Rhonda in TX Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 I am such a slacker on science experiments. I know part of it is that I'm not prepared for them. I even tried ordering a kit from Home Science Tools, but found that there are just enough things not included that I still don't have what I need when I need it. Any tips (scheduling, supplies, whatever) that help you get it done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patchfire Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Find a friend to do it with. Since I'm responsible for making sure dd AND her friend do science lab, it gets done. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 We're not in a co-op or group of any sort, so I don't know that many homeschoolers in my area. DS doesn't handle group situations well, so I hesitate to try to find anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patchfire Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Hmm, yeah. I wouldn't go with a huge group. We really lucked out in that sense, that dd's friend started homeschooling. I was willing to do science lab on the weekends if he'd still been in ps! Ordering full kits is also what's really helped us - the most I've had to supply for them is a manilla folder, some stables, scissors, and extra aluminum foil. I'm dreading the unit later in the year where I couldn't find a premade kit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelbe5 Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) We did not do a lot of experiments when my oldest dd was young. Now I do them with two friends on a scheduled "lab" day every two weeks or so. My oldest is doing Apologia Physical Science. The kids read the module and we get together towards the end of the module to actually do the experiments. What about scheduling a block of time each week just for experiments. I think it is easier to do it this way, rather than stop and start as each experiment comes along. What about doing experiments on the weekend? Perhaps that would be easier. Editing to add, since your children are older, it might be easier just to give them the materials and let them do the experiments and clean up on their own. You would still have to provide the supplies, but that would be it. Adrianne in IL Edited September 28, 2009 by jelbe5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) I made Friday be Science Day. Before this, we rarely did experiments. I've got around a dozen kits from Young Scientist Club. Those have most of the things we need for experiments. I put the other things on my shopping list. :) ETA: After we are done with the kits, we will do Janice VanCleave's kitchen science books. Edited September 28, 2009 by Veritaserum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 I put dh in charge of projects and experiments and ask him to pick up anything I need ahead of time. I write a list ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 We do a lot of science labs. I use BJU science and there are labs almost every other day. We do them ALL. I make sure I look through the book every weekend because I do my shopping on Monday morning. I just add any needed supplies to my list. In the summer I do make one order from Home Science Tools in preparation for the coming year. I get the supplies I think will be difficult to find, but I don't order the kits. When I look at what is in them, they don't have all the things I need and do have some things I can get easily - not a good fit. Once I've spent the money on the hard to get things, I feel like I HAVE to use them! That helps me stay motivated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 I put dh in charge of projects and experiments and ask him to pick up anything I need ahead of time. I write a list ;) DH is supportive of homeschooling, but not involved in the actual instruction. And shopping? He would stop for an occasional item, but to send him out with a list? Not gonna happen. :D Thanks for the idea, though. I'm officially jealous. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 is to do all the shopping for the supplies at once. I despise shopping, which is one of my problems. For example, DS needs kleenex for several experiments this week. I rarely buy kleenex, so I don't have it on hand. That means I have to go out for it. Ugh. It drives me crazy to have to go out for just a few things. I'm so bad at planning ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 We don't have anyone else to do experiments with, but it would still be helpful to know that we're going to do all of the experiments on a certain day. That would make planning and shopping easier for me, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 is to do all the shopping for the supplies at once. I despise shopping, which is one of my problems. For example, DS needs kleenex for several experiments this week. I rarely buy kleenex, so I don't have it on hand. That means I have to go out for it. Ugh. It drives me crazy to have to go out for just a few things. I'm so bad at planning ahead. I do understand this. What my friend did was to buy ALL the supplies ahead of the time she needed for the whole year, and put them in a big box/container. This way she had everything she needed just to grab. I know it may be expensive, but it's one (or two) big trips and that's it. Just a thought. Good luck! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyBC Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) is to do all the shopping for the supplies at once. I despise shopping, which is one of my problems. For example, DS needs kleenex for several experiments this week. I rarely buy kleenex, so I don't have it on hand. That means I have to go out for it. Ugh. It drives me crazy to have to go out for just a few things. I'm so bad at planning ahead. I think this might be the answer. It's certainly one of the reasons Rainbow Science works so well for us: somebody else sent us a kit with everything already in it. :D Maybe you could gather a big box, do a big shopping trip, and breathe a sigh of relief for the rest of the year. ETA: Are the labs not scheduled in Apologia? Edited September 28, 2009 by KathyBC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 ETA: Are the labs not scheduled in Apologia? They are interspersed throughout the chapter, so it just depends on how you schedule the chapter. I'm using Donna Young's schedule, but I think I need to cluster the experiments, rather than spread them out like she's done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Editing to add, since your children are older, it might be easier just to give them the materials and let them do the experiments and clean up on their own. You would still have to provide the supplies, but that would be it. Adrianne in IL :iagree: They're definitely old enough to do this and as long as you check their lab notes (make sure they're writing it down) and supervise, even from a distance, things should be fine. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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