sweetpea3829 Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Currently, our kids are in their history rotation, with our science rotation schedule to begin in April. Just one problem though...I have no idea which direction to take! So many different options! Last year, we used Science Fusion (slightly modified for my younger learners) Modules F and G. This was part of a 2 year Earth Science approach I started...well...two years ago. The years prior, I designed and wrote my own science curriculum. It was more or less guided interest-led. We did a year of oceans, which actually enveloped some very early chemistry, freshwater, oceans, and marine biology. The next year, we did Earth Science which started with a more in depth look at chemistry, followed by a study of geology, and finally, a study of biomes/habitats. Last year we started with a review of oceanography via Science Fusion. Then we studied meteorology, and we finished the science term with a study of Astronomy, again using Science Fusion. That's pretty much all I want to cover, for now, of Earth Science. My oldest two are nearly 12 and 11 (the 12 yr old is below grade level, and the 11 yr old is pretty well above). I have them both in "6th grade". The younger two are 9 1/2 and 8 1/2. I think it's time to start thinking about more formal science for those older two...as we prepare for high school science. I'm not really sure what direction to take, and what they would likely study in high school, and in what order. Any thoughts? Suggestions? I'm open to any and all thoughts. Just as an FYI, we are devout Christians, but I am more inclined to use secular materials because I have found most faith-based materials to just be so awful (we tortured ourselves with two years of Apologia...never again). I want my kids to be thinkers. And when I can't find what I want...I'm not opposed to writing and designing my own. It's just that...the legwork is SO extensive. Oh...as for math...the 11 yr old will be starting pre-Algebra in January. The 12 yr old will hopefully some day study Algebra. Hopefully. Some day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homeschoolmom3 Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 I will take a stab and a suggestion that I have really liked if you are looking for something planned, not Apologia, not textbooky, and where you have your kids think. If you don't mind it not being "classical" it is more CM based but I personally really enjoyed. She has many schedules already planned and I love that you can focus on a few topics not just one subject for the year. http://sabbathmoodhomeschool.com/living-science-curriculum/ HTH :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twain Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 BJU has excellent middle school science courses. I know what you mean about awful faith-based science materials, and I agree with you. My husband and I both have science backgrounds, and we have found BJU’s science programs to be excellent. The BJU distance learning online (DLO) programs are challenging and good preparation for formal science classes in high school. They include reading and note taking from a textbook as well as studying detailed information for the tests. The 6th grade course is general science, 7th is biology, and 8th is earth science. Other options we have enjoyed are online courses through Excelsior classes online. Two of my kids took the aerospace/air power course by Lt. Col. Doremus. He is a favorite instructor at our house! They also have other science courses that look good. http://excelsiorclasses.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenecho Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Byte Sized Physics was something I looked into for my son who turned out not to homeschool in 6th...but we did start him on it and it was great. Easy experiments with household objects, but fun ones. Good writing. Liked it very much. Currently, our kids are in their history rotation, with our science rotation schedule to begin in April. Just one problem though...I have no idea which direction to take! So many different options! Last year, we used Science Fusion (slightly modified for my younger learners) Modules F and G. This was part of a 2 year Earth Science approach I started...well...two years ago. The years prior, I designed and wrote my own science curriculum. It was more or less guided interest-led. We did a year of oceans, which actually enveloped some very early chemistry, freshwater, oceans, and marine biology. The next year, we did Earth Science which started with a more in depth look at chemistry, followed by a study of geology, and finally, a study of biomes/habitats. Last year we started with a review of oceanography via Science Fusion. Then we studied meteorology, and we finished the science term with a study of Astronomy, again using Science Fusion. That's pretty much all I want to cover, for now, of Earth Science. My oldest two are nearly 12 and 11 (the 12 yr old is below grade level, and the 11 yr old is pretty well above). I have them both in "6th grade". The younger two are 9 1/2 and 8 1/2. I think it's time to start thinking about more formal science for those older two...as we prepare for high school science. I'm not really sure what direction to take, and what they would likely study in high school, and in what order. Any thoughts? Suggestions? I'm open to any and all thoughts. Just as an FYI, we are devout Christians, but I am more inclined to use secular materials because I have found most faith-based materials to just be so awful (we tortured ourselves with two years of Apologia...never again). I want my kids to be thinkers. And when I can't find what I want...I'm not opposed to writing and designing my own. It's just that...the legwork is SO extensive. Oh...as for math...the 11 yr old will be starting pre-Algebra in January. The 12 yr old will hopefully some day study Algebra. Hopefully. Some day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 You could follow the WTM cycle and follow earth science with chemistry then physics the year after. We enjoyed RSO chemistry though we could possibly have done it in six months. Ellen mcHenrys elements looks fun too although we haven't used it yet. Otherwise what are the kids interested in? Interest led works well for science I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Sorry I just realised you said you've done quite a bit of chemistry. What about physics then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto6inIN Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 We very much disliked the Apologia elementary series but the middle and high school books by Dr. Jay Wile are completely different and we love them. Not saying they'd be a good fit for you, but they do *not"* have the same flavor at all so they might be worth another look. Sent from my Z988 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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