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kaxy

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Everything posted by kaxy

  1. If she likes Sir Cumference, would she also like "Mathematicians are People, Too"? That title is on my to-find list, as I have seen it recommended a few places. I can't find an online preview, though. See if your library has "The Librarian Who Measured the Earth" -- we thought it was fascinating!
  2. Hopefully, you are near a few universities? Maybe she can attend some open-to-the-public talks on topics of interest and chat with some of the attendees. Is there an astronomy club near you? We will attend our first astronomy-related thing next month at a library. An astronomer is putting on a talk and then there will be a time for observing with some fancy telescopes after. My son cannot.wait. I'm hoping this will lead to more opportunities in this vein, as he is desperate to have discussion with another science fan who will engage with him on his level. I know that when I was young (I think middle school or maybe early high school, pre-having internet access in my home) I was curious about some advanced science topic I had stumbled across. I couldn't find answers on my own, so I looked up the relevant department at my local university and left a message for a professor. He called me back and we had a nice chat. My dad recalls answering the phone and grilling the man, like "who are you and why are you calling my daughter?" hahaha. Are there any science centers in your area? Maybe they can point you to meetup groups or events.
  3. You can use the "Freetime" function in a Fire without subscribing to the Freetime extras. That allows you to control the content a child can access (and you can create a profile for each child, if you choose). You can also set it so they have time limits on apps/games, but unlimited (or whatever) time reading books. I bought a $35 Fire during the uh, Fire sale. Didn't get a case for it and that was a mistake. Developed a crack in the screen, someone dropped it and it shattered a bit. I will keep it around for audio books only. The materials are definitely of cheaper quality than our other Fires (one is an earlier generation but I forget the details).
  4. For the rest of 1st grade, wrapping up oh, end of May, early June: - Long Story Short bible readings (loving this resource!) - RightStart Math B (really happy with RS!!) - Outdoor Secrets chapters and go-along activities with the SCM guide if we want (I'm a fan of the book and I'm looking forward to more nature lore) - Ancient Egypt & Her Neighbors and the Stuff they Left Behind (SCM resources) (so-so) - Reading aloud to me and to self (he has completed AAR3 and I think I will just informally cover the remaining phonograms for now). - Copywork using SCM's A Child's Copybook Reader vol. 1(working well!) - Science: child-led stuff. Library books, Netflix and DVD documentaries, etc. It has been fun! - Music appreciation using Your Amazing Musical Instruments! (the book and CD-ROM were exactly what I was seeking to learn more about instruments in the orchestra and hear them in isolation and together); various classical music pieces just listening and enjoying. - Read-alouds, free-reads and audiobooks gleaned from various book lists and just as the inspiration hits Dropping the ball lately with picture study (I tried using all of Memoria Press art cards, but there are only a few for each artist and really I'd prefer to spend more time looking at the works of one artist). Going really slowly through Art Class DVDs and would like to be more regular with it, because it's easy to do for pete's sake! Also gearing up for more time outdoors and doing nature study. Overall though, I think it has been a good 1st grade year. Summer: Haven't totally decided on it all, but I think I would like 3Rs to continue on a slower pace. - Continuing with RightStart, maybe a lesson or 2 a week and games. - Copywork continuing - Reading to self and reading aloud to me - Time outside and enjoying ourselves! Maybe some field trips, too. 2nd grade: 98% confident in these choices: - RightStart math picking up wherever we are - Copywork continuing from SCM resources - Long Story Short bible readings - Bird study using Burgess bird book and SCM guide - Art Class DVDs continuing for drawing instruction - Poetry read from and enjoyed from our various poetry books - Nature lore selections pulling from AO and Sabbath Mood Homeschool lists 90% confident that this is my choice: - Geography using Holling C. Holling books and mapping. Possibly using the Barefoot Meandering resource for 50 states along with it - Monet picture study since I have a large postcard book of his work. Other artists, idk! My biggest roadblock to getting picture study accomplished was just not having a selection chosen or like I said, wanting more than 2-3 works of an artist on hand - Truthquest History vol. 1 Still investigating: - Spelling. Maaybe R&S, maybe AAS, maybe just copywork this year. I own AAS level 1 and just can't get going with it. - Grammar: Might hold off on this, too, at least for 1st semester. Maybe just mad libs and copywork. (Recommendations on something quick, painless, to the point if I did want to add something?) - Science: Considering BFSU 2nd ed. volume 1. I've been looking at a friend's 1st edition, and I bought the kindle version of the 2nd ed. tonight. I think we will give it a go in some form, and definitely follow tangents and interests. - Literature for read-alouds and read-to-your-self. Pulling from AO and other lists. Just haven't firmed up, no big deal. - Spanish? Do I wanna? Maybe. We own the Cherrydale Press book, so it makes sense to do that. - Probably missing something vital. VITAL! Feedback welcome. Oh, and throwing a K-er in the mix (she is currently not interested in school. If in the fall she is showing interest in more formal stuff, I think MFWK will be right up her alley. I used it heavily modified with my firstborn). Also have a 2-year-old.
  5. Do you like a literature approach? Maybe choose books from All Through the Ages, or Truthquest (Christian). I can't recall if Beautiful Feet has a guide f for that time period and age, but if so that might be a good option.
  6. I have in my hands a copy of the 1st ed. of BFSU vol. 1. It was tricky for me to figure out how to actually do it, but then I saw the kindle previews of the 2nd edition (came out in 2014). Here are the differences I'm noticing in the updated version: Revised intro chapters on how to implement An extra 100 pages throughout An appendix with 5 topics. Most of interest to me is seeing how he approaches nature study (appendix 4) 2 added lessons to fit with science standards (irrelevant to most of us), which are B-5A, "Adaptations and Survival" and C-3A, "Energy and Force." Page headers that reflect the lesson you're on. Makes flipping through the physical book easier. Updates to the book suggestions at the end of each lesson All lessons include "minor" revisions (according to the author on the Yahoo Group thread, but in my opinion this is seriously understated based on what I'm seeing in the Kindle preview sample. The revisions make the lessons more to the point and simpler for the parent to read it, extract the ideas, and translate it into a discussion. In the "baloney detection kit" in the 1st ed., this paragraph following a description of the belief that evil spirits caused disease in the 1800s gave many readers pause (myself included): "We certainly do not fully or even partially understand the causes of all events or phenomena. Still, the belief in rational causes is more responsible for the advancement in understanding than any other single idea. It invites us to carry on systematic investigations until we find the cause. The very fact that investigations are continually unveiling increased understanding gives validity to the concept itself. On the other hand, beliefs in supernatural causes haven not yielded any such increase in understanding. Therefore, beliefs in the supernatural are uniformly without merit." (p. 33. Emphasis mine) In the second edition, we see a revision to that section: The first paragraph under 2. Every effect has a rational cause" is essentially the same, but concludes as: "...In summary, the assumption that every event has a rational cause underlies all science and scientific investigation." (p. 23, 2nd ed.) When I flip to the lesson content to do a side-by-side comparison, it appears some areas were rewritten for clarity and ease of use. Parts of lesson A/B1 and lesson A2 are available for kindle preview in the 2nd ed. I haven't done a word-for-word comparison, but my overall impression is the second edition is more clear and user-friendly. I plan to buy a physical copy so I can highlight and add notes in the margins. Has anyone else compared the editions? Are there BFSU users out there who are using the 2nd edition and still running into problems those with the 1st ed. had (lots of prep time, for one)?
  7. Good luck! :lol: I'm glad I'm not the only one losing sleep and having science show up in my dreams! Wait a minute, didn't you already make your earth science curriculum? Are you adding to it or?
  8. I think scientist biographies are so key. I have been following one of the bloggers at a CM podcast, and she just posted a brief list that looks really good: http://sabbathmoodhomeschool.com/2016/03/favorite-science-biographies/ She has other living book lists for science on her site, too.
  9. I think at our house, it could indeed look like a delight-directed study going down those rabbit trails and making connections and enjoying the question and answer. We had a particularly fun discussion with lots of new questions and searches popping up yesterday, and I turned it into a mind map here so I could remember it. I want to keep that curiosity and sense of wonder alive! Some of the things he knew in response to my questions ("Hmm, I wonder what the deepest known part of the ocean is?" "It's the Mariana Trench. I think it's in the Pacific." "How do you KNOW that??" "I know more about science than you realize, Mommy." "...."). Then last night, he was showing me how astronauts simulate free fall in the vomit comet. He just picked up a book, put a lego man on it and pulled the book to the floor faster than the speed of gravity. This kid is teaching me so much about how his brain works. It is encouraging to hear how others don't use a structured curriculum in the younger years, but rather encourage observation, asking questions, and reading interesting books. I think that process can result in far greater connections and impact to that child, than following a sequence that doesn't interest that child. I also think if a child has enough interest (like Sweatpea's son above who needed to know how the heart works), they will be able to understand if we can explain it well. And that is awesome!! I am not concerned about packing facts into his brain. I want to expose him to the possibilities, let him make connections to the world and process it in his own way, but most of all keep that sense of wonder and excitement.
  10. @Hunter #10 You have given me some interesting things to ponder. For me, I get excited about science when: It's something I can observe and marvel at (constellations, the planets, the moon; a seed growing into a flower; such variety of land forms, etc.) Just enjoying the wonder of nature and being curious about it I can make connections from one thing to another. And another. And another. Love that! Interesting, well-written books. Looking back on how you described your "braid" it sounds similar in that you're making connections in other areas. So in practice for my family right now, this might look like using BFSU as a guide, adding in GREAT living books (I'm not super excited about the book recs listed, but we can grab some/add our own), follow those bunny trails and dig in. It will also look like CM nature study -- spending time in nature, observing, enjoying our surroundings, nature notebooks, reading nature lore. Haven't decided if I will use BFSU or something else, but I feel further along in my process and I wanted to update here. Thank you everyone for your input!
  11. I actually have volume 1 of BFSU on loan from a friend right now. I haven't had a chance to start looking at it until tonight, and wow. I have a lot of tabs open and I'm joining the Yahoo group for it. I am not sure if it will be something I will use, but I do want to get a better understanding of Dr. Nebel's approach. It seems fascinating (though overwhelming to me!). Thank you for the blog link, too.
  12. Thank you for mentioning this! I hope to help my kids (and myself) with observation, sketching, notebooking via nature study. It really does seem like it will have an impact on their understanding, observational skills, and enjoyment of nature. This is one area where I'm really stinking at right now, but I'm joining forces with some local nature-loving homeschoolers and we'll do it together.
  13. My science-nut 7yo would love for us to be more intentional about science, and I would like to map out a plan. Most likely a plan for earth science, astronomy, and physics. Not sure if this is a 2-year plan or what; I am flexible here. I own the 3rd ed. of TWTM and have read SWB's description on science in the grammar stage. I *think* this might be our best bet, since it is so customizable and we can follow rabbit trails if we desire. But how can I make it cohesive? How can I turn it from a concept into something that we actually accomplish? I've looked at Noeo Science and realy like what I've seen from the booklists and samples and methodology. BUT, I have concern about the reviews I've seen on the Young Scientist Club kits. It seems that if I opt out of doing the kits, I will need to figure out my own experiments from some source. Maybe a VanCleave book and fit some in somehow? Is it doable, or does Noeo really work best with the kit experiments? Would it be easier for me to get the TM and books and modify what they have already built vs. building my own thing from scratch? I've also looked at the Elemental Science samples. The 2nd ed. revisions look good. It isn't quite what I'm seeking (I think...maybe I ought to give it a go). I think I'd prefer to just read, narrate, and do the experiments rather than have my child do a bunch of paperwork. Maybe that would be easy to do if I just skipped the workbook and used the TM. Edited to add this part: I love the Beautiful Feet history of science book selections, and it looks like some experiments are within. Maybe I could use this as my base from which to tweak? So my ultimate question: What is your procedure for making your own curriculum? Do you follow TWTM method and start from scratch? Do you build on what others have done, tweaking it to fit your needs? If I make my own from scratch, is the method roughly: - Choose spines, maybe a science encyclopedia - Pull topics from those spines using the table of contents - Add in an experiment or 2 per week from experiment books (did you like Janice Van Cleave's books? they look really doable to me) - Add in other books on the topic. Maybe some video clips - Have child read and narrate - The end? Is it really that simple? Is there a method to the procedure to simplify things? I don't want to make this harder on myself than need be. Thank you for any perspective!
  14. I'm going to maybe ILL this title: "Intermediate Science Through Children's Literature" by Butzow. You can check out the TOC and a little preview on Amazon. It uses a read-aloud (or I suppose, a read-alone) and has unit study activities along with, from what I gather. Doesn't seem to be ultra science-heavy, but might have some interesting ideas within
  15. Wanted to share some book lists I have recently come across on a similar search: http://sabbathmoodhomeschool.com/charlotte-mason-living-science/geology-water-environment-books/ She also has book topics on other areas. My 7yo read "How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World" today and was fascinated (I haven't had a chance to read it, myself). I've also put some of the recommendations on the Earth & Space curriculum put out by Elemental Science on hold at the library to preview. Maybe some of their book list would be of interest.
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