I found it! It is the Academy of Science for Kids. http://www.sciencecats.com/

of a science program I saw awhile back. As I remember it was a bit pricey, but it included Discovery Education videos, and all of the stuff needed for science. As I was researching for next year it popped into my mind, but for the life of me I can't remember the name. Any suggestions?

I bought this last year, and my son read it from cover to cover. I finally pulled it out again this year, and he is going to do some of the experiments as a science fair project. He is going to flesh it out with some research on the mysteries he has chosen. They have all kinds of mysteries and the kids use science to form conclusions. http://www.amazon.com/Hands-Science-Mysteries-Grades-Standards-Based/dp/0471697605 I found this, but I have not bought it yet. http://www.amazon.com/Science-Sleuths-Activities-Critical-Thinking/dp/0787974358/ref=pd_sim_b_9 I also second the GEMS science. I just received the 2 I ordered. They are great!

These are not from the book of kells, but they are celtic designed animal coloring pages. http://www.animaljr.com/irish-celtic-designs-coloring-pages/ Here is one from the book of kells http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/10500/10501/initial_10501.htm

We are studying Chemistry this year. The coolest stuff we have done so far is a mentos and cola experiment with different cola and mentos to see if there was a difference. We found out what happened when pure sodium and potassium mixes with water. It was really cool! We also made an edible Periodic Table out of cheese, crackers, and meat. Anything with food is a favorite in our house. The Elements by Ellen McHenry is great. We are also using Mr.Q Chemistry in a co-op setting.

any left over pie is fair game at anytime of the day

Is this it? http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/pdf%20documents/CurrShopClist.pdf

You can combine them, but you would need to make adjustments so the 10yo or the 5yo won't get bored. I participated in a FIAR co-op for several years. We seperated them out, but since there were siblings we tried to make a theme for the 2 classes. When the older class was doing Helen Keller they did an eye disection. We tried to match a book up with the younger crowd so those that wanted to go over during that time could. We have done a seasons/holiday theme, an around the world theme, and an around the US theme.

I am making major changes to both kids stuff. I tried to make it easier by buying packaged curriculum. I really looked a long time at all the pre packaged curriculum, but it has not worked out as well as I hoped. My ds would just prefer to use SWB stuff than anything else. We were using POE. Now we are using WWE 2, FFL 3, and Guest Hollow American History 1. Luckily I had already about WWE and FFL awhile back used. Math and SOTW will stay the same. We will now get to add back in SongSchool Latin that my ds requested. I tried OM for my dd. She does like it, but it moves too slow for her. She would just rather have a workbook than anything else. I am not sure what I am doing for her just yet. We already made changes, and I see a big improvement in attitudes. :001_smile:

My ds loves unit studies and I wanted to study american history. I thought this would be a perfect fit for us. My ds hates all the drawing and and copywork. He thought there were not enough books. We ended up reading 4 extra books on CC. He really likes the program, but we have already done the earth and life science so it is mostly for review. We are 1/2 way through Jamestown and took a break. I found 3 chapter books on Jamestown from the Dear America series. We are going to finish those along with the POE recommended books. I think we are going to take a break from the rest of it. It is a good program, but it is just not for our family. :(

What about Homeschool Science Adventures? I have not used it, but I have heard a lot of good things about it. It is geared for multiple ages, and has everything included (enough for 2 kids). http://www.homeschoolscience.com/ I am going to order a kit for next summer.

We are in the middle of the Jamestown unit. I really like POE, but I also agree there are some things that are too light. My ds hates the provided copywork. He is also not big on the drawing just to draw. He does love tracing the maps though for the mapwork. We are adding books for each unit. I don't feel like we could read ahead either so I add additional books. The science is light, but it is a lot of science that we have already done. So I think of it mostly as a review. My dc love the wildlife book and are always more than happy to get it out. We also do a seperate science co-op so I am ok with the light science. For now the grammer is ok, but I would prefer something a little more in depth. Sometimes I just have him work a grade up on this. I love the reminder for the 20 min of independent reading. I am not sure it would get done without the reminder. I love how it all ties together. We are a previous FIAR family so it is right up our alley!

Thanks ELaurie! My ds is really interested in cursive. Maybe that is the key is just moving on to that. I tried handwriting first and last. He will still sit there for hours. He is very stubborn like his mother and nothing works for him.

We are currently using a program that has 3 sentences as copywork per day. He hates it and often will take hours to get it finished if left on his own. He will only work faster if I am next to him. Right now he is only doing 2 sentences which has been averaging out to 17 words per day. I know boys have a harder time with handwriting, but I thought by 3rd grade it would kind of even itself out. Before this year I had him doing one page of HWOT on what ever level he is on. He can write if he wants to, but he is really digging in his heals with this. I am sick of the fight it brings everyday. :glare: Does anyone have any suggestions?

Mine asks that I keep a journal type record. He doesn't feel like he is very invloved. So when he gets home he looks at the journal to see what they have been learning. If he asks what they did in school they can't remember. So this is a way he can kind of jog their memory. He has sometimes made a request for items like Lego Robotics. When he does that I keep my eye open for a sale and then let him know. If he makes a request though it is something he plans to work with the kids on.

I have used the program for 2 years. The Life science is geared toward younger aged kids I think from 1st to 4th. Some of the experiments were hard to figure out at first, but they were really cool. The only down side I had with the book is that there are no visuals. My child did better when he could see a picture with the information. It is not a chapter a day kind of thing, but he does recommend a two day schedule. One day for reading and worksheets, and the other for review and experiments. I have been doing this as a co-op. We read the pages and do the worksheets at home and get together for the experiments. We are doing his Chemistry program this year.

I only used the last section of year one as a secular curriculum. My ds was in the young stage so if that week was something I didn't want to read or didn't like I would look at the SOTW suggestions for that/those chapters and pick something from there. Or I would pick a book selection and read it over a couple of weeks as a read aloud.

We just started our 2nd week. I like the science provided, but we also have a science co-op with 3 other families we do once a week. We have done it for 2 years now, and I didn't want to stop doing the co-op. I am following TWTM 4 year science cycle, so anything we do in POE is more of a review for us. POE uses the North American Wildlife book published by Readers Digest, and the Handbook of Nature Study for science. My ds can't put the wildlife book down. He had spent hours looking through it. I like doing the same thing for 6 weeks, but I am not really sure I like spreading out the reading for 6 weeks. I think if it had a couple of different books to read in the 6 week period for 3rd grade it would be better.

For the first time ever I am doing a boxed curriculum. I decided to go with Paths of Exploration for my 3rd grader this year. I was not organized enough, and it was the closest thing I could find to what I wanted. We have been doing school for a week with POE and we are loving it. Once we get that copywork out of the way the rest of the day is a breeze. I printed out the entire years worth (first ever) of student worksheets and put them in folders. Taking out the folder knowing that I don't have to stop school to run and make a copy has made things run smoother. I still have a few kinks to iron out, but it is already much better than last year.

I have a ds that needed some confidence and some help decoding words. I found this at the 1/2 price bookstore for less than 1/2 price. http://www.amazon.com/Hooked-on-Phonics-Master-Reader/dp/B000IDY38O/ref=acc_glance_t_ai_-2_t_1 It has been very easy to use. He plays the computer games for that level and then he reads the card or cards that have stories in them. Once is he done with 10 lessons then he moved onto the chapter book for the lesson. The reading the first chapter book gave him a big confidence boost. Each level is slightly harder. He finds the stories interesting, he likes the chapter books (like Magic Tree House type storyline), and he really likes taking control and doing the games by himself on the computer.

We did a whole apple cutting out the core and putting that in its own canopic jar. I let my kids put the spices in and it smells like apple pie :)

The living math series might fit the bill. It combines math theories with history. There is a lot of info to pick and choose from. http://www.livingmath.net/LessonPlans/LessonPlanInformation/tabid/1002/language/en-US/Default.aspx HTH

The person that created Elemental Science series has one for free. I think it is on her yahoo group.

Thanks that is what I wanted to know. Woo Hoo! So excited to order this. Now I will be checking my mail box everyday! :auto:

I noticed that the Christopher Colombus and the Johnny Appleseed look like religous books. How religous are they? Would they be to hard to substitute? Getting ready to order tomorrow. I don't think those 2 books will keep me from ordering, but I would like to be prepared. Thanks