grades. Not sure if it will be helpful , but I am using a combo and picking what I like out of them.

 

My youngest is five. He will be using Calvert k for his science. We are also going to use an online component like brain pop Jr or science 4 us.

 

My 10 year old son is using Oak Meadow science and Sassafras science. We also may do some online extra like time4 learning.

 

My 12 year old daughter is a bit harder for me to choose. I am not sure what I will use for her 😳

 

 

My 14 year old will be using Acellus for her Physical science class. I will get her the BJU textbook to go with it as well for extra assignments.

 

As you can tell, I really like to use a variety of curriculum.

of course, I'm changing things up already, but I am really happy with my choices now.

 

 

My 9th grade dd will be doing a combo of Physics Elemental science and acellus Physical science

 

My 7th grade dd will be doing Earth science Elemental science and Equine science course

 

My 5th grade ds will be doing sassafras science zoology along with tinker crate and groovy lab (kits he can do himself)

 

My k ds will be doing science 4 us, along with coloring sheets from sassafras and real science 4 kids k

 

I will most likely use some online options for all the kids, but not sure which ones. I like them to see experiments and how they work, but I loathe doing them or helping them with them. 

[Caia]

My kids have watched The Science of Disney Imagineering movies over and over this past school year. Each DVD has a different topic, and they are all fascinating, fun, and engaging. Some of the titles include Levers and Pulleys, Trajectory, Magnetism, Design and Models, and Gravity.

 

For our main curriculum we like BJU Press and the DVD teacher component.

[SilverMoon]

My 6th grader wants to study astronomy, so I'm collecting books for that. He started MP Astronomy a few years ago, and never finished it. He said he wanted to finish it, but doesn't like writing out the memory work all the time. I discovered The Stars by H.A. Rey has all the same content--except it's interesting.

 

I'm adding in:

The Constellations by H.A. Rey

Exploring Our Solar System by Sally Ride

Along Came Galileo

Various space books by Seymor Simon

Probably some documentaries

 

I expect this to last a semester, then we will do something else.

 

You might also look at Astronomy for All Ages. It's loaded with worthwhile activities you could cherry pick from. How to find particular stars/constellations, make a star chart, and such.

 

[waa510]

The rest of the summer we'll finish up Holt Science and Tech Earth and Space and do the science kits I bought to go along with them. I also want to add some more documentaries as my kids are getting into them lately. They also really like doing crafts related to science so I may add more of that in. 

 

The fall-ish we'll do Holt Science and Tech Physical Science adding in Ellen J. McHenry's Chem stuff for fun. I'll also continue with my youtube video lists. Maybe I'll buy some chem science kits like making perfume or soap. Maybe a simple machines k'nex kit for little dd. Haven't really planned this one out yet. (need to though!)