Need a Get-it-Done 7th Grade Science

[travelgirlut]

My daughter has been doing Moving Beyond the Page for science and it's pretty thoroughly killing whatever kind of interest she had in science before.  It goes far too in depth for her history/LA loving heart.  We want to drop it and replace it with something that allows us to basically just check the box as done.

 

So what 7th grade level science do you know of that is more reading than experiment based and fully planned out without too much parent effort needed?  Something self grading (online?) would be nice too, but beggars can't been choosers.  I guess I would love it if the content was engaging enough to not just feel like busy work, but again, beggars....

 

Please tell me you have the answer!!  Thanks!  :)

[Hypatia.]

I don't have any ideas, I'm in search of the same thing. I'm just here for the recommendations.

[Zoo Keeper]

Maybe some of the middle grade science from Memoria Press?  It's more workbook/reading based...https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/science/

[8filltheheart]

Plato https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/plato-middle-science/?c=1

[SparklyUnicorn]

CPO?  We use it, but don't do any of the hands on stuff.  We just read it and do the questions out loud. 

 

 

[Lilaclady]

We use lyrical life science. I don't use the cd as I have an old copy that came with a cassette.

[deerforest]

What about embracing her interests and just have her read about science. History of science (Hakim) or any of a huge number of trade books about science topics that interest her, or even just something like Dr. Art.

 

It's just an age that has so many opportunites to ignite a love for scientific thought and special topics.

[...................]

We love Abeka!

My daughter reads about three pages per day and writes the vocab words. We only use the quizzes for a grade so I went through the book and put sticky notes saying "take quiz now", which makes it easier for me to schedule each week. (Each quiz says right at the top which pages it covers up to) (the tests are extremely hard and I did not feel they were necessary.)

 

It has tons of color and we have done a few projects which were super fun. I did not buy the science kit but whenever the project is doable we do it. So far she started a big collection, did flower diagrams and made a labeled leaf collection.

 

She loves the color and straightforward info, it's very readable but not conversational (which we don't enjoy.)

 

We are extremely happy with it.

Edited November 15, 2016 by Calming Tea

[EmilyGF]

Nicole Williams has come up with Charlotte Mason science modules for middle school that cover (so far) Astronomy, Biology, and now Weather. They are mainly secular with little bits of YEC barely thrown in - I just ignored those parts. I feel like they are what I have been looking for all the time because they use real books, go in depth, but not too deep, and are written for the student.

 

FWIW, my husband is a college professor and was teaching an intro to stars for non-majors class this quarter, and after using Astronomy that uses Dava Sobel's Planets book, my son could have gotten 80% on the midterm of my husband's class. I'm really impressed, and I've never found a science that I liked before. Once a week or so there is a practical lesson (so we just ordered dissection kits for Biology and I need to order lenses for DS to make a telescope).

The  modules each have 33 lessons, with the idea that you would use 3 lessons per week for an 11-week term for Astro and Weather while using Biology once a week for the whole term. I schedule 45 minutes four times a week for my son for science.

 

I don't think this qualifies as "get it done" in the sense that it isn't just a workbook with worksheets, but it is fairly independent and doesn't ask for busy work the way I remember Moving Beyond the Page did. Actually, I think this is what I hoped Moving Beyond the Page would be before I realized what it really was.

 

Emily

Edited November 15, 2016 by EmilyGF

[redsquirrel]

I had a friend who had a rough year and needed a 'check the box' science. She used Science daybooks. It is a workbook with reading and maybe (?) some suggestions for hands on. It was mostly reading and answer questions. It wasn't thrilling, but it got the job done when that was what they needed. She didn't need the teacher's book, b/c it's just a filled in workbook and she could figure out the answers herself.

 

If you are looking for more hands on, then you might want to consider having her pick out a TOPS science unit that she finds interesting. You do have to do the prep! You gather and put it together and then it is student directed. So, once you have created your 'science station' your work is done, beyond making sure she did the work.

[travelgirlut]

Thank you all for your suggestions!  I've got a bit of research to do.

 

I remembered that I had a couple Ellen McHenry units that she hasn't done yet, so I may have her do one of those while I figure out the rest.  That'll buy me a few weeks.

[Soror]

Nicole Williams has come up with Charlotte Mason science modules for middle school that cover (so far) Astronomy, Biology, and now Weather. They are mainly secular with little bits of YEC barely thrown in - I just ignored those parts. I feel like they are what I have been looking for all the time because they use real books, go in depth, but not too deep, and are written for the student.

 

FWIW, my husband is a college professor and was teaching an intro to stars for non-majors class this quarter, and after using Astronomy that uses Dava Sobel's Planets book, my son could have gotten 80% on the midterm of my husband's class. I'm really impressed, and I've never found a science that I liked before. Once a week or so there is a practical lesson (so we just ordered dissection kits for Biology and I need to order lenses for DS to make a telescope).

The  modules each have 33 lessons, with the idea that you would use 3 lessons per week for an 11-week term for Astro and Weather while using Biology once a week for the whole term. I schedule 45 minutes four times a week for my son for science.

 

I don't think this qualifies as "get it done" in the sense that it isn't just a workbook with worksheets, but it is fairly independent and doesn't ask for busy work the way I remember Moving Beyond the Page did. Actually, I think this is what I hoped Moving Beyond the Page would be before I realized what it really was.

 

Emily

I really like the looks of these- living books + Charlotte Mason in a simple format- open and go-! For my son will be 7/8th next I believe he will be using Bookshark. When I showed it to him he got way too excited about the topics, robotics, conservation, and technology. I don't think it classifies as "get it done" however. 

[Schadenfreude]

I really like the looks of these- living books + Charlotte Mason in a simple format- open and go-! For my son will be 7/8th next I believe he will be using Bookshark. When I showed it to him he got way too excited about the topics, robotics, conservation, and technology. I don't think it classifies as "get it done" however.

We are using the Bookshark Robotics this year. It is very independent and takes about 20 minutes a day for 3 days with a lab on the fourth. The first 3 days of the week they read from a living book and fill out a worksheet. The fourth day they apply everything they read about in an experiment and answer questions about it. It is very awesome. My dd has been building simple robots from scratch since week one. Everything comes in the kit except for a few optional items that we never use.

[Soror]

We are using the Bookshark Robotics this year. It is very independent and takes about 20 minutes a day for 3 days with a lab on the fourth. The first 3 days of the week they read from a living book and fill out a worksheet. The fourth day they apply everything they read about in an experiment and answer questions about it. It is very awesome. My dd has been building simple robots from scratch since week one. Everything comes in the kit except for a few optional items that we never use.

Thanks so much for your input and review. It sounds like a good fit for ext year especially as we are increasing expectations in other areas, doing a little easier science sounds good.

Edited November 15, 2016 by soror

[Guest]

Singapore science, science matters.

 

https://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=Science/11&category=Lower+Secondary+Science+%28Gr.+7-8%29/7058

[Guest]

K12 as an Independant. Use the Advanced courses. More depth and topics. When Scientist did it, we skipped all the experiments.

 

Time4Learning Middle School Science. Scientist also enjoyed going through these for content only. He didn;t do any assignments. He learned quite a bit.

 

Of the 2, k12 is better but more $$$.

Edited December 3, 2016 by Paradox5

[ByGrace3]

We are using the Bookshark Robotics this year. It is very independent and takes about 20 minutes a day for 3 days with a lab on the fourth. The first 3 days of the week they read from a living book and fill out a worksheet. The fourth day they apply everything they read about in an experiment and answer questions about it. It is very awesome. My dd has been building simple robots from scratch since week one. Everything comes in the kit except for a few optional items that we never use.

Do the bookshark experiments line up with the readings and worksheets? That was what always kept me from using Sonlight science-- it didn't.

[Peaceful Isle]

Starline press maybe?

 

We do online science here, because it would never get done otherwise.

Two kids use BJU DLO , and the other two use Acellus and time4learning.

[Aurelia]

Galore Park

 

DD is loving Build Your Library, but it's a full curriculum, not just science. Then again, maybe your daughter wouldn't mind extra history or LA, and you can leave out the parts you don't want to do. 

 

Time4Learning and Khan Academy are both online, and IIRC, keep track of the student's progress.

[ScoutTN]

Nicole Williams has come up with Charlotte Mason science modules for middle school that cover (so far) Astronomy, Biology, and now Weather. They are mainly secular with little bits of YEC barely thrown in - I just ignored those parts. I feel like they are what I have been looking for all the time because they use real books, go in depth, but not too deep, and are written for the student.

 

FWIW, my husband is a college professor and was teaching an intro to stars for non-majors class this quarter, and after using Astronomy that uses Dava Sobel's Planets book, my son could have gotten 80% on the midterm of my husband's class. I'm really impressed, and I've never found a science that I liked before. Once a week or so there is a practical lesson (so we just ordered dissection kits for Biology and I need to order lenses for DS to make a telescope).

The modules each have 33 lessons, with the idea that you would use 3 lessons per week for an 11-week term for Astro and Weather while using Biology once a week for the whole term. I schedule 45 minutes four times a week for my son for science.

 

I don't think this qualifies as "get it done" in the sense that it isn't just a workbook with worksheets, but it is fairly independent and doesn't ask for busy work the way I remember Moving Beyond the Page did. Actually, I think this is what I hoped Moving Beyond the Page would be before I realized what it really was.

 

Emily

I am researching for next year and these CM materials look very interesting. Thanks!