Momof3plus Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Hi, I’m starting to work out our plan for 2018-2019 2nd Grade Science. So far we’ve been using BFSU. I love, love, love the premise of the book. It’s a very complete programme in its thoroughness and level of detail and I love the way it really guides you and your children to enquire and ask questions all the time. BUT and this is a big but for me unfortunately, I’m struggling with how much planning and pre reading it takes me. Ive recently stopped following the threads and we’re now using it like a unit study which is working better for us. But, because life happens, we’re just not getting it done consistently enough because it require planning out. So I have a few other programmes in mind....albeit tentative as I find they really do lack the detail that BFSU has. Please talk to me about the pros and cons if you’ve used any of the programmes I’ve listed: R.E.A.L Odyssey Elemental Science - Grammar or Safassras Mr Q’s Science Quark My kids love learning from stories so Sassafras and Quark appeal but I want them to become familiar with the scientific lab process. Mr Q looks like he does a good job of teaching this using the ESP I don’t want anything too Lab heavy though. When I compare the content samples of all the programmes, they all lack the detail and thoroughness that BFSU has, I guess that’s the trade off for a ‘get it done’ programme. I wish Mr BFSU would design his programme in a more week by week fashion, which lab sheets and pictures etc. I need hand holding and an open and go approach as I have other little people making life chaos! Thanks in advance xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Try Mystery Science. Like BFSU, but video based and already planned out for you. We did Mr. Q and dropped it 6 weeks in. It is very dry. We've tried two different levels (advanced chem and beginning life science) and didn't like either. On our radar for next year, 3rd, are these: Mystery Science - taking a year off from BFSU before starting the second book. We've done it before and ds really enjoyed it. If I find a good deal on the second book I may run the two concurrently. Moving Beyond The Page science units - I like the idea of building around a book and doing unit studies, incorporating what we already own. I want to see the science units in person first, though. If I can't find any used I may buy one to read over the summer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 We're enjoying Quark this year. :) My 7yo is using Botany. Every week we read the Quark chapter, do the extra grammar stage reading, go back to the Quark story to find the vocab words and what they mean, he does the copywork, and we pick and choose the plant activities it schedules. He's absorbed tons and enjoys the story. I can't imagine just reading the story and narrating like someone else mentioned though. To me it really seems designed to be done WITH the extra parts in the notebooking pages. I can't see DS knowing half as much about plants with just the story. I considered Sassafras last summer, but I ruled it out because of the Magic Treehouse quality of story. I'm doing this with DS7, and mom wanting to take sporks to her eyes during science probably wouldn't be very helpful. If he was able to do it on his own I'd be okay with it. :tongue_smilie: (This fall he'd be able to, but last fall he wasn't there yet.)He'll turn 8 right around the time he officially starts second grade this coming fall. At this point I plan to ride along with Quark. No need to fix something that isn't broken. :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Mr Q was way too boring and heavy on written work for little kids when I tried it. I would just pick up some fun home experiment books and watch Bill Nye or something for 2nd grade if I was doing it again. The important thing is getting them to love science and questioning things. Nothing else matters as far as fact retention or actual subjects studied. They’ll forget most of it no matter what you do, but they’ll remember if they had fun and having fun leads to more mature interests later. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisha Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Mystery Science would be great for that age, and easy for mom! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3plus Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 Thank you everyone. I think I’m leaning more towards the Quark Books and when I have time, supplement them with BFSU. I really want something that’s going to get done and they love learning via stories so it seems a natural fit. Would you say it’s a full curriculum for the 2nd grade age? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 I think Quark is plenty for 2nd grade. It might be too much for some second graders, but probably not one that's used to BFSU. My little guy is a fact vacuum and insatiably curious about how the world works; it's been a good fit for him. Keep in mind if you do a whole lesson in one week you'll use one book a semester. It just depends on how much of the extras you add. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAttachedMama Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 (edited) Remember, you could have the best science program in the world....but if it is just sitting on the shelf gathering dust, it isn't doing any good. :) It took me WAY too many years to learn this lesson as a homeschool mama. There is a lot to be said about a program that "doable" even if it isn't the VERY, VERY best thing out there. (Whatever that means.) And trust me....everything you have listed there is FINE for second grade. (More than fine! Great!) Your child will not be lacking anything if you choose any one of those options. ETA: If I were you, I would use Mystery Science for labs and add in the associated "Let's Read and Find Out" science books + Oral Narration. You might add in some drill type questions in the form of memory work or vocabulary since kids seem to like that at this age. Edited January 21, 2018 by TheAttachedMama 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3plus Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 Great to hear that Quark will be enough and yes, I’ve been looking at Mystery Science today thinking it might be a useful supplement every now and then. Thanks for all your help ladies 😄 Xxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3plus Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 How necessary is it to purchase the Janice Van Cleave experiments book that Quark recommends? Does the notebooking section schedule experiments or is that left for you to decide what and when is appropriate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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