Thanks for more suggestions! Has anyone read Anatomy of a Rose: Exploring the Secret Life of Flowers? It has good reviews on Amazon. Just wondering how it would work for botany. It seems very interesting. It was cheap on Amazon so I went ahead an ordered it but I haven't seen it on anyone's list.

Yes. The plan I linked has a lab day every other Friday, along with keeping a nature journal (which we already do) on the opposite Fridays.

Thank you! That is helpful. I came across another plan here: http://www.gracefulthought.blogspot.com/p/biology-w-living-books-guide.html I bought the Apologia biology about five years ago because I got it for such a great deal but now the thought of using it makes me want to cry. Lol Yesterday ds was asking why we couldn't read several good books like we do for other subjects. Sadie, are you taking this approach with other sciences (chemistry, physics)?

I thought something had been posted about this before but I can't find it in a search. Has anyone used a living books approach to high school biology instead of using a text book? I've seen some book lists online but has anyone done it? I think this way would work so much better for my oldest but for some reason I'm afraid to make the leap. It feels so out-of-the-box.

For science, I'd stick to nature walks. Foster attention to detail and making connections. They can make sketches in their own nature journals. It gets you out of the house and allows the littles to burn off a little energy. :-)

Exactly.

Has to be satire!

This is how I believe as well. It really, really bothers me when people like Ham tie the YEC view with salvation and belief.

I'm working my way through the book Redeeming Science by Poythress right now. Some of it deals with the creation/evolution debate but it is interesting to see his approach as a Christian and to see how much he loves science.

It says "You will not be eligible for subsidies in the exchanges because your income is below 100% of the federal poverty level." "You could receive a government tax credit subsidy of up to: $0 (which covers 0% of the overall premium)" So weird. Maybe this means we would qualify for Medicaid even if in a state that didn't expand coverage? That's the only thing I can figure.

Lol! Oh the things we learn on this board

That calculator made no sense to me. Our state opted to expand Medicaid. The calculator said that if our state had not done that, we would be spending between over $13,000 to almost $20,000 for coverage per year. That's from 50% to over 70% of our income and we were not eligible for federal subsidies. Is that what is happening in states that didn't expand coverage?

Here is a recipe posted that I like: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/481100-do-you-have-a-gluten-free-flour-mix-recipe-you-love/?p=5087467 It is an all-purpose mix so you could add other things to make it a cookie mix, etc. I'm sure even just a basic mix would be appreciated! I use it for baking and batters for frying.

The idea of a young earth/creation as expressed today is actually fairly new (and, as pointed out many times, isn't shared by many Christians). Many early church fathers believed in an old creation and honestly I don't know that the topic was even all that important throughout Christian history until recently. I don't know any Christian who believes in a "god of the gaps," where God is only useful for explaining what science can't so I don't really believe that God will be going anywhere soon. As for polytheistic religions, they were replaced by monotheistic ones (which to me shows changes in philosophical thought more than advances in science). Those religions were not replaced by atheism.

Yeah, pretty much. We use it and I'll use it with my youngest again. There are a few problems with the book but I don't think it is so fundamentally flawed and the problems are so pervasive that to use it is unthinkable. Shame away. Whatever. Not even AO people have to use it. :001_smile:

I asked my dd what she thought of Indians and settlers based on what we have read in TCoO. She said that the white settlers were wrong for thinking that Indians were stupid and didn't know things. She says she doesn't like to pick a side because sometimes the Indians were right and sometimes they were wrong and sometimes the settlers were right and sometimes they were wrong. She also said that all Indians aren't the same. She definitely isn't getting the idea that all Indians are tricky and backstabbing while the Europeans were correct in all they did. For what it's worth! ;-)

I still have a scar to prove I learned this the hard way too. Not fun!

As far as This County of Ours, I admit I haven't read the entire book but I did read the earlier chapters aloud to my younger kids. I don't remember anything horrid other than the use of the word "savages." I just edited that as I read. I thought Marshall presented some Indian tribes and people as good and noble and others were violent. She also presented some early settlers as greedy and violent and others as just trying to make a better life for themselves. The white settlers weren't always the good guys. I've started reading Madam How and Lady Why to my middle two. I had forgotten that section where Kingsley blames people for living in high earthquakes areas, like they got what they deserved. Yikes! I just skip that part because the rest of it is good and teaches earth science in an interesting way. Also, regarding book choices for AO, the books weren't only chosen because they were free. They were also chosen because of the quality of writing. I would love to see a list of modern books for younger kids that are engaging with rich language. (Seems like someone did that somewhere?) With AO, the higher years have more modern books listed.

It is presented as an option. I think mostly because the series for younger kids is more CM-y. (Is that a word?) Written in a conversational way rather than a like textbook. I know some people who have only used the living science books recommended.

I agree that this is a big problem. I attended public school. Our school taught evolution. I use "taught" lightly because the textbooks mentioned it but never explained it. I knew nothing about the theory of evolution when I graduated. The only thing I knew about it was what I got from Creationists. We are Christian. We bring God into our science discussions and every other discussion but my kids are also learning that science is a specific thing and they are learning what the scientific method is. Science isn't different than grammar or math. It is what it is. If anything, Texas should be looking at what is actually taught--whether it is current information (because that is another big problem in science textbooks!) and whether it is understandable.

Is there any article that shows what textbooks are being proposed? No one is actually proposing to teach a strict, literal, 7-day creation, are they? I remembering hearing something about this awhile back but didn't pay too much attention to it.

Yes. Some laws were civil, some were ceremonial and some were moral. Moral laws are still in effect. The others are not. The trick is deciding which are which.

Oh good. So nothing worthwhile then! Lol

There needs to be some sort of notification system when something is going down on the boards. Maybe keys words trigger it or something? Hmmmm.....

I thought I had it figured out and then when I went to write down the days work I was wondering about double dipping! Thanks!