thowell Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Experiments! Experiments! Experiments! Is there a curriculum that would offer alot of experiments using things you might have on hand? I would like some flow of things and teaching lessons to go with them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Experiments! Experiments! Experiments! Is there a curriculum that would offer alot of experiments using things you might have on hand? I would like some flow of things and teaching lessons to go with them... I'm starting to believe kits are the answer....nothing seems to have enough experiments otherwise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 I'm starting to believe kits are the answer....nothing seems to have enough experiments otherwise! any good ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 We've been successful with Thames and Kosmos, loose in the lab, wild goose company, and several experiment books by DK, including their microscope series, natural science, kitchen science....then have a solid encyclopedia and read about the topics on hand. Create your own notebook. I'm sorry to say, this is the richest way to get lots of experimentation...do it yourself :( I will follow programs, but to get in enough experimentation, I've learned a kit gets it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 We've started doing the scienceWiz experiments kits. I have used lots of science kits in my time, but these are my favorite so far. They include the right things, have clear directions, the experiements work, aren't very expensive, are focused on a single topic, and explain why it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Science Excursion http://www.scienceexcursion.com/ They might seem a little pricey, but most are for 3 years of Science. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 How about Supercharged Science? http://www.sciencelearningspace.com/ Science Jim? http://www.sciencejim.com/ Mr. Q's Classical Science? http://eequalsmcq.com/ We LOVE The Happy Scientist, who has a website filled with great videos of experiments. http://thehappyscientist.com/ There is also Physics Experiments for Children, which can be found for free online or cheap. http://www.archive.org/details/physicsexperimen000492mbp Have fun! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Even though most people prefer kits because everything (or nearly everything) comes packaged conveniently in one box, I always encourage people to take a look at GEMS science: http://www.lawrencehallofscience/GEMS/ What sets GEMS apart is precisely that it is science out of the box. You have to gather materials -- some units take a lot more work than others to get ready -- but once that is done, GEMs booklets set you up with background, exploratory investigations, discussions about how scientists actually approach their work, a series of demonstrations, experiments, and other hands-on activities, recommendations for supplementary reading both fiction and non-fiction, assessment ideas, data collection and occasional graphing, and set up opportunities for learning how to isolate variables. But the greatest thing of all is that the activities are so engaging that once you have the materials collected and set out, kids are so excited and involved that you basically sit back while they take over. GEMS is created by scientists; their space units are done in conjunction with NASA; and they are absolutely brilliant. Units cover earth and space science, chemistry, physics, biology, environmental science. They are set up to work across a range of ages and grade levels. I've done about half of all the units with my daughter alone and with kids in a co-op setting. If you're interested and would like to try some of the easier ones to set up over the summer, try Dry Ice Investigations, Chemical Reactions, Bubble-ology, and Oobleck: What Scientists Do. I took pictures as we worked and pasted them in a lab notebook along with some of the data sheets for kids to fill in and sketches they ask kids to make; my daughter dictated and later wrote explanations and comments. I can't say enough good stuff about this program. It was a sad day when i realized we'd gone through most of them through the junior high level... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 Even though most people prefer kits because everything (or nearly everything) comes packaged conveniently in one box, I always encourage people to take a look at GEMS science: www.lawrencehallofscience/GEMS/ What sets GEMS apart is precisely that it is science out of the box. You have to gather materials -- some units take a lot more work than others to get ready -- but once that is done, GEMs booklets set you up with background, exploratory investigations, discussions about how scientists actually approach their work, a series of demonstrations, experiments, and other hands-on activities, recommendations for supplementary reading both fiction and non-fiction, assessment ideas, data collection and occasional graphing, and set up opportunities for learning how to isolate variables. But the greatest thing of all is that the activities are so engaging that once you have the materials collected and set out, kids are so excited and involved that you basically sit back while they take over. GEMS is created by scientists; their space units are done in conjunction with NASA; and they are absolutely brilliant. Units cover earth and space science, chemistry, physics, biology, environmental science. They are set up to work across a range of ages and grade levels. I've done about half of all the units with my daughter alone and with kids in a co-op setting. If you're interested and would like to try some of the easier ones to set up over the summer, try Dry Ice Investigations, Chemical Reactions, Bubble-ology, and Oobleck: What Scientists Do. I took pictures as we worked and pasted them in a lab notebook along with some of the data sheets for kids to fill in and sketches they ask kids to make; my daughter dictated and later wrote explanations and comments. I can't say enough good stuff about this program. It was a sad day when i realized we'd gone through most of them through the junior high level... can't get the link to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sands31210 Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 We used both full year kits from Home Science Adventures. Each kit comes with a teacher's guide and just about everything you need. The guide even recommends a few books. The experiments are easy, interesting, and best of all, they work. The company has fantastic customer service. Our pocket microscope did not work and they replaced it promptly and free of charge. I used the kits with an 8 and 6 year old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 Science Excursion http://www.scienceexcursion.com/ They might seem a little pricey, but most are for 3 years of Science. this looks great but way out of my budget!!! I would have to save up for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Sonlight's "Discover and Do" DVDs + the "non-consumable" kit and the kit for whichever grade level dvd you order (pay more attention to the topics your kids might be interested in than the grade levels) are fantastic and you do *not* need to be doing Sonlight Science. Just give your kids the dvd and the kits, and let 'em go. They'll have very nearly everything they need (except occasionally simple things like "bowl", "water", "paper towels") in the boxes, and each dvd includes demonstrations and explanations for dozens and dozens of experiments. I've found these to be more flexible and motivating than any other kits we've tried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 We've started doing the scienceWiz experiments kits. I have used lots of science kits in my time, but these are my favorite so far. They include the right things, have clear directions, the experiements work, aren't very expensive, are focused on a single topic, and explain why it works. this looks really good! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Great thread! Lots of these look good! I can't find samples of the GEMS-anyone have a link? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Sooooo sorry: forgot the "org." http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/GEMS/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 We've started doing the scienceWiz experiments kits. I have used lots of science kits in my time, but these are my favorite so far. They include the right things, have clear directions, the experiements work, aren't very expensive, are focused on a single topic, and explain why it works. We like these too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 There is also Physics Experiments for Children, which can be found for free online or cheap. http://www.archive.org/details/physicsexperimen000492mbp Have fun! ;) This is great!!!!! And it's FREE!!!!!!! Thank you sooooooooooo much! This is just what I am looking for. Now if it had a supply list that would be great but I haven't looked through the whole book yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemykids Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 I'm starting to believe kits are the answer....nothing seems to have enough experiments otherwise! :iagree: We've started doing the scienceWiz experiments kits. I have used lots of science kits in my time, but these are my favorite so far. They include the right things, have clear directions, the experiements work, aren't very expensive, are focused on a single topic, and explain why it works. Oh, good find... thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 guess what! I just found out that my library has all the Janice Van Cleave science experiment books. I think I will start there. :lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Apologia has alot of good experiments with regular household items if you are Christian. I dont know if that would fit for you or not though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssexton Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 We've started doing the scienceWiz experiments kits. I have used lots of science kits in my time, but these are my favorite so far. They include the right things, have clear directions, the experiements work, aren't very expensive, are focused on a single topic, and explain why it works. Karen, that's great to know! I just bought two Science Wiz chemistry kits for next year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 Apologia has alot of good experiments with regular household items if you are Christian. I dont know if that would fit for you or not though. We are Christian and I have looked at these. Just wanted something with a little less paperwork to do and heavier on the experiments. But I will look again. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 Also found this on an old thread 365 Simple Science Experiments and my library has this too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakblossoms Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 I'm going to kits only. I just got some of the Delta Science in a Nutshell kits. I love them. They have every darn little thing needed for the kits. Plus, they include a nice journal for each child. They are straight forward and simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Another link to Science Jim samples. ($35 for the entire curriculum). http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=30924&it=1 Also, you can supplement the experiments by watching free Bill Nye the Science Guy videos. They always excite the kids! http://tv.blinkx.com/show/bill-nye-the-science-guy/mSfDi5fsfmBIEc-6Zu2dm6kZYh0#s2e18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 Another link to Science Jim samples. ($35 for the entire curriculum). http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=30924&it=1 Also, you can supplement the experiments by watching free Bill Nye the Science Guy videos. They always excite the kids! http://tv.blinkx.com/show/bill-nye-the-science-guy/mSfDi5fsfmBIEc-6Zu2dm6kZYh0#s2e18 this looks good too!!!! to many choices :willy_nilly: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 (edited) this looks great but way out of my budget!!! I would have to save up for this. I had to save for it too. It is more expensive than some....but again it's for 3 years. It's way cheaper than some though too, like Rainbow Science. The 3-6 kit is huge....just packed with stuff. Edited May 1, 2010 by ~AprilMay~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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