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Help me make science happen this year: I need something fairly independent


FloridaLisa
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What resources are out there for independent science? 

 

We are truly doing well in homeschool this year. Getting lots done...especially the nuts and bolts which is exactly where I wanted to razor focus. Daily math, grammar, writing, history, reading independently and aloud, memorization, Bible, etc. 

 

But science is not getting done. The text I bought at the beginning of the year is sitting on the shelf. Because of me. My ds (6th grade) would LOVE to do lots of science but I just don't have time. We do get science through discovery, museums, camps, and we are generally a science-loving family. 

 

So I need something that can be done independently by my 6th grader with a 4th grader tagging along OR also done by a 4th grader. 

 

I have a good mind to just read this small stack of Tiner biographies I have on the shelf, follow up with some googled videos and throw in some field trips and exploration and call is science. But I'm also open to something structured that would isn't vacuum dust dry but will fuel a kid's natural love for science. 

 

ideas? Curricula? Online resources? 

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Not a popular choice on these boards, usually, but some of my kids loved Sonlight's science, from pre-K through 6th grade. Any of the programs labeled grades 4-7 would work for your fourth and sixth grader together.

 

The format is to read a few pages of an Usborne-type book, do worksheets (which my kids did not find to be dry or tedious, although we're usually not worksheet people in any subject), and do at least one experiment per week. You can also purchase a DVD of the experiments being performed, so you can see what's supposed to happen. And Sonlight sells experiment kits, as well. You'd need a "non-consumable" kit that goes with all of the science years, and then a kit specific to the grade level you've chosen.

 

If you have good readers, who like Usborne type books instead of textbooks, and who are motivated to do the experiments mostly on their own, this is pretty much open-and-go.

 

 

Edited to add the link -- all four of my boys liked the electricity and magnetism study. Sonlight recommends it for grades 4-7; all of mine did it in 4th or 5th. I'd start here! http://www.sonlight.com/ES5.html

 

Edited by Tibbie Dunbar
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The Christian Kids Explore...series is one we've loved. It's inexpensive and good for elementary & middle school students. We've done Earth & Space and Biology and are using Chemistry next year. My kids loved it. Can easily be done independently.

https://www.brightideaspress.com/shop/christian-kids-explore-biology/

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I think your Tiner idea is a good one. In my world, the simplest way to get science done independently is to have them read something and then write a narration about it (I also include drawings with the narrations). Experiments are fun if they are simple enough to do alone, and if they want to but I don't think they're absolutely necessary. I use this method with lots of different books: Tiner, God's Design, Apologia.

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If you can do the work up front, TOPS science is all hands on and meant to be done independently.  BUUUUUTTTT you have to make the 'science station'.  You get the stuff, and TOPS does sell some supplies on their site, put it together and then you have a science station.  My friend did it with her kids and it worked well. But, she was willing/able to spend the time getting it ready.  She had a cute science area with all the instructions in folders and all the material labeled and ready to go. Then her kids would see 'science' on their assignment list for the day and s/he would go over and work at least one experiment (often they did it together) and do all the recording or sketching or whatever.

 

There isn't reading with TOPS, just hands on, so if you want assigned reading you will have to look elsewhere.

 

Another 'get it done' science suggestion, from the same science loving friend, was Science Daybook.  Now, I'm not sure if this is for elementary kids, I've only used them for 5th-8th.  You read and answer questions and there is a minimal amount of hands on.  It is a science workbook with some easily skipped activities. But, it is easy to fit in with minimal involvement from you. The biggest complaint is that it is boring...but it can be ideal for a busy season when you are worried that science is falling off the radar. I have used it for a limited amount of time when we were very busy and then returned to our regular hands on oriented science when things calmed down.

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I have finally let go of the need for formal science before high school (thanks in part to these boards) and I am opting for books and documentaries this year. We are doing a physical geography year, so I got a children's DK Geography visual encyclopedia for a loose spine and we are watching lots of documentaries on the earth, space, weather, etc... If they show a lot of interest in a topic I will supplement. I am really shocked by how much they have liked the DK book- they ask for it every single day!

 

For the first time since beginning homeschooling in 2010, I do not dread science or worry about it getting done. Letting go of science needing to be experiment driven is a big part of that relief. My kids are still learning so much about the world without baking soda, vinegar, and various office supplies. If they want to do a science fair or some kind of real project once or twice a year I am totally supportive. I plan to continue this path until high school and wish I had found it earlier.

Edited by CoffeeMama11
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Guesthollow. :)

 

The Christian Kids Explore...series is one we've loved. It's inexpensive and good for elementary & middle school students. We've done Earth & Space and Biology and are using Chemistry next year. My kids loved it. Can easily be done independently.

https://www.brightideaspress.com/shop/christian-kids-explore-biology/

 

 

Connect The Thoughts//STEPS (they just changed their name last year.)

 

Thank you for these leads. I'm going to research these a little more. Thanks!

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Not a popular choice on these boards, usually, but some of my kids loved Sonlight's science, from pre-K through 6th grade. Any of the programs labeled grades 4-7 would work for your fourth and sixth grader together.

 

The format is to read a few pages of an Usborne-type book, do worksheets (which my kids did not find to be dry or tedious, although we're usually not worksheet people in any subject), and do at least one experiment per week. You can also purchase a DVD of the experiments being performed, so you can see what's supposed to happen. And Sonlight sells experiment kits, as well. You'd need a "non-consumable" kit that goes with all of the science years, and then a kit specific to the grade level you've chosen.

 

If you have good readers, who like Usborne type books instead of textbooks, and who are motivated to do the experiments mostly on their own, this is pretty much open-and-go.

 

 

Edited to add the link -- all four of my boys liked the electricity and magnetism study. Sonlight recommends it for grades 4-7; all of mine did it in 4th or 5th. I'd start here! http://www.sonlight.com/ES5.html

 

Thank you, Tibbie. I'll look into this. I tend to LOVE physical science while this ds enjoys life science ... off to see what Sonlight has. My kids do like the Usborne books. And I'm fine with worksheets for this season as well as an experiment kit with everything in it. Part of our (my) science fail this year is because there's a long supply list and I never gathered it before school started. 

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If you can do the work up front, TOPS science is all hands on and meant to be done independently.  BUUUUUTTTT you have to make the 'science station'.  You get the stuff, and TOPS does sell some supplies on their site, put it together and then you have a science station.  My friend did it with her kids and it worked well. But, she was willing/able to spend the time getting it ready.  She had a cute science area with all the instructions in folders and all the material labeled and ready to go. Then her kids would see 'science' on their assignment list for the day and s/he would go over and work at least one experiment (often they did it together) and do all the recording or sketching or whatever.

 

There isn't reading with TOPS, just hands on, so if you want assigned reading you will have to look elsewhere.

 

Another 'get it done' science suggestion, from the same science loving friend, was Science Daybook.  Now, I'm not sure if this is for elementary kids, I've only used them for 5th-8th.  You read and answer questions and there is a minimal amount of hands on.  It is a science workbook with some easily skipped activities. But, it is easy to fit in with minimal involvement from you. The biggest complaint is that it is boring...but it can be ideal for a busy season when you are worried that science is falling off the radar. I have used it for a limited amount of time when we were very busy and then returned to our regular hands on oriented science when things calmed down.

 

Is TOPS what Sonlight uses? I actually love the thought of a science station ... that would be the ideal me. But the IRL me won't get it put together this year. :D 

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I have finally let go of the need for formal science before high school (thanks in part to these boards) and I am opting for books and documentaries this year. We are doing a physical geography year, so I got a children's DK Geography visual encyclopedia for a loose spine and we are watching lots of documentaries on the earth, space, weather, etc... If they show a lot of interest in a topic I will supplement. I am really shocked by how much they have liked the DK book- they ask for it every single day!

 

For the first time since beginning homeschooling in 2010, I do not dread science or worry about it getting done. Letting go of science needing to be experiment driven is a big part of that relief. My kids are still learning so much about the world without baking soda, vinegar, and various office supplies. If they want to do a science fair or some kind of real project once or twice a year I am totally supportive. I plan to continue this path until high school and wish I had found it earlier.

 

We have totally done this in some years. I'm not worried about it b/c I know we've had years of solid, structured science. But my ds really does love science and I'd love to have something to make his eyes light up in this area. I think *he* feels like he's missing out. ;) Thanks CoffeeMama!

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Is TOPS what Sonlight uses? I actually love the thought of a science station ... that would be the ideal me. But the IRL me won't get it put together this year. :D

 

Yes -- Sonlight uses TOPS titles "corn and beans" and "radishes" in the biology year (3), "electricity" and "magnetism" in year 4, and "adhesion" and "cohesion" in year 6 (I think). Supplies are in the kits. :)

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I really like the Sabbath Mood Homeschool middle school science modules. I wrote about them in the Logic Stage board. They incorporate activities, reading of real books, etc. You have one focus 3x/week each term and then biology one day a week all year.

 

Emily

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I really like the Sabbath Mood Homeschool middle school science modules. I wrote about them in the Logic Stage board. They incorporate activities, reading of real books, etc. You have one focus 3x/week each term and then biology one day a week all year.

 

Emily

 

Sounds intriguing. I knew y'all would have new curriculum I hadn't heard of yet. :) Thank you for this suggestion, Emily. 

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We are really liking Behold and See 5 for my fifth grader. Not dry at all, and not too many activities, most of which are going outside and gathering data. I think it would work well for both those ages. You might want to beef it up with extra reading for the 6th grader. Interesting topics which encompass earth and life science, a touch of chemistry and statistics. Not too overtly Catholic.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited by SamanthaCarter
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I think this is an extremely common problem for homeschoolers.  When I first looked into homeschooling, I dreamed of all the hands on and messy science learning.  In reality, I am tired and science is a struggle even though my boys LOVE science.  There is no silver bullet magic science homeschool curriculum.

 

The way I see it, there are about three choices in your approach:  Find a textbook to cover your bases and supplement with great science kits.  Find a curriculum and employ strategies to commit to making sure it. gets. done.  Outsource.

 

For the first approach, the textbook sounds boring, I know.  A good encyclopedia with note booking would also work.  However, your oldest child should be able to get things out of a textbook.  Let's face it.  Opening a book and doing paperwork is far more likely to get done than going around the house finding science supplies.  If you're YE, Apologia and Science in the Beginning are popular choices.  Science in the Beginning does include experiments too, but they are more quick demonstrations.  I also highly recommend RS4K textbooks for their excellent terminology in a student friendly way.  They also come with an experiment book, but if you just want the textbook, that's fine.  You could also choose a reading list of living books if a textbook truly bores you and employ a notebook strategy. The best kits are Magic School Bus kits for younger years, and Science Wiz kits for older years.  What makes them so great is that almost every little thing is included so there is very little gathering of supplies.  They are topical to fit what you are studying, and they are fun.  I love getting kits for the kids, and as they get a little older, they are almost independent.  You could also look at some videos as an alternative to textbooks.

 

The second choice:  Some popular curriculum choices are Noeo (Christian), RS4K, Elemental Science, Apologia (YE), and Science in the Beginning (YE).  I have used Elemental and RS4K.  

 

What I like about RS4K is the excellent explanations and illustrations, the lab workbooks with the experiments, and the fact that there are only ten experiments in each subject.  While my kids love experiments, I hate gathering all the supplies.  But I chose to suck it up for ten experiments.  It's not every week, but I know they are getting meat with lab write ups, quizzes, reading, etc., and then I supplement with kits and independent reading.  I can do it for ten experiments.  It's more manageable for me.

 

What I like about Elemental is that I can go as deep or light as I want.  Some of the experiments are better than others as they are from Janice Van Cleave books.  But Elemental is the WTM approach with encyclopedias, extra reading, etc.  It's how I want to do science laid out for me.  I like that they have an optional two day a week schedule, which I find more doable.  It is 36 weeks though, and I can still easily get behind.

 

Mystery Science is also a possibility for something more independent.  Although I still found there were supplies to gather.  The videos are nice.

 

Some strategies to make sure a curriculum gets done:  Do it first.  I am so tired by 2:00 that it will not get done with finding stuff, etc.  Carve it out twice a week before noon.  Also, make a kit with all the supplies in advance as much as possible.  Have some planning time in the week to make sure any perishable stuff or other things will get bought.  It just has to become a priority or it won't get done.  

 

If after all this, you still are honest with yourself and realize it won't get done, OUTSOURCE!!!  This is what I finally came to realize will definitely happen from Jr. high onward.  I do ONE RS4K program this year because that's all I have in me.  I buy some kits, and then I outsource to Mad Science, Engineering for Kids, and other fun classes.  My kids love it, and I would rather use that hour and a half for some me time and give it to a professional.  Homeschooling means you are directing your child's education, but there's no reason I have to do every inch of it.  There are some online options, including Mystery Science, but honestly, science is just more fun hands-on.  I have young kids too, so this one of the first things I want to outsource.  It's totally worth it.

 

Just remember:  There is no silver bullet magic science curriculum or approach you are missing.  Just be very honest and find what works best for your family in this season.

 

 

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BJU science 6 is a great course. If you use the videos, it is independent.

 

My 4th grader does Mystery Science independently. It is excellent, too. She does one discovery per week which takes two days. Then she journals what she learned on the third day. Then she works on a science lapbook on the fourth day. On the fifth day, she reads a science book from the library.

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My 4th grader is doing Mystery Science this year too. She does a mystery over 3 days (doing the extras on the 3rd day) and then the 4th day we do Nature Study. She has really enjoyed it and it is hands off. It is free to try as well, which is how we ended up using it, she thought she picked out something else for the beginning of the year but quickly grew to hate it so since I already had a free trail I let her try it out. 

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